ST. LOUIS – Improving community safety often starts with local input, and south city residents gathered Monday evening to share thoughts on how to make their neighborhood safer.
Community members attended an open house at the Carondelet RecPlex to discuss the River Des Peres and Carondelet Boulevard Corridor Study. This initiative, led by Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer (Ward 1) and Alderman Tom Oldenburg (Ward 2), aims to address safety concerns along a road that has seen several serious crashes.
“There’s been a number of crashes along this stretch, some of them fatal, and what’s really important is making the roads in the City of St. Louis safe for all road users. Whether someone is walking on the street or in their cars, we want them to be safe,” Schweitzer said.
The study is designed to propose strategies to slow down vehicle traffic, reduce crashes, and create a safer environment for all road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.
For resident and avid cyclist Alex Pennington, the issue is personal.
“I have almost been hit on my bike so many times I can’t even remember. These meetings have become more important to me now that I’ve had a daughter who I want to share cycling with,” Pennington said.
The event allowed attendees to view display boards showcasing potential changes to the corridor, as well as a large map of the roadway where they could write comments and suggestions. Residents were encouraged to provide feedback on specific areas of the road that concerned them the most.
However, not all attendees shared the same views. Damien Johnson, another community member and bicyclist, expressed concerns over the current state of the city’s roads.
“I would like them to put a hold on any future bike lanes until we clean and pave the streets and make that a priority,” Johnson said.
Alderwoman Schweitzer emphasized the importance of hearing from residents.
“What’s really important is hearing from people, making sure that the city does get that input of real-life experience, which is just as important as anything else the city does. So whatever is eventually done on this street, it’s the best it can be for the people that live here,” she said.
The recommendations from the study will focus on low-cost, immediate improvements, while also considering long-term solutions that will depend on future funding. The traffic study began last fall and is expected to conclude by this winter. Additional public engagement is planned throughout this fall.
For those unable to attend Monday’s meeting, the draft Traffic Study is available online, and there are expected to be more opportunities for residents to provide feedback at future meetings.
