KCMO owns, operates and maintains the public right-of-way. This includes the streets, curbs, sidewalks, traffic lights, street signs and street lights.

Many different groups work in the public right-of-way to help KCMO keep things running smoothly. Utility companies need to repair things like water and sewer lines, fire hydrants, gas mains, fiber connections, and communication lines. These companies and their contractors pull permits through Compass KC to do this work. 

Because there is so much going on in our right-of-way, it is critical to coordinate these efforts so that we are using our program funding and taxpayer dollars wisely. (Photo: @QuintonLucasKC)

Smoother streets are on the way for Kansas City drivers following the City Council vote on August 19, 2021 to adopt stricter street excavation standards. The new rules require utilities to make more extensive repairs to our streets after they finish underground work, as well as create better coordination between the City and any utility company cutting into the street. 

Specifically, the policy requires:

1. A full lane width repair of a pavement cut for pavements 5 years and older
2. Improved backfilling material underneath the patch
3. Full street repaving if more than 20% of the street is going to be patched
4. Temporary street plates must be embedded in the pavement in all seasons, not just placed on top of the street
5. Combining patches that are 10 feet apart into one larger patch
6. Improved coordination among city staff and utility companies, including an annual update for capital improvements and shared online mapping for all projects

• Read the news release about the street excavation standards updates from August 19, 2021
• Read the news release about the new Street Maintenance Strategy from March 3, 2021
• View the full resolution introduced on 10/22/20
• Read the news release posted on 10/22/20

Existing utility coordination efforts: 

KCMO Public Works already coordinates with utility companies and existing projects through our Street Preservation Program. The list below outlines our coordination efforts:

• Communication of short term and long term projects to utility companies. If conflicts cannot be resolved, Public Works typically delays street resurfacing to avoid utility cuts on freshly resurfaced roads
• Monthly “Utility Liaison Coordination Committee” (ULCC) meetings with utility companies to discuss active and future work. 
  • The annual Street Preservation list is shared with this group in early spring
• Degradation fees and construction restoration standards for excavations done on pavements less than two years old
• Locations of upcoming and completed projects listed on KCMO GIS Parcel Viewer
  • This data is updated every few days as work is completed
• Street Preservation website is updated once a week with the weekly schedule

Related Info:

• Learn how to view our road closure map layer on parcel viewer 
• View contact information for our utility partners 
• Learn more about our Street Preservation Program and where we are resurfacing this year

• Read the first utility coordination resolution, No. 200916