Road closures near UMKC are in full swing this week for the long-awaited streetcar expansion.
Construction has caused a closure on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from Brookside to Oak Street. Detour routes are set up on Emmanual Cleaver II Boulevard and 51st Street.
The closure is expected to conclude this summer, weather permitting, and will not likely impact campus traffic in the fall.
“Construction is scheduled to end in July, and even with that, the effect on traffic has been minimal,” said Sean Reader, vice chancellor of finance and administration for UMKC.
The new expansion route will connect UMKC to Union Station and the River Market. The expansion doubles the total track length and provides UMKC students unparalleled access to the city.
“UMKC is Kansas City’s university, and the streetcar will provide even more opportunity for UMKC students and employees,” said Reader.
Students and faculty at UMKC have mixed feelings about what the expansion will do for campus.
“The road work has been a pain, but I think the streetcar is a good attempt at improving public transportation. I hope they expand it even more,” said Olivia Christensen.
Christensen is an incoming UMKC junior and is majoring in history and French.
Joshua Jackson, assistant teaching professor and media lab director, feels positive about the streetcar.
“I haven’t been affected by the road work, but I am excited for the streetcar. The streetcar has a different vibe from other public transit like the bus system,” said Jackson.
The streetcar will provide more accessibility and visibility to campus. Reader said he and his team are planning for an influx of visitors.
Kansas City’s streetcar history is rich, dating back to the 1870s with horse-powered trolleys and cable cars. With the rise of cars, trolleys fell out of fashion and the routes closed.
The KC streetcar was revived with a main line in 2014 and expansions were planned shortly after. The Main Street expansion is set to conclude in mid-2025.
For more information on the streetcar construction and road closures, click here.
