Kansas City things

[pissclams]

so that thing is taking up the only lane with a double line?  i didn't know that.  what happens to the poor saps stuck behind it and having to stop at each stop while riders get on and get off?  the whole line of cars behind just have to wait?

Most of the route has a dedicated turn lane as well but yes.  Luckily KC has no traffic....and that sitch also easily avoided by using two way streets one block east (walnut) and west (baltimore).

that's pretty shitty though, i mean rush hour?  eff that. 

[pissclams]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

[Phil Titola]

so that thing is taking up the only lane with a double line?  i didn't know that.  what happens to the poor saps stuck behind it and having to stop at each stop while riders get on and get off?  the whole line of cars behind just have to wait?

Most of the route has a dedicated turn lane as well but yes.  Luckily KC has no traffic....and that sitch also easily avoided by using two way streets one block east (walnut) and west (baltimore).

that's pretty shitty though, i mean rush hour?  eff that.

There is still no traffic....

The only real congestion I've seen is pre-concerts people backing up onto Main getting into garages....but that happens w/o the streetcar on the route.  Idiots don't understand there are completely empty streets a block away.

[Phil Titola]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

More lane real estate to deal with through there.

[KCFDcat]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

More lane real estate to deal with through there.

I'm in favor of a dedicated center lane for rail midtown-plaza.

[Phil Titola]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

More lane real estate to deal with through there.

I'm in favor of a dedicated center lane for rail midtown-plaza.

me too!  The business owners at this point have been the "anti" to dedicated lanes....

[pissclams]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

More lane real estate to deal with through there.

I'm in favor of a dedicated center lane for rail midtown-plaza.

that's about the only way it would work but that would cut out the turn lanes which are needed.  then having stops in the middle of the street creates an issue of getting people to whatever side of the street they are heading to without impeding traffic.  cars need to have the right of way.

[KCFDcat]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

More lane real estate to deal with through there.

I'm in favor of a dedicated center lane for rail midtown-plaza.

me too!  The business owners at this point have been the "anti" to dedicated lanes....

that seems odd. I know it can be a pain to get from the platform to the sidewalk, but I just don't see how an integrated streetcar would work in midtown.

but, could you imagine the bar hopping ability? plaza, westport, martini corner, crossroads, p&l, rivermarket? holy cow!

[Phil Titola]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

More lane real estate to deal with through there.

I'm in favor of a dedicated center lane for rail midtown-plaza.

that's about the only way it would work but that would cut out the turn lanes which are needed.  then having stops in the middle of the street creates an issue of getting people to whatever side of the street they are heading to without impeding traffic.  cars need to have the right of way.

Let's cross that bridge when we come to it...but both of these "problems" have been handled in other cities.

[pissclams]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

More lane real estate to deal with through there.

I'm in favor of a dedicated center lane for rail midtown-plaza.

me too!  The business owners at this point have been the "anti" to dedicated lanes....

that seems odd. I know it can be a pain to get from the platform to the sidewalk, but I just don't see how an integrated streetcar would work in midtown.

but, could you imagine the bar hopping ability? plaza, westport, martini corner, crossroads, p&l, rivermarket? holy cow!

can i imagine it?  ya, i do it all the time. ever heard of uber?  taxi cab?  designated drivers?

[KCFDcat]

and there's absolutely no way that would fly on Main St through midtown/plaza

More lane real estate to deal with through there.

I'm in favor of a dedicated center lane for rail midtown-plaza.

me too!  The business owners at this point have been the "anti" to dedicated lanes....

that seems odd. I know it can be a pain to get from the platform to the sidewalk, but I just don't see how an integrated streetcar would work in midtown.

but, could you imagine the bar hopping ability? plaza, westport, martini corner, crossroads, p&l, rivermarket? holy cow!

can i imagine it?  ya, i do it all the time. ever heard of uber?  taxi cab?  designated drivers?

ok man. we got it.

