Missouri River barge traffic picks up with toots and waves

That's why I was surprised (and a little too excited) to see a barge trundling upstream this month.

• I wasn't the only one. Crowds gathered on the levee to wave. The barge pilot even gave us a little (big) "toot toot."

Why it matters: Barge traffic is increasing around Kansas City, which is good for local commerce, traffic and the environment.

• It also means water recreationists need to watch out.

Behind the scenes: PortKC has spent years bringing barge traffic back to Kansas City after the Woodswether Terminal in the West Bottoms closed in 2007.

• The port authority took over the terminal — where barges load and unload — in 2012 and reopened it in 2015. It was renamed the Governor Michael L. Parson Port Terminal in 2023.

By the numbers: The Missouri River has seen a 218% increase in barge and tugboat operating companies from 2010 to 2024, according to PortKC.

• Also since 2010, the KC metro has grown from eight port terminals to 21.

Between the lines: Barges are considered more environmentally friendly than other freight options — their fuel efficiency is about 30% better than trains and 78% better than trucks, according to the National Waterways Foundation.

• The barge I saw, part of the "Sugar Creek Express," frees the roadways from about 6,510 trucks between Sugar Creek, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska, every year, according to PortKC.

Situational Awareness: Boaters beware — barge pilots can have a blind spot extending up to 900 feet in front of them, as well as sizable blind spots on the sides and behind. Folks encountering a barge should remain far away.

Travis' thought bubble: Growing up on the Mississippi, barges were nothing special. But I've never seen one on this stretch of the Missouri River since moving to Kansas City in 2019.

• I felt like a kid again seeing a barge in my now-hometown. And to me, barge traffic is a sign of a healthy river in use.