The City of Parkville has substantially completed improvements to Highway 9 from Highway 45 to Lakeview Drive, including a new sidewalk that connects to Main Street.
The project was a multi-year, large-scale project that has added street improvements, trails, sidewalks, lighting and a traffic signal.
The Hwy. 9 Improvements Project began with a corridor study, adopted in January 2016, that identified important transportation concerns, specifically the need for Complete Street improvements along Hwy. 9 to improve safety, mobility, stormwater management and multimodal accessibility. The improvements from Hwy. 45 to Lakeview Drive represented the first three of the 12 segments.
To fund the large-scale project, the city applied for and received federal and state grants. In 2017, the city received a $1,734,500 Missouri Moves Cost Share grant and a $668,000 Missouri Surface Transportation Program (STP), both from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). The city also received a $297,000 Missouri Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Program grant from the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC).
A local match from the city was required for each grant. To fund the local match, the 9 Highway Corridor Community Improvement District (CID) was created in December 2016 to collect a one percent sales tax on retail sales from properties within the district. The city had a debt financing strategy to cover the remainder of the match needed that was not covered by CID revenues.
The design of the improvements, with the assistance of George Butler Associates, began in August 2017 and was completed in mid-2019. Following completion of the design, right-of-way was needed in order for the utilities to be able to move to the correct locations within the project area.
In June 2021, the city contracted with Gunter Construction to construct the improvements from Hwy. 45 to Lakeview Drive, including the addition of a sidewalk connecting Lakeview Drive to Main Street. Improvements include curb and gutter, stormwater improvements, a 10-foot shared-use path for non-motorized users, sidewalks, a traffic signal at 63rd Street, marked crosswalks and pedestrian lighting. Staff anticipates the landscaping will be completed by the end of October.
“The city is excited that the improvements have been substantially completed,” mayor Dean Katerndahl said. “It has greatly improved vehicular traffic through the community and includes design elements that enhance aesthetics and pedestrian movements. We are currently seeking funding opportunities for future phases.”
Hwy. 9 has also seen other improvements within the corridor, including improvements to:
The entryway sign at the eastern edge of Park University;
The stone pillars on the east side of White Alloe Creek as you enter downtown;
New streetlights with banner brackets in front of Park University and the train depot; and
The intersection at Sixth Street.