[pissclams]

what you don't get is that your dream of using the streetcar as a party bus is an inflated pipe dream.  just saying.

[8manpick]

Bus at night

[Phil Titola]

KCATA is looking to expand some bus late night hours till 2am to match streetcar hours.  Deciding next month.  Great to see the 2 mile streetcar making a larger impact on the transit system!

Streetcar opening events announced tomorrow!

[pissclams]

Reflecting back clams does have fair points and questions about what happens if their assumptions don't work, etc. I'd expect much more info to come out prior to any vote.

i've done this type of work for 15 years in the private sector and honestly, nothing will happen when/if their assumptions don't work. because no matter how much due diligence they put forth in trying to get their assumptions (cost/benefits/etc) correct, they won't be correct. it's just that hard to do.  the goal should be to get them as close as possible to avoid massive overruns. but is that the goal?  or is the goal to make it look good to get a yes vote?  when this thing is complete (and there's no doubt in my mind that it will be greenlighted) no one associated with the go forward decision will be around to be held to task and more importantly, the original promise of what was going to be delivered will long have been forgotten.

that's why i am so hung up on transparency in the process and vetting the numbers being used to sway public opinion.

[KCFDcat]

what you don't get is that your dream of using the streetcar as a party bus is an inflated pipe dream.  just saying.

Man. It was an off hand comment. If you think that's my sole desire you're wrong. I want a better transit system because I've lived in cities with good transit and I want that for kc

[Phil Titola]

Reflecting back clams does have fair points and questions about what happens if their assumptions don't work, etc. I'd expect much more info to come out prior to any vote.

i've done this type of work for 15 years in the private sector and honestly, nothing will happen when/if their assumptions don't work. because no matter how much due diligence they put forth in trying to get their assumptions (cost/benefits/etc) correct, they won't be correct. it's just that hard to do.  the goal should be to get them as close as possible to avoid massive overruns. but is that the goal?  or is the goal to make it look good to get a yes vote?  when this thing is complete (and there's no doubt in my mind that it will be greenlighted) no one associated with the go forward decision will be around to be held to task and more importantly, the original promise of what was going to be delivered will long have been forgotten.

that's why i am so hung up on transparency in the process and vetting the numbers being used to sway public opinion.

I don't think they've done near a good enough job to convince Joe KCMO to vote yes on it....but 99% of them that would vote no right now are way more shallow unintelligent reasons that your concerns.

[mocat]

Guys, the bus already stops on main when it is one lane. The streetcar supposedly will have shorter stops than the bus due to more doors and nobody having to pay or swipe a bus pass.

In midtown i would imagine the streetcar would share the existing bus-only lane with the bus, right? Why wouldn't it?

[Phil Titola]

Guys, the bus already stops on main when it is one lane. The streetcar supposedly will have shorter stops than the bus due to more doors and nobody having to pay or swipe a bus pass.

In midtown i would imagine the streetcar would share the existing bus-only lane with the bus, right? Why wouldn't it?

Lot of engineering to figure out midtown but yeah that is an option.

Today we get to know the opening date of the downtown line! I'm predicting April 30

[Phil Titola]

Welp... Week too early on my guess.  May 6. First Friday.

[KCFDcat]

Welp... Week too early on my guess.  May 6. First Friday.

I'll be in Europe

[420seriouscat69]

Welp... Week too early on my guess.  May 6. First Friday.

I'll be in Europe

I'm so sorry for your loss, KCFDcat. 

[KCFDcat]

Welp... Week too early on my guess.  May 6. First Friday.

I'll be in Europe

I'm so sorry for your loss, KCFDcat. 

Haha! Sad times for me!

[mocat]

Welp... Week too early on my guess.  May 6. First Friday.

I'll be in Europe

They have streetcars for days there

[Phil Titola]

OMG this streetcar roadrage 360 video is awesome.. What a dork.