Current conditions
Fair
Complete forecast sponsored by
Traffic troubles ahead?
St. Joe prepares for influx of Chiefs fans
Dave Williams, left, athletic director at Missouri Western State University, was busy Tuesday seeing to preparations for the Chiefs training camp. Officials expect up to 10,000 spectators every day for the camp's three-week run.
Chiefs fans won’t just fall out of the sky.
They’ll ride into town in cars, which means locals may encounter a rare phenomenon for St. Joseph in the next three weeks: traffic.
When civic leaders weren’t busy touting the benefits the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp could bring to St. Joseph, they set aside time to deal with the potential problems.
Signs will guide out-of-towners to the Missouri Western State University campus, while police will direct traffic at key intersections at the beginning and end of each day’s activities.
Hordes of football fans are uncommon, but not unprecedented in St. Joseph. Last October, a record crowd of 10,129 fans swarmed Western’s campus to watch the Griffons battle archrival Northwest Missouri State in football.
Western spokesman Kent Heier said the training camp presented the same challenge — every day for three weeks. The university expects 10,000 to 12,000 visitors per day for special events like scrimmages, with smaller crowds expected for weekday practices.
“That’s kind of the way we’re approaching it,” Mr. Heier said. “We hosted Northwest Missouri State last fall, and we had people taking pictures of traffic. I’m sure the police department was taking lots of notes, so we would have an idea how to get people in and out.”
Andy Clements, the city’s assistant director of public works, said the highest traffic concentrations would occur on Mitchell Avenue, Faraon Street and Riverside Road, as well as Interstate 29 and U.S. Highway 36.
“The majority of Northwest fans were coming down from the north,” Mr. Clements said. “With the camp, we’ll have people coming in from all directions.”
Sgt. Bill McCammon said the St. Joseph Police Department will station officers at Western’s north and south entrances at the beginning and end of each day. Plans are in place to direct traffic at intersections near the campus if long lines develop at traffic signals.
St. Joseph Transit will run a daily shuttle between Western and Legends Sports Bar & Grill for $1 per one-way trip, with buses leaving roughly every 20 minutes. Bus schedules will vary depending on the Chiefs’ daily practice routine. For more complete shuttle schedules, visit http://www.ci.st-joseph.mo.us/transit/ChiefsShuttle.pdf.
Fans who drive to campus may pay $10 to park at one of three priority parking lots, with free parking available farther from the practice facilities. Signs will direct drivers to the paid and free lots, as well as pointing out areas where parking is restricted.
“I think we’re prepared. We have a plan,” Mr. Heier said. “At the same time, I think we’re prepared to adjust that plan if needed.”
Clinton Thomas can be reached at clinton.thomas@newspressnow.com.
« Sign up to receive emails and text messages with the latest Chiefs news.
Share Your Thoughts
Expand
Policy
Comments are the responsibility of the person posting them. Comments will be removed if they: threaten someone or degrade them on the basis of gender, race, class, national origin religion or disability; ...
... contain abusive, vulgar or sexually oriented language; spread rumors or lies; or are written in all caps. Please stay on topic. Brief quotes are OK as long as the source is given. Comments must be 250 words or fewer. Newspressnow.com moderators also reserve the right to remove comments for any reason they deem worthy.
luvmykids says...
We will have traffic issues. The college will also have issues because while the Chiefs are in for one of those weeks the kids also have artscape going on at the college. If someone would have been thinking they would have switched dates for that. I hope they are putting more officers on duty those 3 weeks to deal with all the drunk driving. I drive 71 every day and seldom see an officer watching all the speeders through there. Even though they know people speed because they have one of those this is your speed signs. If they need to pass out some tickets sit there for 30 min in the morning or around 5 pm. There are plenty. So, I do not see them being too concerned with drunk drivers who will be hitting the highways after the games. This town will be a mess for those 3 weeks.
July 28, 2010 at 5:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
i never know whether to laugh or cry when someone talks about traffic "problems" here in st. joseph.
sarah lee employees need to be aware of this camp, for sure, so they don't point out in three weeks for late clock-ins.
