The 2026 Summit Archive has been posted:
(Previous info below)
The 2026 Community Streetcar Coalition Summit
Monday, April 27 – Wednesday, April 29, 2026
The Community Streetcar Coalition is thrilled to partner with KC Streetcar Authority to host the 15th Annual Streetcar Summit. Mark your calendars for this exciting event, where industry professionals will come together to share insights, exchange ideas, and provide updates on the latest developments across streetcar properties.
We’ve assembled an exceptional lineup of speakers who will present a comprehensive view of the streetcar landscape. Topics will include success stories, innovative partnerships, strategic investments, and invaluable lessons learned along the way. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with peers and explore the transformative power of streetcars in urban mobility and community building.
Please find loads of helpful information related to the summit below!
Registration
Registration is closed. Please contact Christy Willhite with questions or concerns at christy@streetcarcoalition.org
| Dates | Member Pricing | Non-Member Pricing |
| Apr. 1 – Apr. 26 | $350 | $600 |
Location & Dates
Our 15th Annual Summit will be held at the historic Hotel Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri, located at 1228 Baltimore Avenue, from Monday, April 27, to Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Our room block is FULL. You can still try to book directly with the hotel outside of the room block. Other options in the area include: Crown Plaza KC Downtown, Hilton President KC, and KC Marriott Downtown.
Summit Book
The 2026 Summit Book is now available – click below to view the book on Canva:
Sponsorship
Summit Sponsors
Technology Showcase
Does your company have innovative technology that could benefit the streetcar industry? Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase it during the Technology Showcase on Tuesday afternoon, April 27th. (Tech Showcase registration is closed. Please contact Christy Willhite with questions or concerns at christy@streetcarcoalition.org)
Schedule
Sunday, April 26 – Hotel Kansas City – 1228 Baltimore Avenue
2:00 – 4:00 PM – Registration Open (Tudor Balcony/5th Floor)
4:00 PM – Pre-Summit Riverfront Tour and Happy Hour (Meet in the Hotel Lobby) – Meet at the Hotel Lobby for a ride to the Riverfront. Once the tour is complete, gather for happy hour at Two Birds, One Stone on the Riverfront (cash/card bar). Sign Up Here
Monday, April 27 – Hotel Kansas City – 1228 Baltimore Avenue
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Open (Tudor Balcony/5th Floor) Breakfast and Lunch on your own.
North From Downtown Self-Guided Tour – 9 AM and 1:45 PM (Meet in the Hotel Lobby)
South From Downtown Self-Guided Tour – 9:15 AM and 1:30 PM (Meet in the Hotel Lobby)
KC Streetcar Authority team members will be on hand in the Hotel Lobby to greet you between 8:30-9 am and guide you to the streetcar route for your self-guided tour. Sign Up Here
10-11:30 AM Morning Working Group Meetings
- Legislative (President’s Ballroom/3rd Floor)
- Marketing and Communications (Tudor Balcony/5th Floor)
- Membership (Grille Room/6th Floor)
- Operations (Library/3rd Floor)
Noon–1:30 PM CSC Board Meeting and Lunch (President’s Ballroom/3rd Floor)
2:30 PM Various Meetings
- Student Session (KC Public Library Branch, 4801 Main Street, Suite 450 )
- Property Owners Roundtable (Invitation Only – President’s Ballroom/3rd Floor)
- Technical Session (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
- Moderators:
- Gilberto Melgarejo, Retired, Herzog
- Jon Schlegel, VP of Strategic Partnerships, Herzog
- John Smatlak, Senior Project Manager, AtkinsRealis
- Tony Uredi, Safety & Security, Kansas City Streetcar Authority
- Session Topics:
- Rail Maintenance
- Vehicle Obsolescence
- Facility Management
- Safety and Security
- Moderators:
5:00-6:30 PM Opening Reception (Starlight Ballroom/15th Floor)
- Tom Gerend, Executive Director, Kansas City Streetcar Authority
