This file photo from 2013 shows Bob Billings Parkway near the area where the street was extended to connect to the South Lawrence Trafficway.

Lawrence residents had an opportunity Wednesday night to offer their thoughts on neighborhood traffic along Bob Billings Parkway, Kasold Drive and Kansas Highway 10.

More than 200 people gathered in Langston Hughes Elementary School’s cafeteria to hear Lawrence Public Works employees discuss project options along the parkway.

Traffic along the street is expected to increase as the interchange project between K-10 and Bob Billings Parkway draws to a close, said city engineer David Cronin. The project is slated to be finished this December.

In preparation for that increased traffic, $2.25 million has been budgeted by the city for a 2016 corridor project aimed at improving the safety of the thoroughfare, Cronin said. Wednesday night’s meeting was meant as a way of crowd-sourcing ideas on how to allocate those funds.

“We wanted to get feedback on what everybody thinks the priority is,” Cronin said.

Maps of Bob Billings Parkway were placed throughout the cafeteria, with posted notes of potential project options. Each person in attendance was given two small stickers, or votes, they could place on options they felt were best.

Lawrence resident Jack Gaumnitz said he’s concerned about some motorists speeding up and down Bob Billings Parkway, a problem that will likely intensify with the completion of the interchange project.

“They need to make an adjustment to the speed of traffic,” he said, “and balance what the road can handle.”

To address the issues, Gaumnitz mentioned altering speed limits and potentially installing more stop lights along the corridor.

Another option discussed throughout the evening was the construction of roundabouts at different intersections.

“They (roundabouts) do naturally slow people down, and traffic signals do not do that,” Cronin said. “It’s a great suggestion to alleviate congestion and slow people down.”

Along with individual residents offering their thoughts on potential projects, Cronin said one group of residents, called the Bob Billings Safety Group, has been following the project very closely.

“We have a bigger voice if we’re all involved,” said Jerry Harper, a member of the group.

Harper said he is also fond of the idea of adding roundabouts along the parkway. He noted the structures would slow traffic down, which would also help with concerns about sight distances.

“You can blow through a stop sign or go above the speed limit, but you can’t ignore a roundabout,” he said.

Other project options discussed throughout the evening included the installation of additional turning lanes, improving sidewalks and altering access streets.

Director of Public Works Charles Soules said he was pleased with the meeting’s turnout and confident the interaction would offer a lot of valuable feedback for the department to use.

“This is great,” he said. “This is the biggest neighborhood meeting we’ve had.”

Between the meeting and online comments, Soules estimated it would be about 30 days before the department could put together a plan of action to bring back to the public.

Ultimately, any project ideas will be subject to the approval of city commissioners, Cronin explained.

More information can be found and comments can be submitted at lawrenceks.org/bbp-improvements.