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Markets
Transportation
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Location
Kansas City, MO
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Client
City of Kansas City
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Completion date
Ongoing
Taylor Wright
VP, Principal Business Development Director, Atlanta, GA, USA contact form+1 678 247 2425
Since the Kansas City Streetcar project first hit the tracks in 2016, it’s done more than move people—it’s moved the city forward. With over $4 billion in economic development generated along its route, this modern transit system has become a model of urban mobility. And we’ve been part of that journey from the very beginning.
Our involvement began in 2012, when we helped Kansas City quickly procure an initial fleet of four CAF Urbos 3 streetcars —the first 100% low-floor rail vehicles to enter service in the United States. These vehicles make it easier for passengers to enter and exit a railway, improving accessibility and enhancing overall performance. They also fit curb-height platforms, which can be integrated within dense urban areas without major construction.
To meet the city’s aggressive delivery schedule, we leveraged decades of expertise in streetcar and light-rail systems to deliver a comprehensive vehicle consulting and safety certification strategy. Our approach included:
- Crafting detailed vehicle definitions and technical specifications
- Developing requests for proposals and guiding proposal evaluations
- Ensuring full regulatory compliance, including Buy America audits
- Leading design reviews, inspections, testing and commissioning
These efforts enabled the project to start smoothly. After its grand opening, we continued providing vehicle warranty and advisory services for contract closeout and system expansion. Our team also helped the city expand its fleet with two additional vehicles.
In 2019, we were reselected to provide vehicle consulting services and technical/engineering support for a new fleet of streetcars as part of the Main Street Extension. The Main Street Extension—a 3.5-mile expansion of the Kansas City Streetcar system to the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus—is now officially open for public use as of October 2025. This milestone marks a significant advancement in urban mobility for Kansas City, offering residents, students, and visitors a more accessible and efficient transit option. The extension enhances connectivity across key neighborhoods, reduces traffic congestion, and supports sustainable transportation goals. By integrating technical upgrades and lessons learned from the original fleet, the new streetcars deliver improved communications and reliability, ensuring a consistent, high-performing experience for all riders. The project continues to stimulate economic development and strengthen the city’s commitment to modern infrastructure that serves the needs of a growing and diverse population.
However, we’re not stopping there. The city is also building a 0.7-mile Riverfront Extension to its north end that will open in 2026. As part of the fleet expansion to accommodate both extensions, we are also supporting the city’s separate contract with CAF to retrofit the existing streetcars with recommended subsystem upgrades. This will ensure a consistent, high-performing fleet across the entire system.
These efforts have helped the project receive multiple industry awards. In 2017, it was named Project of the Year by “Tramways & Urban Transit,” a monthly magazine published by the Light Rail Transit Association in the United Kingdom. In 2016, ENR Midwest named it Airport/Transit, Best Project, and it also received an Envision Platinum Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.
From concept to delivery, we’ve helped Kansas City build a streetcar system that’s not just functional—but transformative, too.
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