Kansas City Announces Streetcar Grand Opening

Kansas City has announced the grand opening of the first streetcars in the city to carry passengers in nearly 60 years.

It was announced Thursday that a downtown street party would be held to celebrate the streetcars. The first passengers are set to board on May 6, and a series of street parties along the route have been planned through the following day.

The streetcar route connects the River Market, Central Business District, Crossroads Arts District, and Union Station and Crown Center areas. The southern terminus is Union Station.

Kansas City's previous streetcar system shut down in 1957.

The new system will have four vehicles, and three of them have already arrived. City spokesman Chris Hernandez said that the fourth car is slated to arrive in late March.