{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-uses-kc-streetcar-travel-meetings-across-kc-highlights-bipartisan", "Davids Uses KC Streetcar to Travel to Meetings Across KC, Highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Investments in Local Public Transit", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", "davids", "https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "KANSAS CITY, MO \u2014 Today, Representative Sharice Davids spent the day utilizing the KC Streetcar to travel to her public and local stakeholder meetings across Kansas City. Traveling between key stops from UMKC to Union Station, Davids demonstrated the impact of modern, accessible public transit while meeting with local leaders, business groups, and community partners across the metro area.\n\n\u201cAffordable public transportation is what connects our communities \u2014 getting people to work, school, local businesses, and doctor\u2019s appointments safely and efficiently,\u201d said Davids. \u201cBy relying on the KC Streetcar to get across town, I saw firsthand how vital reliable and affordable transit options are for helping folks get around the bi-state area. Investing in our infrastructure isn't just about roads and bridges; it\u2019s about ensuring our transit systems can grow alongside \u2014 and in service of \u2014 our local economy.\u201d\n\nThroughout the day, Davids used the transit line to connect directly with regional stakeholders and community leaders:\n\nPlaza & University of Missouri-Kansas City Stops: Met with community members to discuss local transit infrastructure and economic development along the Main Street extension.\n\nWinstead's: Joined former Mayor Sly James and KC Streetcar Authority Executive Director Tom Gerend for lunch to discuss regional transportation growth and community connectivity.\n\nUnion Hill & KCPT: Traveled to 31st & Main Street for meetings with local public media leadership at KCPT.\n\nUnion Station & KC Chamber: Took the streetcar to a meeting with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Board to discuss regional economic development, followed by a meeting with Kansas City SmartPort + KC Foreign Trade Zones President Chris Gutierrez.\n\nDavids has been a champion for securing federal transportation investments to expand the KC Streetcar:\n\nIn 2021, Davids and Representative Emanuel Cleaver announced that the Kansas City Streetcar Main Street Extension project would receive full federal funding through a bill they supported in Congress.\n\nFollowing years of construction and coordination, Davids joined local leaders and community members in October 2025 to officially celebrate the grand opening of the Main Street Extension.\n\nEarlier this year, Davids secured $100 million to help regional transit agencies cover costs associated with hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026.\n\nDuring the tournament, the KC Streetcar shattered ridership records by carrying 838,826 passenger trips.\n\n\u201cWorking together as a city under the leadership of Tom Gerend, we\u2019ve been able to give citizens and visitors to Kansas City free transportation from the Riverfront to the Plaza,\u201d said SlyJames, Former Mayor, Kansas City, MO. \u201cThis kind of investment doesn\u2019t happen without champions in Washington, and Congressman Sharice Davids has been exactly that. She fought for the federal support that made this expansion possible. Kansas City is stronger, more connected, and more accessible because of her support.\u201d\n\n\"Since opening in 2016, the KC Streetcar System has carried over 20 million passenger trips and helped to stimulate billions of dollars in economic impact.\u201d Said TomGerend, Executive Director, KC Streetcar Authority. \u201cWithout support from critically important federal transportation programs, and a supportive regional congressional delegation including Congressman Cleaver and Congresswoman Davids, these projects don't happen and these incredible benefits are not realized. We thank them for their support and urge Congress to continue to deliver national transportation funding critical for the success of our transit systems and our communities.\"\n\nAs a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Davids helped pass the bipartisan infrastructure law. It\u2019s the largest federal investment in public transportation in the nation\u2019s history, delivering record funding to modernize Kansas City's public transit network:\n\nDavids secured over $49.3 million in direct federal formula funding for Kansas public transit systems during the first allocation under the bipartisan infrastructure law, delivering the largest single federal transit investment in state history.\n\nWorking alongside Cleaver, Davids secured $14.88 million for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). This included investments to renovate bus facilities, add electric charging infrastructure, and develop high-capacity, zero-emission transit corridors across the bi-state region.", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-uses-kc-streetcar-travel-meetings-across-kc-highlights-bipartisan"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.059648046270013, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}