The city of Parkville, Missouri, is moving forward with an important infrastructure project designed to improve the safety and traffic flow of its downtown area.
The Redefine Route 9 project aims to revitalize the area while addressing ongoing concerns over pedestrian safety and congestion caused by Highway 9 running through the heart of downtown.
Scope of the Highway 9 Improvement Project
The planned work for the Highway 9 project will cover several key areas, extending from the entrance of Park University to 4th Street and continuing west along 1st Street to Mill Street and S. Crooked Road.
This project seeks to enhance the streetscape, improve sidewalks, create safer crosswalks, and address issues like the triangle entry to downtown, which has long been a traffic bottleneck.
Parkville Mayor Dean Katerndahl emphasized the importance of balancing the area’s charm with the need for modern infrastructure improvements.
“When you think of charming Parkville, you’re really thinking of downtown. It’s prospering, and we want to keep it that way, but it has challenges with the road coming right through,” he explained.
| Location | Project Scope | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Park University to 4th Street | Roadway and pedestrian safety improvements | Sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic flow |
| 1st Street to Mill Street | Enhancing traffic flow and pedestrian areas | Redesign of triangle entry and improved signage |
| S. Crooked Road | Improve accessibility and traffic management | Better pedestrian mobility and event space access |
Public Feedback and Concerns
A public survey conducted prior to the project showed that the most exciting aspects of the project were increasing safety, improving pedestrian mobility, and enhancing visibility and traffic flow.
However, some residents expressed concerns about changing the character of downtown and the potential for overcrowding in the already constrained area.
Timothy Roush, a visitor to Parkville, voiced concerns about maintaining the town’s beauty: “If you turn it into a parking lot and just worry about cars, you’re not really worrying about the people.”
During the March 10 public meeting, six potential design concepts were presented. Three of these proposals involved demolishing the historic power plant building, which has been a point of contention for some residents.
The proposed designs would relocate the highway, allowing it to go south next to the railroad tracks and go all the way through downtown.
This has raised strong objections from members of the Parkville VFW Post, who recently purchased the building and are concerned about the impact on their community activities.
VFW Post Commander expressed their concern about losing the building, which is integral to their operations as a non-profit.
“We are here to support the community, but some consideration needs to be added into that as well,” he said, emphasizing the emotional and practical difficulties of losing their new facility.
Timeline and Next Steps
The city plans to spend the next two months collecting feedback on the proposed designs, with another public hearing scheduled for early to mid-June.
This will be a crucial opportunity for the community to voice their opinions and for planners to refine their approach.
The Redefine Route 9 project in Parkville represents an exciting opportunity to improve the downtown area while addressing traffic and safety issues along Highway 9.
While there are concerns about preserving the area’s historic charm and managing the limited space, the city is committed to creating a safer, more accessible environment for pedestrians and drivers alike.
As the project moves forward, public input will continue to play a vital role in shaping the final design.