Council approves future restriping plan for Mount Air Parkway after split public reaction

The Clayton City Council voted 3-2 on Feb. 4 to endorse Alternative 2 for restriping Mount Air Parkway between Marsh Creek Road and Mount Air Circle, but to delay implementation and seek to incorporate the work into the city's 2026 paving program if the council opts to wait. Councilmembers Ania, Tillman and Vice Mayor Juan supported the motion; Councilmember Enea and Mayor Troopiano voted no.

The issue: Staff and a traffic consultant presented three striping options that would reduce the roadway from four travel lanes to two (one in each direction) within the existing curb-to-curb width (approximately 64 feet). Staff recommended Alternative 2, which provides one travel lane each direction, a two-way left-turn center lane, a bike lane and retained on-street parking. The city's estimate for the recommended restriping and related work was about $244,000 (including a 20% contingency); that estimate rose from earlier figures because staff used recent bid data.

Engineering and staff said the restriping would be primarily a visual and pavement-marking change, not a hard narrowing: "The width of the road physically will stay the same," City Engineer Larry Theiss said. He explained that the recommended approach uses a slurry seal and thermoplastic striping for a longer-lasting result than the temporary paint applied after last year's paving.

Public comment was strongly split. Several Dana Hills residents said the existing four-lane layout is preferable, citing heavy swim-team parking, weekend meets, and the risk that narrowing could create backups at pool access and on neighborhood streets. ‘‘If it ain't broke, don't fix it," one resident said. Other residents who live directly on Mount Air Parkway urged the change for safety reasons; they described difficulty entering and exiting driveways and near-misses. "Turning into my driveway every day... I'm always hoping to God I don't get rear-ended from behind," one resident said.

Council discussion addressed safety and practicality. Supporters highlighted potential speed reduction and the safety benefits of a center turn lane. Opponents raised concerns about emergency access in an evacuation and the recent cost of repaving the road; Councilmember Enea, a former police officer, said motorists who want to speed will still do so and cited concerns about emergency egress.

Timing and funding: Staff told the council the city had applied for a county/regional transportation grant that could add about $50,000 toward the project; the grant review process runs through late spring and the awarded funds normally would be accessible by August. Given the recent resurfacing, several council members favored folding the restriping into the 2026 paving program to reduce separate procurement and mobilization costs. The council's motion reflected that compromise: approve Alternative 2 as the preferred design but schedule the work in coordination with the city's 2026 paving plan (and keep the grant application active).

Vote: The motion to adopt Alternative 2 for a future (unspecified) implementation passed 3-2. Roll call: Council Member Diaz: yes; Council Member Ania: yes; Council Member Tillman: aye; Vice Mayor Juan: aye; Mayor Troopiano: no. Councilmember Enea voted no.

Next steps: Staff will retain Alternative 2 as the preferred design, continue the pending grant application, and include the restriping in staff's recommended paving schedule for 2026 unless council directs an earlier timetable. Staff also suggested minor local refinements (no-parking curb segments near critical corners and clearer crosswalk markings) could be added in design.

Sources: Presentation and discussion at the Feb. 4 council meeting, public comment from Dana Hills residents, and City Engineer Larry Theiss remarks.