ST. LOUIS, MO -- The Missouri Department of Transportation and several partners are evaluating the I-64 central corridor between Kingshighway and Jefferson to update and maintain roadways for the future.
To ensure that the community’s needs and desires are being considered while this process is underway, the department and its partners are relying heavily on the information shared from the people who live, work, shop, play and travel in and through the corridor.
With development along the Brickline, Cortex, and Washington and St. Louis universities, the area is transforming. Potential improvements are being evaluated such as better pedestrian and bicycle access to enhance accessibility and the travel experience.
While the interstate and connecting ramps through the corridor need rehabilitation and updates, the department is also concerned that those improvements work efficiently with other modes of transportation, and that improvements align with community desires. The department and its partners are using a process known as a Planning and Environmental Linkages Study (PEL) to gather, organize, and analyze the information provided by the community and other interested groups.
During the PEL Study for the central corridor, the department is looking at transportation, environmental, community, and economic goals early in the planning process to ensure that projects are of most benefit to the community. This broad-based study, called: Future64: Community. Transportation. Together, reflects the importance of public engagement and community involvement.
“We want to identify projects that offer better connectivity among neighborhoods in the corridor, in addition to infrastructure repairs and replacements. MoDOT needs to partner with the community to find out their transportation needs. This study will incorporate ongoing engagement that is equitable and inclusive to help ensure that a wide range and extensive number of voices are heard, and that equity is the focus of proposed solutions,” said Jen Wade, P.E., MoDOT Area Engineer for the City of St. Louis.
The first public meeting on Future64 will be on May 18, 2022 at 4:00-7:00 p.m. For a list of all scheduled public meetings and background information visit future64.com. Meanwhile, MoDOT is also asking anyone who travels in the corridor to complete a brief survey about their transportation concerns and priorities using the link below.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Future64Survey
MoDOT is conducting Future64 in conjunction with the City of St. Louis, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Bi-State Development, and several community partners. The study is scheduled to conclude in January 2023. Although, improvements identified by Future64 will mostly affect MoDOT’s infrastructure, it will also include suggested improvements to other transportation systems maintained by other partners.
What is the Central Corridor PEL study area?
The west-east border for the study area is Kingshighway Blvd. to Jefferson Avenue. Forest Park Avenue/Market Street is the northern boundary, and Manchester/Chouteau Avenues is the southern one. The corridor consists of a variety of homes, diverse residents, and a wide range of businesses. It has grown as an employment center and a destination for medical care, dining, and shopping.