KC Streetcar begins riverfront extension service

The Riverfront Extension of Missouri's Kansas City Streetcar opened for full passenger service on May 18. The $62 million, 0.7-mile extension connects the previous 5.7-mile streetcar route to Kansas City’s riverfront, from Third Street and Grand Boulevard in the River Market to the midpoint of the Berkeley Riverfront.

The extension is part of a larger development of the riverfront area, which includes the addition of a dedicated pathway to the Grand Boulevard Bridge that safely separates pedestrians and cyclists from the streetcar and motorized vehicles. 

The original KC Streetcar launched in 2016. Overall ridership more than doubled after the first expansion, the Main Street Extension, opened in October 2025.

“The Riverfront Extension connects neighborhoods, opens the river to more Kansas Citians, and shows what’s possible when we invest in smart, sustainable transit,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas in a press release. “From UMKC to the riverfront, the KC Streetcar keeps weaving our city together, and the extension is the latest proof that we’re committed to making Kansas City more accessible for all.”