Traffic study planned in Parkville

The City of Parkville plans to launch a traffic study in the area of The National, in part due to complaints and concerns from residents.

The board of aldermen gave preliminary approval at the Tuesday, Oct. 2 meeting to authorize an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to conduct the study. Final approval is expected later this month.

Traffic patterns around South National Drive, River Hills Drive and Crooked Road would be analyzed through the study, which would be primarily funded through MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation).

MoDOT covers 80 percent of study costs, with Parkville setting aside $2,000 for its portion of the study. Engineering costs are expected to span the 2018 and 2019 budget years.

A past study in the area was conducted by TranSystems, with Parkville staff recommending TranSystems should assist with the new study. Three elements are to be addressed in the new traffic study.

In the River Hills subdivision, residents requested a study in 2013 to see if their intersection was eligible for a four-way stop. At that time, it was not, but city officials promised the matter could be revisited in a few years.

Residents on South National Drive have also requested stop signs, but city staff studied the area and determined yield signs would be adequate. Due to continued complaints, the matter would be revisited in the traffic study.

A new section of the Cider Mill subdivision is still under construction with a new phase continuing a loop around South National Drive. According to the staff report, the additional traffic volume from this development can be added to the new study to determine if new intersection controls are necessary.

The new traffic study is expected to be completed by April 2019.