Program Manager:

Mia Puthumana
Mia.Puthumana@kcmo.org
(816) 513-4703

Crosswalks

Crosswalk Restoration Program

The City of Kansas City provides crosswalks based public need and safety following Federal Highway Administration guidelines. Because demand for crosswalk restoration in residential areas is greater than available resources can currently meet, the Crosswalk Restoration Program lets private entities restore crosswalks in need of repair. It’s a unique opportunity for members of the community to work together with the city to make crosswalks safer. 

Program Requirements 

Private entities such as homeowner’s associations (HOA), community improvement districts, business associations, and educational institutions can apply to restore crosswalks in their areas. 

• Participants work with the City for a period of at least three years, 
  with the option for annual renewals
• Waivers are required of each individual participating in the program 
• An approved Traffic Control Permit must also be on file specifying the dates and times that the restoration work may be completed 
• Appropriate traffic control must be installed prior to beginning restoration
• Work is permitted during daylight hours on Saturdays and Sundays, and at non-commuter times on Mondays through Fridays, as determined by the City for each location 

Locations, Restoration and Maintenance 

Only crosswalks in residential areas may be restored under the terms of the program. For the safety of the volunteers, crosswalks may not be restored across major streets, such as arterials, secondary arterials, or thoroughfares.

• The City supplies all paint for crosswalk restoration and maintenance
• Program participants supply all other resources and materials 
• To maintain standards, crosswalk(s) must be repainted every ten months 
• Repainting of crosswalks must be done to match the existing striping 
• Crosswalks will be inspected by a City representative and the entity
• Once the crosswalk has been repainted, the participant will contact Public Works Dispatch at 816-513-9870 to confirm the maintenance and arrange for inspection

Required Standards 

Restored crosswalks must meet the standards defined by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUCTD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

MUTCD Standards 

• When crosswalk lines are used, they shall consist of solid white lines that mark the crosswalk. They shall not be less than 6 inches or greater than 24 inches in width
• If transverse lines are used to mark a crosswalk, the gap between the lines should not be less than 6 feet. If diagonal or longitudinal lines are used without transverse lines to mark a crosswalk, the crosswalk should be not less than 6 feet wide
• Crosswalk lines, if used on both sides of the crosswalk, should extend across the full width of pavement or to the edge of the intersecting crosswalk to discourage diagonal walking between crosswalks

EPA Standards 

No materials classified as contaminants by the EPA may be used in the restoration and maintenance of crosswalks.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? 

If you would like to apply to participate in KCMO’s Crosswalk Restoration Program, please call Public Works Dispatch at 816-513-9870. 

You’ll be asked to complete the following three documents. We’ll guide you through the appropriate steps to submit your application:

• Crosswalk Waiver
• Crosswalk Restoration Program Agreement Form
• Submit a Traffic Control Permit through CompassKC

Thank you for your interest in working with us to improve walkability and safety in Kansas City.

Request a Crosswalk

Residents can request a crosswalk by following these easy steps:

1. Download the MyKCMO app if you don’t already have it on your mobile device.
2. When you open the app, click report an issue
3. Scroll down to Traffic Signs and Street Markings
4. Choose crosswalk markings and follow the prompts

If you don’t have a mobile device then call 816-513-1313.

In conjunction with signs and other measures, crosswalk markings help to alert road users of a designation pedestrian crossing point across roadways at locations that are not controlled by traffic control signals or STOP or YIELD signs. It is important to note that marked crosswalks at an uncontrolled location are carefully selected and designed to ensure that they add to, and do not reduce the safety of pedestrians. That’s why Kansas City adheres to the guidelines defined by the US Department of Transportation’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to ensure the placement of a crosswalk is appropriate in a given area.

As defined in the MUTCD, the City of Kansas City conducts an engineering study before a marked crosswalk is installed at a location away from a traffic control signal or an approach controlled by a STOP or YIELD sign. The study considerations include but are not limited to the following:

• Pedestrian volume
• Available traffic gaps
• Location of crossing (intersection or mid-block)
• Accident experience
• Sight distance (both vertical and horizontal)
• Pattern of crossing ( for example, all day or crossing during school hours only, etc.)
• Street width (does it have median or refuge island?)
• Speed limit
• ADA considerations

When a crosswalk is installed, the City must ensure there are ADA compliant curb ramp adjacent to the crosswalks so wheelchair users are able to navigate the area.

It is important to remember that crosswalks, by themselves, do not slow traffic and reduce pedestrian crashes. Inappropriate placement of a crosswalk can cause more danger to pedestrians.  The City does not grant all requests for crosswalks because of these safety assessments and requirements that must be met to ensure public safety.