On May 5, Webster Groves City Council received an update on the South Elm shared-use path planned for the 2027 construction season between Glendale and Watson Road.
The project includes the complete resurfacing of the street via mill and overlay plus the installation of a 10-foot-wide multi-use trail along the west side of Elm Avenue. Intended for pedestrians and cyclists to use, the shared-use path brings improved connectivity and enhanced safety for a heavily traveled corridor in South Webster.
Public Works Director Sinan Alpaslan noted that students and families are expected to use the trail to reach nearby schools and parks, including the Webster Groves Recreation Complex.
The city secured a Surface Transportation Block Grant for $2 million as the project entails a complete resurfacing of South Elm. The grant funds are contingent on the construction of a shared-use path, rather than a sidewalk, and support the city’s vision for Complete Streets as part of the Comprehensive Plan.
The preliminary design maintains parking on both sides of the street and requires an additional six feet of right-of-way utilization. However, based on initial feedback following the preliminary design public open house, the Public Works Department has outlined a possible new alternative that would place the shared-use path within the existing roadway footprint.
Under this alternative, parking would be eliminated on the west side of Elm Avenue with a loss of roughly 30 spaces. A two-foot striped buffer would be added to protect the shared-use path from the southbound driving lane. High-visibility bollards could also be considered for additional safety.
The city has released a layout design that shows the existing roadway configuration (42 feet wide), the preliminary plan (48 feet wide), and the new alternative (42 feet wide) with no parking on the west side of the street.
To stay on track with the grant funding, preliminary plans have been submitted to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for review. But changes can be made up until the right-of-way clearance is achieved and the final plans, specifications, and estimates are approved by MoDOT, with an estimated timeline of January 2027.
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