Voters Approve Special Sales Tax, Property Tax to Expand Kansas City Streetcar

"Plans for expanded Kansas City streetcar service took another step forward as a handful of voters approved special sales and property taxes to extend the downtown route along Main Street to UMKC," reports Bill Turque.

"The two ballot questions on the proposed $227 million project passed by 3-to-1 margins, after a six-week mail-in election for residents of a newly created Transportation Development District (TDD)," adds Turque. Less than 10 percent of the 35,000 eligible voters participated in the mail-in voting process. Turque provides more detail on the history of the TDD and a lawsuit that attempted to block these questions from the ballot.

Revenue raised by the new taxes will fund the operations and maintenance of the city's 2.2-mile streetcar line. The expansion will add 3.7 miles to the route. 

The special tax and property tax do not entirely cover the cost of the project. "The KC Streetcar Authority will also seek $100 million in federal funds," according to Turque.