KCMO Downtown Streetcar

[Eon Blue]

The poles are taller than I expected. Not a bad thing, just a comment.

[flyingember]

The poles are taller than I expected. Not a bad thing, just a comment.

They're way taller than I expected. They don't look bad, just tall.

Will these cantenary poles be a black finish through out the length of the line? Works well with the River Market historic theme pedestrian lighting.

They already aren't the same. If you go to 16th you can see a bunch up there that are silver.

[mykn]

If I recall, the pole design reflects the light pole standards for each neighborhood. The crossroads has no standard, so they get the regular plain poles.

[loftguy]

Be proud of that lack of discernable design standard, Crossroads.

[pash]

.

[loftguy]

I have to joke, but I'm betting the finished product in Crossroads is going to be really pleasing austere tech sculpture.

[flyingember]

I have to joke, but I'm betting the finished product in Crossroads is going to be really pleasing austere tech sculpture.

I don't think most people will notice the poles. How often do people notice the street light poles or power poles today? They're just a part of a place.

[herrfrank]

I have to joke, but I'm betting the finished product in Crossroads is going to be really pleasing austere tech sculpture.

I don't think most people will notice the poles. How often do people notice the street light poles or power poles today? They're just a part of a place.

On one downtown block of Baltimore, the last five different iterations of KC light poles are all observable -- the 1920s hexaganol, the 1950s plain pole, the 1960s black box, the 1980s bollard form with the old paperclip logo, and the current standard lantern. There are very few of the ancient, scalloped hexaganol poles left. 55th and Ward Parkway has (had?) one, and I believe there are a few on The Paseo in the 40s.

[flyingember]

You can tell there's a lot of interest in the streetcar. A few hundred people showed up for the first stop celebration.

Let's put that a different way... That many people showed up a celebration of "you get to wait more"

If you didn't go and haven't looked for photos, there's a bunch on Twitter that give a good feel of the event.

[Highlander]

You can tell there's a lot of interest in the streetcar. A few hundred people showed up for the first stop celebration.

Let's put that a different way... That many people showed up a celebration of "you get to wait more"

If you didn't go and haven't looked for photos, there's a bunch on Twitter that give a good feel of the event.

Even the KC star poll (unscientific as it is) reflects some good will towards the streetcar.
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-c ... 54107.html

Although I have to wonder if Yael was hoping for a less one-sided response. S

[flyingember]

I bet people that have the money to afford an online star sub is more likely to support the train.

Do a real survey calling people and I wonder what the response would be.

[longviewmo]

Or have the Pitch run a survey. /s

[mean]

I don't have an online star sub and I was able to vote on the site.

Also, I doubt there are a lot of people under 50 with an online Star sub, and I would imagine that demo would be more likely to be opposed; "blah blah city bad suburbs good, toy trains bad, waste of money, BOONDOGGLE". After all, Tony Botello is basically my right wing conspiracy theorist grandpa, politically.

[shinatoo]

STL: 2.2 mile route, 48 million, includes maintenance facility
KC: 2 miles route, 114 million, includes maintenance facility

Why the huge price difference? What are we getting that they aren't. What makes a streetcar 2.37 times more expensive than a trolley?

[Eon Blue]

Most of theirs is single-track and they are using refurbished vintage vehicles as opposed to new, modern vehicles.

[kboish]

KC also has 3 bridges.

I'm curious if STL is relocating all utilities out of the ROW as well?

[flyingember]

SB trenching is to 11th St. The track slab is to halfway between 8th and 9th

I'll call it 3.75 blocks to go

[flyingember]

Most of theirs is single-track and they are using refurbished vintage vehicles as opposed to new, modern vehicles.

their maintenance facility is on the line while ours has a quarter of a mile of service track. and the building is a rehab, not a new building with earth moving and such.

single track that long is roughly $7 million (we're spending roughly $40 million per double track mile) and the building likely saves them roughly the same. call it $12 million less combined

[pash]

.

[earthling]

Not much chatter here about last week's installation of the first set of hardware for the streetcar stops, so I missed my chance to applaud what may be the best part of the stop's design ...



... which is the blue-gray plastic rumble strips at the edge of the patform rather than the city-standard red-orange crap.

I fucking hate those things.

Will all stops have the raised curb platform? That is, will wheelchairs able to be get on at curb level at every stop or is a drop ramp otherwise involved like on buses?

edit: Found that all stops will will fully level boarding.