- Hon. Eric Bunch, Councilmember, 4th District, City of Kansas City, MO
Tuesday, April 28 – Hotel Kansas City – 1228 Baltimore Avenue
7:30 AM Breakfast (Tudor Balcony/5th Floor)
7:30 AM Registration Open (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
8:00 AM Working Group Updates, CSC Update, and Property Report Out (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
- Tom Gerend, Community Streetcar Coalition, Chair
- Working Group Chairs
- Carrie Butler, FTA Region 7
- Streetcar Property Representatives
9:45 AM Value of Streetcar Beyond the Line (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
- Moderator: Michael Collins, Board Chair, Kansas City Streetcar Authority
- William (Bill) Dietrich, President & CEO, Downtown Council of Kansas City
- Kate Marshall, Founder and President, Plaza District Council
- Jon Stephens, President & CEO, Port KC
11:00 AM Envisioning Midtown (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
- Moderator: Tom Gerend, Executive Director, Kansas City Streetcar Authority
- Kevin Klinkenberg, Executive Director, Midtown KC Now
- Kerrie Tyndall, Executive Director, Westport Regional Business League
- Hon. Eric Bunch, City Council, City of Kansas City, MO
12:15 PM Keynote Luncheon (President’s Ballroom/3rd Floor)
Keynote Speaker: Bob Kendrick, President, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
- 18th & Vine – New Connections to Historic Places-Evolution of the Streetcar – Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Jason Parson, Owner, Parson & Associates
- Bob Kendrick, President, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
- Michael Collins, Founder and Managing Partner, Grayson Capital
- Hon. Melissa Patterson Hazley, Ph.D., Councilwoman 3rd District, City of Kansas City, MO
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
1:45 PM Powered by Partnerships: How Community Collaboration Drives Streetcar Marketing & Brand Awareness (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
- Moderator: Donna Mandelbaum, Director of Communications & Marketing, Kansas City Streetcar Authority
- Ann Holliday, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Downtown Council Kansas City & Art in the Loop
- Kemet Coleman, Founder & Culture Director, Vine Street Brewing Co.
- David Henderson, Streetcar Takes Executive Producer and Creative Director of Fountain City Productions
- Patrick Moore, Streetcar Takes Producer and VP of The Kansas City Film Critics Circle
3:00 PM Construction Mitigation: How to Save the Districts You’re Trying to Grow (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
- Moderator: Tom Gerend, Executive Director, Kansas City Streetcar Authority
- Cleve Cleveland, Operations Manager, Orange County Transportation Authority
- Steve Jenson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Development, City of Omaha, NE
- Jason Waldron, Transportation Director, City of Kansas City, MO
4:00 PM Technical Showcase (Tudor Balcony/5th Floor) Sponsored by Sundt
- Vendors: Bosch Engineering, Clever Devices, Electro-Techno, Transdev, The Williamette Valley Company, Waynova Group
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Reception at Harvey’s Union Station – 2250 SE Water Avenue, Streetcar Stop: Union Station
- Welcome: George Guastello, President, Union Station
Wednesday, April 29 – Hotel Kansas City – 1228 Baltimore Avenue
8:00 AM Breakfast (Tudor Balcony/5th Floor)
8:30 AM Next Year’s Program (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
- Mary Kate Nacke, Public Information Officer, City of Tempe
- Marty Ziech, Capital Planning Manager, Valley Metro
8:40 AM Bosch/Herzog-What to expect at the Maintenance Facility (Tudor Ballroom/4th Floor)
- Jon Schlegel, VP of Strategic Partnerships, Herzog
- Pat O’Byrne, Project Manager, Bosch Engineering
9:00 AM – Noon KC Streetcar Singleton Yard Vehicle Maintenance Facility Tours and Bosch Demonstration (600 E. 3rd Street)
Group 1 Leaves from the hotel at 9:00 AM Tour; Group 2 leaves the hotel at 10:00 AM Tour, Bosch Tour Starts Immediately Following Group 2 Tour. Sign Up Here