Public Works asks residents for ideas to make Troost safer

By Sara Wiercinski

On August 19 Kansas City Public Works hosted an engagement session at UMKC’s Miller Nichols Library to discuss safety improvements to Troost Ave from Truman Rd in the north to its southern endpoint at Bannister Rd.

More than 100 residents, business owners and public officials turned out to share concerns that went well beyond infrastructure.

Among them was Mark Ledom, owner of St. Anthony’s Senior Living at 68th and Troost. Ledom praised the recent improvements including new traffic signals and crosswalks, and encouraged the city to manage the upkeep to make the investments worthwhile.

Ledom also lamented the pervasive expired tags and dangerous high speeds, points which were echoed by other attendees.

State Representative Mark Sharp spoke of the general lack of police presence in the south portion of Troost. A resident of 84th Terr and Troost complained of the street races near the viaduct that have been going on for years without police intervention.

“There’s no solution here, and at the same time there’s every solution here,” said Uday Manepalli, Engineering Division Head for Kansas City Public Works Engineering and Construction Division.

“We are here to hear from and work with you all.”

Manepalli, who has worked for Kansas City for seven years, emphasized the need to hear all concerns from all residents, and the importance of the city partnering with the police department and Kansas City Area Transit authority for sustained success.

Public Works’ portion concerns engineering solutions that can reduce traffic crashes and make the road more usable by pedestrians.

“Troost is like a spine. It carries traffic from neighborhood to neighborhood.” said Manepalli. “We want to make sure it is safer for everyone.”

City analyst Marlene Pardo presented traffic data for the arterial street, which carries between 5,000 and 7,000 vehicles daily in both directions. In the past ten years, ten pedestrians were killed in fatal crashes on Troost, with many more injuries and instances of damaged property.

The data will prove crucial in evaluating the engineering improvements.

The first round of public engagement for the project took place in February 2025, with an open house and 75 online survey responses. From this feedback the city identified a number of improvements for the ten-mile long road, some of which have already been completed.

In South Kansas City, the city installed raised pedestrian walkways along the east side of Troost from 82nd St to Bannister Rd, along with a high-intensity activated crosswalk south of 79th St, in front of the public charter school Academy for Integrated Arts (AFIA).

Some meeting attendees expressed skepticism that street repairs could help when faced with wider issues of serious law breaking.

“There was nothing there before, and now there’s something,” said Manepalli, referencing the 79th St crosswalk. “Like the mayor said, ‘We can be a city that can walk and chew gum at the same time.’”

Manepalli referenced a federal study that recommends reducing a four-lane road to three lanes which can lessen traffic crashes by 20%. Other measures on the table include pedestrian crossings, new signals and permanent street parking along portions of Troost.

One person asked about speed humps, which Manepalli answered are not warranted on arterial streets with high traffic volume. His announcement that bike lanes are not in consideration was met by applause from the audience.

Manepalli estimates engineering costs for the entire Troost Corridor will be around $20 million. The city applied for a federal grant for safety improvements, but it was rejected. There is currently no specified funding for the Troost project.

Sixth District city council member Johnathan Duncan, who attended the meeting along with fellow council members Ryana Parks Shaw and Darrell Curls, spoke of the significance of Troost as a historic dividing line, and the literal dividing line between the fifth and sixth city council districts.

“Combining funds from our two districts will help bring about these improvements and benefits everyone,” said Duncan.

After the presentation and questions, attendees were invited to add notes and questions to enlarged printed maps of Troost overlaid with traffic crash data.

City employees encouraged those in attendance and all area residents and commuters to take the online survey and honestly share their concerns and ideas.

“You all are driving it and using it daily. We want your ideas,” said Manepalli. “Then we will come back after we have the information to finalize solutions.”

The online survey closes on September 12.

Learn more at speakeasy.kcmo.gov/en/projects/troostimprovements