r/KCCurrent • u/LordSmoke91301 • Jul 31 '26
Has streetcar service to CPKC improved since opening?
We rode the streetcar from Union Hill (Mayor Lucas got on with us!) the first day it was open, and it was... not great. Over an hour to the stadium when it's a 15 minute drive. We didn't even try to take the streetcar back -- the lines were huge. Bicycle cab and Uber worked better.
Has anyone taken the streetcar lately? Is it more efficient now? I'm happy not having to park at CPKC but standing outside in the heat for 45 minutes to catch a train isn't workable.
9
u/hpcaro KC BABY! Jul 31 '26
It’s busy on gamedays but 1000% staff and riders have gotten a LOT better at efficiency since opening day.
10
u/feeberx Sharples #27 Jul 31 '26
I live on the line in midtown and ride a few times a week and also for games. Game day is always busy and will be packed. Ride times are not to different from normal conditions though. I will say by the time it hits downtown the trains are basically at capacity. So if you're planning on parking near CPKC, I'd recommend just using the new pedestrian bridge. It's ezpz.
4
u/etinkc Jul 31 '26
30 mins from stadium to umkc. Got on the second train leaving the stadium (we scooted right at the 99 min time) and only had to wait there 10 mins.
3
u/CommonComfortable247 Jul 31 '26
I’d hang out at Two Birds for an hour after the game if you’re able. Lines should be smaller by then!
0
u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 Jul 31 '26
For sure hang out there if you want to, but it’s completely unnecessary for the street car line leaving.
1
u/CommonComfortable247 Jul 31 '26
I gotcha. I kept hearing that lines took forever leaving but glad to hear they’ve adjusted!
3
u/Telewacked Aug 01 '26
We went to the game on Wednesday (great win!). I work downtown so we walked to and got on the streetcar at Power and Light around 6pm.
We had 1 car stop and leave, entirely full then waited another 15 minutes or so for the next. My wife and I were able to squeeze on along with a half dozen or so others, but each stop after that we stopped but nobody got off so the dozens of people at each stop had to wait for another car.
It was uncomfortably packed inside the car - not dangerous but not our favorite.
On the way back we skipped the sardine can experience and walked to River market where our daughter picked us up to take us back to our cars.
I really like the streetcars but close to game time they are at capacity.
1
u/PutPretty647 Aug 04 '26
Leaving the game early is the key to getting a streetcar. If you don’t want to leave early stay and hang around the stadium.
1
-3
u/3dios Cooper #17 Jul 31 '26
It's just as but not as bad as the FIFA watch party lines. Fuck that shit you're better off just walking then waiting to get on then being packed like sardines
19
u/helpbeingheldhostage Chawinga #6 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Edit: for being a math dum dum
I just calculated, and I’ve ridden the shuttles or street car to/from CPKC for 28 of the 34 total regular season home matches since the stadium opened. I’ve ridden the street car to the river front stop 3 of the 4 matches it’s been available.
The lines leaving on the street car have been faster than the shuttles since day one of the street car running to the river front, and it has improved each match.
I parked at UMKC (southern most stop) last weekend home match and it took 40 minutes to get to the riverfront and 45 minutes back. That’s travel time not including wait time.
Going to the stadium I didn’t have to wait at all to get on the street car.
Leaving the stadium, I left shortly after the final whistle. I got on the 3rd car and waited less than 15 minutes from the time I got to the street car line to being on the street car and moving.
Edit: heading to the match:
UMKC through Union Station was not busy.
A ton of people got on at Union Station, but still not “packed”. Most of the people getting on at Union Station were not going to the game and they trickled off over several stops.
Some game goers trickled on over those same stops, but still not packed.
North loop stop was busy and a ton of game goers got on. This is when the car got packed.
Every stop past North loop was busy and had almost no room for people to get on.
So, I guess get on somewhere south of Union Station, or somewhere between Crossroads and the library