urbanSTL

I'd personally say this snow clearing is about on par with average; neither better nor worse. And given that it hasn't stayed as cold as long or had as many different successive storms contributing (yet) it's not really what the Spencer campaign promised. My own south city neighborhood is about the same as it was last year: a skating rink, but passable. I think it was technically plowed once Sunday, but in spite of that the streets are no better than the alleys, which weren't plowed at all. On the other hand, I'm not exactly in the Spencer fan club, so my opinion probably isn't all that meaningful.

Jan 2025: 12th Street--a Metro bus route--was still covered in snow 10 days after the storm

Jan 2026: 12th Street was clear to pavement on Monday afternoon one day after the snow stopped.

Jan 2025: my street--Shenandoah Ave was untouched and untreated for two weeks following the storm when it was done by CID.

Jan 2026: Shenandoah was partially plowed the day after the storm (Monday) by the city and completely on Tues and Wed (by CID).

From my own corner of the world this year's response wasn't perfect. But it was night and day from last year.

The real determining factor (for me at least) is how small businesses feel they have been impacted by this year's storm response  compared to 2025.

I'd like to hear any of them chime in. STLgasm?

2025 The corners of FPP and Skinker were an ice block for 10 days. WB FPP at Skinker had a road diet for at least three weeks. I wouldn't mind one being permanent, given we found out the world didn't end with one fewer lane.

2026. All clear on Tuesday morning.

quincunx wrote: ↑

3:17 PM - Jan 29

2025 The corners of FPP and Skinker were an ice block for 10 days. WB FPP at Skinker had a road diet for at least three weeks. I wouldn't mind one being permanent, given we found out the world didn't end with one fewer lane.

2026. All clear on Tuesday morning.

what about for bicyclists?

They seem to be doing a much better job this year with hill streets, at least in Soulard and Carondelet. If you drive around the hilly streets of Carondelet b/t Michigan and S Broadway, which is a lot of streets, they're down to pavement. That was def not the case last year. 

I know urbanists hate 1-way streets, but it would really be helpful to have them during snowstorms. Many side streets can barely fit one car thru with people parking 3ft off the curb due to snowbanks on all sides from digging out. Add in stopped delivery trucks, and it creates a lot of gridlock. If the street has snow packed down and iced, you end up with ruts that "pull" opposing cars onto the same "tracks".

I don't think we need permanent inhouse resources to deal with these rare snow events. Seems like hiring contractors for these odd occasions is working pretty well. After all, it's 9" of snow in arctic temps; it's not going to be a picnic, no matter what. 

Baltimore Jack wrote:Jan 2025: 12th Street--a Metro bus route--was still covered in snow 10 days after the storm

Jan 2026: 12th Street was clear to pavement on Monday afternoon one day after the snow stopped.

Jan 2025: my street--Shenandoah Ave was untouched and untreated for two weeks following the storm when it was done by CID.

Jan 2026: Shenandoah was partially plowed the day after the storm (Monday) by the city and completely on Tues and Wed (by CID).

From my own corner of the world this year's response wasn't perfect. But it was night and day from last year.

The real determining factor (for me at least) is how small businesses feel they have been impacted by this year's storm response  compared to 2025.

I'd like to hear any of them chime in. STLgasm?

It's truly a wonderful what multiple sunny days following a storm with no ice will do, isn't it?

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Comparing this years winter storm to last isn’t even on a equal level we might have had 8” of snow but it was all snow & most times the snow wasn’t very heavy. Last years storm had thunder snow & thunder sleet with 2-5” of sleet on top of snow that had already fallen & more snow fallen on top of all that sleet. This storm had light fluffy blowing snow albeit winds were generally minuscule. I think in all we got away pretty luckily for it being a bigger winter storm.. weather will weather no matter how prepared we may be the weather will have some good or bad surprises…


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johnnyqnola wrote: ↑

4:05 PM - Jan 29

They seem to be doing a much better job this year with hill streets, at least in Soulard and Carondelet. If you drive around the hilly streets of Carondelet b/t Michigan and S Broadway, which is a lot of streets, they're down to pavement. That was def not the case last year. 

I know urbanists hate 1-way streets, but it would really be helpful to have them during snowstorms. Many side streets can barely fit one car thru with people parking 3ft off the curb due to snowbanks on all sides from digging out. Add in stopped delivery trucks, and it creates a lot of gridlock. If the street has snow packed down and iced, you end up with ruts that "pull" opposing cars onto the same "tracks".

I don't think we need permanent inhouse resources to deal with these rare snow events. Seems like hiring contractors for these odd occasions is working pretty well. After all, it's 9" of snow in arctic temps; it's not going to be a picnic, no matter what. 

Single lane one ways aren't the worst. It's multi lane one ways that are detrimental. especially in areas with retial since they could just be two lanes. Also bad is making a two lane into a one wide lane thus a wide raceway

StlAlex wrote: ↑

4:21 PM - Jan 29

Baltimore Jack wrote:Jan 2025: 12th Street--a Metro bus route--was still covered in snow 10 days after the storm

Jan 2026: 12th Street was clear to pavement on Monday afternoon one day after the snow stopped.

Jan 2025: my street--Shenandoah Ave was untouched and untreated for two weeks following the storm when it was done by CID.

Jan 2026: Shenandoah was partially plowed the day after the storm (Monday) by the city and completely on Tues and Wed (by CID).

From my own corner of the world this year's  response wasn't perfect. But it was night and day from last year.

The real determining factor (for me at least)  is how small businesses feel they have been impacted by this year's storm response  compared to 2025.

I'd like to hear any of them chime in. STLgasm?

It's truly a wonderful what multiple sunny days following a storm with no ice will do, isn't it?

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Yeah. And also contracting out for additional snow removal, not leaving town, etc.

I think the real brains behind the response and improvements was Ben Jonsson. I've been impressed by his approach and communications with snow clearing and other general items. It really highlights the benefit a City in STL's position might receive if it nurtured a pipeline for service members to becoming department leaders. They're aggressive and have focus. I also enjoyed hearing the new Streets Director and it appears him and Jonsson have a good working relationship.

Ultimately, it was the Streets Director that sunk Mayor Jones. I understand the staff challenges may have been out of Williams control but she had been in the position for 3+ years. Any distrust or insubordination by staff was either created by Willams or should've been resolved prior to January 2025.  

stlurbanist wrote: ↑

3:42 PM - Jan 29

quincunx wrote: ↑

3:17 PM - Jan 29

2025 The corners of FPP and Skinker were an ice block for 10 days. WB FPP at Skinker had a road diet for at least three weeks. I wouldn't mind one being permanent, given we found out the world didn't end with one fewer lane.

2026. All clear on Tuesday morning.

what about for bicyclists?

The sidewalks on the east side of Skinker are clear from Lindell to Waterman at least.

The south side of Delmar along Metro's garage is untouched. Jus tlike last year they set a terrible example.

The St. Vincent Greenway was untouched from Delmar to Kingsbury and between Waterman and Pershing. F all those who use it to get to the Metrolink station and Forest Park I guess.

If St. Louis is going to become the capital of 21st century Tornado Alley then economic groups need to start working on the branding. Who is going to open the National Twister Museum? Terminal 1 play area inspired by cloud types? Weather radio music festival? 

addxb2 wrote:If St. Louis is going to become the capital of 21st century Tornado Alley then economic groups need to start working on the branding. Who is going to open the National Twister Museum? Terminal 1 play area inspired by cloud types? Weather radio music festival? 

The St. Louis Cyclones would be a great name for a future professional sports team