July 28, 2010 at 6:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
liberal_lamont says...
luvmykids, it never fails, I have a moron pass me on that Southbound lane on 71. I'll be doing the 40MPH and then I see it jump to 65 or 70. Then they fly around me and slam on their brakes, I'm guessing because they are the cautious type.
They don't do so hot from the Andrew County side, but ol Richard Scott will get 'em every time through Country Club. Stand up chief, right there. He is fair and honest and does police work the way it's supposed to be done - with a little class and compassion without taking himself too seriously.
July 28, 2010 at 6:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
So much negativity from luvmykids. There are serious restrictions on alcohol consumption on the campus so it shouldn't be a problem. But if you're that worried, use the bus and the shuttle and check the Chief's schedule so you can work around it. They don't have activities every day. And for goodness sake, it's only three weeks - lighten up!
July 28, 2010 at 6:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
luvmykids says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
July 28, 2010 at 7:02 a.m. ( permalink | )
liberal_lamont says...
Sarah, take your elitist, "I've seen the mountaintop" crap somewhere else.
Guess what - traffic problems are the same for a city the size of LA and the size of Savannah. Congestion is congestion, backups are backups - whether it be 10 cars on a road made for 1 or 1000 cars on a road made for 100.
Get over yourself. Yet again I point out the inconsistency in that feeble brain of yours. You want to "leave good impressions" on visitors and cite this comments section as part of the proof no one wants to come here.
So how 'bout you take your condescending comments and holier-than-thou attitude and work it on down the road. We get it, this is cowtown and you can laugh at the pettiness of the people when they vent their frustration about traffic.
Jeez you're such a cool cat.
July 28, 2010 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
liberal_lamont says...
For the record I've driven in Los Angeles during rush hour on Interstate 5. I've been pinned on the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. I've been stuck in Atlanta for what seemed like years. I've driven in Houston and Dallas.
Guess what the one constant is? When you're stuck in traffic, you're not moving. Whether that be in St.Joseph, New York or Skidmore.
Again, we get how cool and well-travelled you are. Sorry Clint Thomas had to bother you by making you read the story. He should have been more clear in the headline, one might have thought this article was about planting marigolds.
July 28, 2010 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
michael, you are such a card..... i think it is time to simply apply the asterisk response to you. words are not worth the effort.
****************************************************
i was actually commenting on the refreshing lack of gridlock in st joseph ;0) chief's camp is a great thing for us, and i hope it DOES produce traffic. sounds like the various agencies are planning for contingencies very competently.
July 28, 2010 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mr_America says...
luvmykids, lighten up. Chiefs training camp is not the end of the world.
July 28, 2010 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sense says...
lib - seriously man, they make medication for you, really - Sarah is right, traffic in St Joe is nothing compared to say even Omaha or Kansas City - you call Sara elitist then make sure everyone knows you've been all of these places -
so we have some traffic for three weeks, big deal, better than tumbleweeds blowing around - just plan ahead and take a differant route if you need to -
As far as serving alchohol, this is not sitting watchiing an NFL game on Sunday afternoon it's watching practice. Funny about the concern of selling beer, no one seemed to be bothered by beer sales at Mustangs games which had fans of some 2000 people - why not?
July 28, 2010 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
luvmykids - I believe you owe me a huge apology for your arrogant, uninformed comments about me.
July 28, 2010 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mr_America says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
July 28, 2010 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | )
David_Mason says...
Hey, traffic can be so bad in St. Joe that it once took me five minutes to get from the Belt to I-29 and Frederick. How does that square with taking an hour to go 15 miles in Chicago's rush hour. LA can be faster but who wants to go 80 mph bumper to bumper? Frankly, I'd rather see Manchester United v Barcelona or the Toure de Missouri, but Chiefs Training Camp is a problem we should celebrate. Thanks to Recorder of Deeds (State Legislator) Ed Wildberger for getting this going for St. Joseph.
July 28, 2010 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Andjusticeforall says...
