The beginning of fixed route transit service to the Valentine neighborhood began October 1, 1889 as the Washing and Summit cable car line

• Provided access from West Bottoms to Downtown and the north side of the Valentine neighborhood

• Ran from Union Depot on Ninth to Washington. Washington to about 13th-14th Streets, continuing on13th-14th Summit Street. Summit Street to 29th Street

• Service was reduced to Southwest Boulevard in early 1901

Source: KC History https://kclibrary.org/art-objects/map-greater-kansas-city-suburbs

In 1920 the  Valentine neighborhood was served by the 21 Jackson-Roanoke streetcar route

• Service on the streetcar route from 1910’s

• Destination sign would read Jackson – 24^th on Northbound trip

• Destination sign would read Roanoke – 45^th or Summit – 39^th on Southbound trip

• Streetcar service along Summit Street until widening and repaving of Summit Street in 1951

In 1944 the  Valentine neighborhood was served by the 57 Jackson-Roanoke streetcar route

• Service continued from 21 streetcar route from 1910’s

• Destination sign would read Jackson – 24^th on Northbound trip

• Destination sign would read Roanoke – 45^th or Summit – 39^th on Southbound trip

• Streetcar service along Summit Street until widening and repaving of Summit Street in 1951

Source: KC History https://kchistory.org/image/broadway-boulevard-valentine-road-0

Streetcar service along Broadway Boulevard concluded in 1940’s

• Routes 4 and 48 provided service on Broadway Boulevard from 1920’s to 1940’s

• Route 4 ran from Ward Parkway and 59^th Street to Belleview Avenue, winding on Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard to Downtown 

• Route 48 ran from Downtown along Broadway Boulevard to 39^th Street, providing service east-west between State Line Road and Broadway

Broadway Boulevard is serviced by a single bus route, traveling from the Plaza to Armour

• Begins at the Plaza Transit Center, travelling up Broadway Boulevard and turning East onto ArmourBoulevard

• Runs on Armour Boulevard / 35^th Street to Van Brunt, returning from Van Brunt Loop

• Connects St Luke’s Hospital to the Kansas City VA Medical Center along a dense residential corridor

• Route 35 has 435 daily riders in January 2026

Main MAX service was rerouted to Broadway Boulevard for nearly ten years 

• Provided 20-minute headways either direction from Waldo to River Market and Columbus Park

• Travelled along Grand Boulevard through Downtown, on Pershing Road, turning onto Penn Valley Drive / Broadway Boulevard

• Ran from 5AM to 12AM from Monday – Saturday

• Reduced service on Sundays

The Main Street Extension of the KC Streetcar replaced Main Max service 

• Operates at 10-12 minute frequencies

• Runs from 5 AM to 12 AM Monday-Thursday

• Runs from 5 AM to 1 AM Friday and Saturday

• Runs from 6AM to 12AM Sunday

• Connects River Market to South Plaza, UMKC

• Encourages Transit Oriented Development (TOD) on the Main Street Corridor

• 7,873 daily riders in January 2026

RideKC Route 31 provides East-West connectivity on the 31^st Street Corridor at 15 minute frequencies

• 15 minute frequencies make it the most frequent bus route in the state of Missouri

• Not the most frequent bus corridor (Prospect Avenue)

• Runs from 5 AM to 12 AM Monday-Saturday

• Runs from 5 AM to 10 PM on Sunday

• Connects southern Independence to the core of Kansas City

• 1,931 daily riders in January 2026

Route 39 provides East-West transit on the 39^th Street Corridor

• Operates at 30 minute frequencies

• Runs from 5 AM to 12 AM Monday-Saturday

• Runs from 5 AM to 10 PM on Sunday

• Connects KU Medical Center and Volker / Roanoke Neighborhoods to the East Side

• Deviation to VA Medical Center

• 584 daily riders in January 2026

Where access is provided, pedestrian and sidewalk infrastructure is well designed

• Southwest Trafficway has few points to cross the roadway

• Certain streets have unsafe crossings

• Road diets to Main Street and Broadway Boulevard have improved walking conditions along the respective corridors

• New tree plantings in the neighborhood will provide shade and clean air

• Short, small blocks improve walkability