RECAP: River des Peres Greenway Extension’s March 9th Open House
Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) held an open house Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at the Gateway Science Academy (6576 Smiley Avenue, St Louis). The purpose of the open house was to present further details of the future River des Peres Greenway expansion from the Lansdowne-Shrewsbury MetroLink Station to Francis R. Slay Park planned for 2017.
Background on Great Rivers Greenway
GRG is the regional parks and trails district, created by a vote of the people to build a connected trail network between St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. The Greenway system currently consists of 17 interconnected trails, called Greenways, spanning 110 miles.
The Ellendale neighborhood resides along the future extension of the River des Peres Greenway (RDP Greenway). The master plan for the RDP Greenway calls for a continuous 11-mile corridor stretching between Forest Park and the Mississippi River. It will connect into the Deer Creek, Gravois, and Mississippi Greenways along with connections to the Bike St. Louis street routes at multiple locations.
Currently, the RDP Greenway travels from Carondelet Park to the Shrewsbury/Lansdowne MetroLink.
Design of the River des Peres Greenway extension — north from Landsdowne Avenue into the Ellendale neighborhood at Francis R. Slay Park — is in its final stages and construction is planned for 2017. After this extension is completed, a continuous interconnected trail will exist from Slay Park in St. Louis City (intersection of Canterbury and Ellendale Avenues) to Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County. This trail extension will include substantial work along Wabash and Ellendale Avenues and funding will be provided by a federal grant for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) projects with a local match from Great Rivers Greenway.
Open House Recap
Recap of the open house can be found on GRG’s website: http://greatriversgreenway.org/river-des-peres-greenway-open-house-update/
Attendees of the open house mingled at their leisure and were shown presentation boards detailing many aspects of the RDP Greenway extension including proposed lane configurations, the interconnectivity of the RDP Greenway extension to existing Greenways, frequently asked questions about the project (which have been included at the end of this post.
Additional presentation boards displayed overviews of Great River Greenway, benefits of the Greenways, and interactive boards asking the reader various opinion questions — such as how you would use the Greenways and choosing between two proposed future extensions of the RDP Greenway northeast to Forrest Park.
Finally, the open house presented a map of the planned RDP Greenways extension in greater detail.
The presentations boards can be viewed at the GRG website: http://greatriversgreenway.org/river-des-peres-greenway-open-house-update/
Survey
Great Rivers Greenway has prepared a survey about the River des Peres Greenway and would like people to complete the survey by March 23, 2016. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RiverdesPeresGreenway
River des Peres Greenway Extension Project — Frequently Asked Questions
(reprinted from March 9th, 2016 open house materials)
Why is this project needed?
This new project will extend the River des Peres Greenway from the Lansdowne Shrewsbury Metrolink Station to Francis R. Slay Park. There will be a new concrete trail that is separated from car traffic for people to walk, push a stroller, ride a bike or use a wheelchair. This project will also improve the deteriorated roadway with the resurfacing of Ellendale Ave., surface sealing of Wabash Ave., as well as improved drainage, new lighting and better traffic signals.
When will this project be built and how will it be funded?
Construction will begin in late 2016 and continue through fall 2017. Funding will be provided by a federal grant for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) projects with a local match from Great Rivers Greenway.
How will the design of this project reduce future maintenance and benefit the environment?
Concrete trail will provide cost-effective long-term maintenance.
New storm water management features are low maintenance
Strategic drainage design minimizes the number of sewer structures.
Existing sewage pipes and planters will be recycled.
New trees, native plants and grasses will be planted along the greenway that require minimal maintenance, reduce storm water runoff and prevent erosion.
How will this project benefit everyone who uses this roadway?
Raised crosswalks will make it easier for people driving cars to see people crossing the street
Existing on-street parking will be marked
New lighting under Interstate I-44 will improve safety and visibility
Construction of the greenway will narrow the intersections, making it easier for people to walk across Wabash Ave. This is particularly helpful for those who walk slowly, use a wheelchair or are pushing a stroller
The closure of three side streets along Ellendale limits the areas where cars can cross the greenway
Reduced number of southbound car travel lanes will reduce speeding in both directions
Reduced width of car travel lanes will reduce speeding without adding travel time
The paved trail and connections will be wheelchair accessible.
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