The last time Rob Dodson rode on a Kansas City streetcar, he was only five years old. Mr. Dodson told The Kansas City Star about a prediction his dad made that day. “The next time you ride a streetcar in Kansas City,” his dad said as they left the busy streetcar, “it will be 50 years.” That was a pretty good guess. Today Mr. Dodson is 64, and he is riding the streetcar again. He had to wait 59 years to do it!

Back when Mr. Dodson was a kid, streetcars made perfect sense for travelers in Kansas City. During that time, cars were too expensive for ordinary people. Many families just didn’t have one. They used streetcars on tracks to travel all the way to the city’s edges. There, they bought land. They built businesses and homes. Because of that, Kansas City sprawls, or stretches out wide.

Today, most people can afford cars. They don’t need rails to take them to the outskirts of the city. So the city has started using streetcars for a new purpose: attracting people to the middle of town. So far, that seems to be working. Some people ride the rail because it brings back good memories of riding long ago. Others come because they want to be a part of history. But most of them just enjoy getting a free ride through the city.

Is the new rail a good thing, or not? Not everyone agrees. People like riding it. Because they don’t have to concentrate on driving, they can take in beautiful views of the city. They feel safe because police officers ride along for security. But some have doubts about the line. The rail cost $102 million to build. That’s a big chunk of change! The ride may cost nothing for now. But many say it won’t be free for long.