Kansas City takes delivery of first modern streetcar

Kansas City's first modern streetcar arrived yesterday, the first of four to be delivered from a CAF USA manufacturing plant in Elmira, N.Y.

The vehicle will soon undergo integrated testing, KC Streetcar officials said in a news release.

After traveling more than 1,000 miles from the CAF plant, the streetcar was attached to a tow truck and pulled into the Kite Singleton Vehicle Maintenance Facility.

Prior to the streetcar's arrival, KC Streetcar Constructors tested track, facilities, power infrastructure and communication systems.

Kansas City's first modern streetcar arrived Nov. 2.
Photo: Kansas City Streetcar Authority

The 77-foot-long, 78,000-pound vehicle has a maximum rider capacity of 150 and will offer level boarding at all of its 16 stops. This kind of boarding makes it easier to bring bikes, wheelchairs and strollers on board, KC Streetcar officials said.

Kansas City is the latest metropolitan area to take delivery of a CAF USA streetcar. Late last week, Cincinnati took delivery of its own vehicle from the Spanish manufacturer.