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

Voters in a new Transportation Development District supported new taxes to help fund the extension of the Kansas City Streetcar. Despite a paltry turnout, the taxes passed by a wide margin.

1 minute read

June 21, 2018, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Kansas City Streetcar

Jason Doss / Flickr

"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.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in The Kansas City Star

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Two Rivian trucks charging at Rivian branded charging ports.

US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate

The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.

May 22 - CALmatters

Metal U.S. Geodetic Survey marker in stone in Arizona.

Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency

The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.

May 22 - Wired

Close-up of 10 mph speed limit sign.

Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law

Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.

May 22 - The Urbanist