RailNews

KC Streetcar Ridership Surges

KC Streetcar ridership has surged to record-breaking levels following the October 24, opening of the Main Street Extension. Even with rainy weather and cool temperatures dampening Kansas City, streetcar ridership drew nearly 35,000 passenger trips during the three-day opening weekend. 

Following the late-October service start, November 2025 has seen the highest monthly ridership in system history, demonstrating that the expanded 5.7-mile rail route from the River Market to UMKC is attracting unprecedented demand for fare-free, frequent, and reliable public transit. November ridership was 341,922 passenger trips, bringing the 2025 year-to-date total to 1,799,708 trips. November system ridership is 2.5 times above November 2024 levels and November 22 saw the single highest ridership of 2025 with 19,761 trips. During November, the KC Streetcar carried an average of 11,397 daily riders, accounting for approximately 30% of all transit trips in the Kansas City region.

—Bob Gallegos 

This article was posted on: January 9, 2026