Truman Road

Truman Road, Truman, or 15th Street is a major east/west road in Jackson County, Missouri. It serves Kansas City, Missouri, Independence, and eastern unincorporated Jackson County.

Its western terminus is at Broadway Boulevard and I-670 in downtown Kansas City, and its eastern terminus is at the Jackson/Lafayette County line when concurrent with Route FF, north of Oak Grove.

It is named after Harry S. Truman, the 33rd U.S. President, and runs through his hometown of Independence.

Leaving Kansas City to the east, Truman Road follows Route 12 from Interstate 435 to an intersection with Spring Street on the Independence Square. Along this stretch is Van Horn High School, the Maywood Business District, and the Truman home.

Truman Road east of Route 291 in Independence was originally called Spring Branch Road, after the nearby creek. Out here is an intersection with Route 78/Lake City-Buckner Road, as well as a bridge crossing over the Little Blue River. With the proposed extensions of Jackson Drive and the Little Blue Parkway north of 39th Street as well as future development, this stretch of Truman Road is due for upgrades, such as converting from two lanes to four.

Truman Road, in Kansas City, was originally called Van Horn Road for Robert T. Van Horn. He was elected Kansas City mayor for three terms in 1861, 1863, and 1864.

The Truman Road corridor is served by two principal tax exempt entities. The Truman Road Corridor Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to investing in distressed real estate along the corridor and the Truman Road Community Improvement District is a sub-governmental entity largely tasked with maintaining the common areas along Truman Road.