What about Trails West? Thousands of people there and all kind of parking issues along with alcohol. Very few complaints about it until it became political (the Westward Ho thing). Not much difference, in my opinion. I see both sides here and all I can say is we'll have to wait and see how everything pans out and then re-assess. By the way, you don't have to wait for a NWMSU vs. MWSU game or a Chiefs Training Camp to have to watch for traffic on that campus. Look both ways before crossing the street, that's what I was taught.
July 28, 2010 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
With the good also comes the not so good. It is just a simple fact of life that if you want some of the things that help the community prosper there is a price to pay. In the case of Saint Joe, on this issue the plus is going to far outweigh the negative.
July 28, 2010 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sense says...
sorry people, I go to Chiefs games and Ive been to training camps more than just the Chiefs, I don't see the tailgating and intake of drinking at training camps even remotley close to a NFL game event. People come to get closer to the players and see up close and personal just how big these guys are and what they do -
it's not a party like NFL games, traffic may be an issue but drinking won't be
July 28, 2010 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mr_America says...
So true sense. A training camp practice and gameday are two very different things.
July 28, 2010 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Andjusticeforall says...
Vermeer I would think there would be less people in a 3 day period at a Chiefs camp than 3 days at Trails West. Also, drinking and driving IS drinking and driving no matter one mile or 100 miles of travel. Besides they say most accidents occur within a relatively short distance to one's home.
July 28, 2010 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
randallhuston says...
Hey at least they'll be putting those stoplight cameras to good use. I think it'd be really funny if the majority of violators turn out to be Cheifs players. If that's the case you'll see those cameras taken down pretty quickly.
July 28, 2010 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
froggy says...
As stated by the Western spokesperson, "The university expects 10,000 to 12,000 visitors per day for special events like scrimmages." Not sure what brain train you rode to town, but that's totally absurd! The local city kitties (police) can relax as this will be a huge flop after the first few days of camp.
July 28, 2010 at 8:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
deerslayer1967 says...
I find it interesting that the newspress would even print such an inflammatory article. It's like a no-brainer that bringing in people from the "outside" to enjoy something we asked them to do/ bought and built a training camp, would bring extra traffic. It's like having an amphitheater for concerts that people attend and not thinking that they may be driving cars. Hey, clinton thomas, what did you expect????? with all the positives the visitors bureau is professing for the community, here we have a rep from the local paper stating the negatives. Thanks for the negative press, clint.
July 28, 2010 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
deerslayer1967 says...
To cut Clinton some slack, normally, for a city newspaper such as the KC star, this would be an explanatory story "hey, this is what is going to happen". KC would not have an issue with the traffic because they are used to it. However, given the division in this city regarding the camp (it's necessity, it's funding), it becomes a potential inflammatory story (scare the ignorant from the outsiders). Some don't think we should have the camp at all. Build a wall around st joe and be done with it. There will be strangers here, don't be scared, they have money to spend.
July 28, 2010 at 8:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
liberal_lamont says...
Lol, no one is safe in this article, even the author!
July 28, 2010 at 8:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sense says...
does it say about us when traffic is such a big story?
July 28, 2010 at 9:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Voice says...
do racists cause traffic jams?
there's some white boys on the Chiefs team isn't there; they're not all Indians are they?
will the racists get tickets too for drunk driving?
i don't think Clinton covered all the variables in this article.
July 28, 2010 at 10:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
vermeer - Trails West! buttons are on sale now, Dennis DeYoung will be playing the music of Styx.
July 29, 2010 at 5:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
matt schofield friday night at trails west!!!!!!!
July 29, 2010 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
georgette says...
It is coming whether you like it or not. I am not a football fan but I am willing to give any legitimate tax collecting, money making situation a fighting chance.
You all be careful out there, plan your trips around the city using 229 or 22nd Street or Noyes Blvd to get from one part of town to the other and you will probably be fine. You might see a part of St Joe you haven't seen in years!! Be willing to answer questions and help out the visitors.
The people in Wisconsin were very very unhappy to see the training camp leave, so there must be something to it.
July 29, 2010 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )