In 2017, the City of Parkville completed its largest ever annual street maintenance program. Out of a total of 222 streets in Parkville, 40 streets were updated or repaired. The projects were completed on schedule and under budget. Favorable bids allowed the City to complete more improvements than originally planned.
The City’s annual street maintenance program included concrete curb and sidewalk repair, asphalt mill and overlay, pavement marking and crack sealing. In 2017, a total of 70,000 square yards of asphalt was milled, 5.6 miles of streets and 21 cul-de-sacs were milled and overlaid and 11,800 tons of asphalt mix was used. A total of 9,500 lineal feet of curbs and 45 square yards of sidewalks were repaired or replaced and eight Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) truncated domes were installed on sidewalks. Additionally, one mile was microsurfaced and approximately 18.94 miles were crack sealed with 15,000 pounds of crack fill material used. An engineering study completed in May led to an improved drainage system and roadway over the Riss Lake Dam. The final project in the program included new pavement markings downtown and the addition of two handicap stalls at the Parkville Nature Sanctuary.
Funding for the enhanced street maintenance program was approved in the 2017 budget. In March, the City authorized financing of $1 million for the Streets Enhancement Program to help improve the streets that were deteriorating at a faster rate than basic maintenance funding could fix. An analysis conducted by a financial advisor firm concluded that over a six year timeframe, the debt financing strategy would complete 6,660 more linear feet of roadway than the City’s annual pay-as-you-go approach, due to lower bids received as a result of completing more lane miles in one season. No new taxes were imposed to pay for the improvements. The City intends to pay the debt service on the financing from the City’s existing transportation taxes. The City prioritizes which streets are schedule for improvement based on an annual street ratings program.
Mayor Johnston said, “The City’s investment in this year’s street maintenance program tripled the level of street maintenance completed in prior years and improved street ratings of the City’s heaviest traveled but poorest condition streets. City staff worked diligently this year to make sure the money was stretched as far as it could go in order to get the best return on our investment.”
For more information, please contact Public Works Director Alysen Abel at Parkville City Hall at (816) 741-7676.
