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RideKC Streetcar to be faster, more efficient


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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 20 February 2018 - 08:02 AM

KMBZ Radio, Kansas City, MO, 2/19/18:

 


 

 

Streetcar downtown run to be faster, more efficient

 

 

 

The Kansas City streetcar system is picking up speed by making some adjustments to downtown traffic signals and scheduling. 

 

The changes are expected to result in more frequent arrivals, more streetcars on the line and less layover time at Union Station.

 

 

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Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#2 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

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Posted 01 March 2018 - 01:38 PM

RideKC Streetcar e-mail:

 

 

 

1a59e6a5-23ea-4211-985e-e961a92c5bb8.jpg 2f2fc440-07fa-4dca-9012-504c0ba3420d.jpg KC STREETCAR UPDATE   |  FEBRUARY 2018   FINAL STREETCAR TDD ELECTION 80f789b2-47a8-4c0c-9b25-54d42739bb69.jpgOn February 26, 2018, the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County finalized the schedule for the third and final vote necessary to activate the Kansas City Main Street Rail Transportation Development District (TDD).   This would activate the already approved TDD that would generate local funding to support the Main Street extension of the KC Streetcar. The Main Street extension would run from Union Station to the vicinity of the University of Missouri-Kansas City at approximately 51st and Main Street.
 
The 16th Circuit Court is administering the special election, per the TDD statute. The schedule to apply and receive ballots for this funding election is as follows:
  • Apply for ballots: March 5, 2018 – April 3, 2018
  • Ballots mailed to qualified voters: May 1, 2018
  • Completed ballots due back: 5:00 p.m. on June 12, 2018
For more information, check out the kcstreetcar.org website.    KC STREETCAR INCREASES FREQUENCY 5f36c008-49c1-43ff-ae7b-84b8c6c3d5d1.png
Recently, schedule adjustments were made that increase operating frequency and shortens wait times during the weekday mornings and evenings, and throughout the day on Sunday.  Service changes will increase the amount of time 10-minute headways are used, from 25 service hours of 10-minute frequency to 61 hours of 10-minute frequency with the new schedule. This is an increase of 144%.   What this means to streetcar passengers is more frequent arrivals, i.e. more streetcars, and less layover time when a streetcar sits at the Union Station streetcar stop.
 
The schedule enhancements are part of ongoing efforts by the KC Streetcar team to improve overall operational efficiency. These specific schedule changes are possible in-part due to modifications to traffic signal prioritization on the route and as well as adjustments to daily operational procedures. Both of these efforts have resulted in high levels of on-time-performance (OTP).
 
A roundtrip streetcar ride with the new 10-minute service schedule is approximately 24 minutes, with a 6-minute layover at Union Station, for a total of 30 minutes. Under the previous schedule, these trips were 36 minutes in total. You can track the location of the streetcars in service on the KC Streetcar website at http://kcstreetcar.org/route/streetcar-tracker/.
  RIDERSHIP 40059511-920a-4f06-badc-c406a62e73ef.jpg As of February 25, the KC Streetcar has logged 3,641,422 rides. January 2018 ridership was 7,534 trips higher than the previous year. Recently, the team completed an in-person survey on board the KC streetcar vehicles. The primary purpose of the survey was to better understand travel patterns, trip purpose, access modes, and general demographics of transit passengers on the downtown KC Streetcar route.  Click here for more information about the KC Streetcar Ridership Survey.  Visit the KC Streetcar website for more information about ridership. 60aacd2b-3150-405a-a538-a149fc63deab.jpg   KC STREETCAR MAIN STREET EXTENTION

Recently, the KCSA, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), and the City of Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) received official authorization from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to move the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension project into the “Project Development” phase.

“Project Development” is the phase where project details will be developed including refined capital and operating costs, estimating ridership and other benefits, assessing environmental impacts, and developing a detailed funding plan for the streetcar extension. It includes work being done now by a team of consultants led by HDR, Inc. that is being jointly funded by the KCSA and KCATA.

A public meeting for the Main Streetcar Extension will be held on April 3, 2018, 4:30pm-6:30pm. More information about the project and public meeting can be found on our website

9f9735b9-47ed-4bef-9c6c-5b60c7a11725.jpe   WINTER WEATHER

Hopefully, winter weather is behind us as Kansas City prepares for Spring and March College Basketball season. However, just a reminder that, the KC Streetcar will operate in most weather conditions and staff will take precautions in the event of impending weather. In advance of ice or snow events, the KC Streetcar team pre-treats trackways and platforms with a calcium chloride and magnesium chloride blend. Team members also use the track sweeper, or “Brushy McBrushface”, to clear accumulating snow from the trackways.  This is repeated as necessary.556c77b2-7436-4078-a9b6-0e34899fc8ff.jpg 

The streetcars are equipped with sanders that automatically engage when additional traction is needed on the tracks, which may occur during wet weather events. The track switches (located at Union Station, 3rd & Grand and at the Singleton Yard) are equipped with underground heaters to keep the mechanisms warm and pliable.
 
Note: Ice can form on the OCS when the temperature is at or below 34 degrees. During ice storms, streetcars must run every 15-20 minutes in order to keep the OCS clear and operational.
 
At times, the KC Streetcar will perform “sweeper runs” during non-service hours in order to keep the track and OCS clear of snow and ice. This occurs typically during non-service hours and the sweeper streetcars will not pick up passengers during this time.
 
Snow and ice do have the potential to cause delays or even service disruptions for the KC Streetcar.  For service updates, check the KC Streetcar website (www.kcstreetcar.org) and the social sites of Twitter (www.twitter.com/kcstreetcar) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/kcstreetcar).   You can also sign up to receive text alerts by texting “kcstreetcar” to 797979. Updates will also be posted at the arrival signs at each streetcar stop.



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ





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