In time for the arrival of the first Urbos 3 streetcar from CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles), the KC Streetcar Authority (KCSA) has entered into an operations and maintenance contract with Saint Joseph, Mo.-based Herzog Transit Services Inc. (HTSI) for the Kansas City Downtown Streetcar.
The fixed-price agreement, a multi-party arrangement among KCSA, HTSI and the City of Kansas City, Mo., includes start-up activities and support as well as operations and maintenance for the first five years of revenue-service operation. Year one base operations and maintenance costs are $2.57 million, on target with original cost projections, KCSA said. The total base value for the full contract term is $15.83 million. “The arrival of the first vehicle, combined with this action, signifies the transition from construction to the operations and testing phase of the KC Streetcar, both of which precedes the start of service in 2016,” KCSA noted.
HTSI said its efforts will increase significantly over the next several months as the company begins equipment training, field testing, preparation of operational procedures, streetcar “burn-in” testing, and hiring and training of streetcar operations and maintenance employees. Once the equipment is checked out and functional, HTSI’s team will enter into the Pre-Revenue Operations phase, which is the lead-up phase for passenger service. HTSIhas a General Manager, Director of Maintenance and a Director of Safety and Security in place, supporting the startup process.
Following revenue service startup, HTSI’s responsibilities will include streetcar operations and maintenance, including management; operating procedures and scheduling; safety support, monitoring and related reporting; station stop, equipment and facilities maintenance; special event schedule preparation and coordination; and emergency response coordination. Hiring for KC Streetcar personnel is anticipated to start this fall. Positions include streetcar operators, railcar mechanics, equipment maintainers and supervisors. The application process will be online at www.htsi.com and www.kcstreetcar.org.
“This agreement solidifies our long-term partnership with HTSI and ensures our ability to bring national expertise and capacity to our operations and maintenance responsibilities,” said KCSA Executive Director Tom Gerend. “I couldn’t be more excited to be moving into the operational phase of this project.”
“We are thrilled to be part of the KC Streetcar team and transition into the next phase of the project,” said HTSI President and CEO Scott Perry. “This is an exciting time for everyone, seeing the project evolve from construction to the upcoming delivery of Kansas City’s very first modern streetcar. I have full confidence in HTSI’s team to meet the challenges that lie ahead and deliver a successful project.”
The Kansas City Downtown Streetcar will run between the River Market and Union Station, through the central business district and the Crossroads, mostly along Main Street. It will make stops about every two blocks. Along the way it will connect directly with Amtrak, local and commuter bus services (including a direct route to Kansas City International Airport), and several B-cycle bike-share kiosks. The initial line is envisioned as the trunk of a wider system of streetcar routes in the city; a southern extension to Country Club Plaza, a northern extension to the Missouri River, and several east-west extensions are under study. HDR, Inc. produced the initial system’s final design and had previously performed preliminary engineering work.
The total cost of the Downtown Streetcar, which is modeled on the Portland Streetcar, is $102 million. The majority of funds—$63.96 million—come from Special Obligation Bonds of the City of Kansas City. Construction bonds and operating costs will repaid by a special assessment and one-cent sales tax collected inside a transportation development district approved by voters in 2012. Both levies will be assessed only within the taxing district, which encompasses downtown neighborhoods along the streetcar route. Additional funding includes a utility contribution and two federal grants totaling $17.1 million. The project received another $20 million federal grant, through the TIGER program, in August 2013. Passengers will ride free of charge.