A Streetcar Success Story in Kansas City

HDR’s Nick Stadem Talks to ENR About the Kansas City Streetcar Extensions

Kansas City’s streetcar has been a ridership success story and catalyst for community renewal since it debuted in 2015. Building on that success, the Kansas City Streetcar Authority planned multiple extensions to expand the system. The 3.5-mile Main Street Extension opened in fall 2025, and another extension to the north is expected to open in 2026.

HDR has served as lead designer on the streetcar since the first system and reprised our role for the extensions. Senior Project Manager Nick Stadem, who led HDR’s team on the project, shared insights on the work and discussed some of the impetus for the team’s design decisions in a recent interview with Engineering News-Record. 

The design included improvements to the street and intersections, new stations and extensive traffic planning. Stadem explained how the extensions “create an urban renewal opportunity” that enhances the city’s central business district. 

Read the whole article, “Fueled by Success, Kansas City Streetcar Extends Its Reach,” in the Feb. 2, 2026, issue of Engineering News-Record.