Skip to content

Talking Headways Podcast: Building a Culture of Transit Ridership

This week's guest is Tom Gerend, executive director of the KC Streetcar Authority. Tom tells us about the challenges of creating the streetcar and a broader regional transit network, and explains the value capture mechanism that funds all of the KC Streetcar’s operations and maintenance.

This week’s guest is Tom Gerend, executive director of the KC Streetcar Authority. Tom tells us about the challenges of creating the streetcar and a broader regional transit network, and explains the value capture mechanism that funds all of the KC Streetcar’s operations and maintenance, as well as some of the project design and construction. Listen in and hear the reasons for some of the unusual policy decisions behind the KC Streetcar, including the fact that it’s free to ride.

Photo of Jeff Wood
Jeff Wood is the creator of the Talking Headways podcast and editor of the newsletter The Overhead Wire.

Read More:

Comments Are Temporarily Disabled

Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.

Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: Five Bike Advocacy Mistakes You Don’t Even Know You’re Making

March 27, 2026

Friday’s Headlines Take a Free Ride

March 27, 2026

Talking Headways Podcast: Congestion Pricing Data Collection

March 26, 2026

How DC’s Mayor and Council Chair Thwarted Every Effort to Better Its Streetcar

March 26, 2026
See all posts