NEWS: KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension marks 100 percent track completion and reopens bridge ahead of schedule

Delta Railroad Services is proud to have been a crucial partner to the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension team, providing expert rail construction services.

With extensive experience in rail installation, #TeamDelta was instrumental in connecting the existing system to the new riverfront extension and installing track for the project, which requires a high level of precision and attention to detail.

Part of Delta Railroad Services work on the project included installing six track switches. Four of the switches are traditional track switches, while the other two are specialized diamond and equilateral track switches that allow a streetcar to travel in multiple directions.

In addition to planning for and building hundreds of pieces of track and switches to precise specifications, Delta worked around the clock to ensure track installation is a smooth and efficient process. 

The KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension project will extend the mobility and economic development benefits of the Kansas City Streetcar to a long-dormant area near downtown – catalyzing economic development and job creation.

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NEWS: KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension marks 100 percent track completion and reopens bridge ahead of schedule

*Originally published by KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension

Rolling right along on the Riverfront! Just 14 months after breaking ground, the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension project reached a major milestone – 100 percent of track work is now complete. Additionally, Grand Boulevard/Berkley Parkway Bridge work wrapped up early and it’s officially open.

Late February 2025, construction crews, led by Radmacher Brothers Excavating (RBE), temporarily closed the Grand Boulevard/Berkley Parkway Bridge from 3rd Street to Front Street to build tracks, install drainage lines, work on the new platform at 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard, and install track switches at the 2nd Street and Grand Boulevard intersection. The bridge work finished ahead of schedule and is back open sooner than expected, restoring connectivity from downtown to the Berkley Riverfront.

“With continuous track now in the ground stretching from the Riverfront to UMKC at 51st and Brookside, we are not just expanding a streetcar line, we are building the spine of our regional transit system,” said Tom Gerend, Executive Director of the KC Streetcar Authority. “This milestone represents a critical step toward better connecting Kansas City residents and visitors to jobs, education, and essential transit lines across the region. We applaud the hard work and dedication of the Riverfront Extension construction team, who worked nights and weekends to complete this complex task and reopen the Grand Boulevard Bridge ahead of schedule. Their efforts are helping turn a bold vision for equitable and accessible transit into a reality,” said Gerend.

To celebrate these achievements, the project team gathered with Federal Transit Administration partners and community members for a photo op at the newly installed Riverfront Streetcar Stop (located near Riverfront Drive and Berkley Plaza), enjoyed snacks from featured area businesses, and filmed scenes for the popular Tiny Mic Construction Update video series.

The KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension connects the Downtown Main Street starter-line to Kansas City’s Riverfront. The 0.7-mile extension begins at 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard in the River Market, crosses the existing Grand Boulevard Bridge, and ends near the midpoint of Berkley Riverfront — about a 5-minute walk to the home of the KC Current, CKPC Stadium. When complete, the entire KC Streetcar system will increase to nearly 6.5 miles from the river to the Roos (University of Kansas City-Missouri)!

Construction will continue for the remainder of this year, with service expected to begin in early 2026.