KC Streetcar set ridership records in 2018

In 2018, the KC Streetcar registered 2,114,886 rides, up from 2,060,327 in 2017. The 2.2-mile system at one point recorded seven straight months of monthly ridership gains.

The streetcar last year logged its highest one-day ridership on July 6 at 19,181 trips and reached a one-month record of 262,593 trips in July. Since opening in May 2016, rides had totaled more than 5.5 million through December 2018 — the system marked its 5 millionth ride in September 2018.

Also last year, the KC Streetcar averaged 5,794 rides per day and boosted ridership in December by more than 19,000 trips to 169,254 trips.

"The steady increase in streetcar ridership is a direct reflection of the residential and employment growth downtown," said Tom Gerend, executive director of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, in a press release. "For every new housing unit built, the KC Streetcar gains another rider."

In 2019, KC Streetcar plans to expand its fleet by acquiring two more vehicles.

"This will help to decrease waiting times for passengers and allow for additional capacity during large-scale downtown events," authority officials said.