The BoA passed a bill to let contracts out for construction of the Southwest/Columbia bridge over UPRR $9.7M,
the Cortex/Tower Grove Connector $8.2M,
the Jefferson Ave Reconstruction $10M,
the Hamilton Bridge over Metrolink $2M,
and design of Lindell/Union bridge over FPP $2.5M
Grey Eagle Distributors building a new HQ and warehouse in the Fenton Logistics Park that will more than double the size of its current space in Maryland Heights.
I wish I could just assume STL has an approach for this, but I’d love some reassurance that we’re not going to waste this admin on highway or stroad improvements that “reduce pollution” via signal timing.
Brickline
Project Connect
Trailnet’s concepts
Anything from Bike Plan
Louisiana Calm Streets
A lot of good bike/ped projects have been studied and could be home runs.
CNBC article with a pretty good summary outlining and current status on forthcoming infrastructure bill, where political lines fall and most likely the final outcome being September when the highway bill is up for reauthorization
Believe the Senator from W Virginia has stated on multiple media outlets within the last day that he is not going down the same road as what was done for the Covid bill being signed today. It would still be nice to see some legit investment beyond highways and bridges with a good chunk going to rail.
CNBC article with a pretty good summary outlining and current status on forthcoming infrastructure bill, where political lines fall and most likely the final outcome being September when the highway bill is up for reauthorization
Believe the Senator from W Virginia has stated on multiple media outlets within the last day that he is not going down the same road as what was done for the Covid bill being signed today. It would still be nice to see some legit investment beyond highways and bridges with a good chunk going to rail.
^Amen to that. Reminder that Matt Blunt, his son and former Governor of Missouri, is President of the American Automotive Policy Council, so Lord knows there'll be some more highway funding - hopefully for potholes. Still, I think there's a damn good chance that Roy can deliver some bacon to MO on his way out the door.
^ I think their is no question on highway funding being secured with highway transportation bill up for re-authorization by end of Govt Fiscal year, Sept. 30th.
Big question of course, what or will happen with everyone's wish list or even if enough Senator's can come together to make a legit infrastructure bill come together? Hopefully Blunt will be interested in compromising to get beyond highways & the typical small potatoes of $1 to 2 billion in TIGER and now BUILD & INFRA grants that Feds hands out.
You can legitimately invest a $100 billion in passenger rail right now between Hudson River/Baltimore Tunnels, Cali HSR from Central Valley into Bay Area, Potomac River rail bridges & VA-NC S line upgrades for expanded Southeast Rail Service from DC, Florida Brightline/SunRail expansion & Texas Central HSR loans/grants and of course in Midwest you got Amtrak's owned line from Chicago to Detroit to 110 mph, Empire Builder additional service between Chicago & Twin Cities along with expanded Hiawatha service and not at least, Lincoln Service 110 mph upgrades for Chicago to St. Louis. Plus a major Amtrak capital campaign to replace aging as well as keep adding trainsets if they truly want to upgrade national network.
Does a county that hasn't grown in population in over 40 years need any road expansions? Surely $125M could have a higher return fixing or making better what we already have.
Also pretty sad how MoLeg has let the state universities wither.
Stltoday - With billions at stake, Missouri officials lining up for federal infrastructure aid
And Florissant is seeking $125 million to extend Highway 141 to bring workers and businesses to the city.
^ Thanks for posting, any other tidbits of note in the article?
Not surprised by a highway extending request as their will be plenty of those. What I'm curious is if the city and stakeholders can put together the opposite from proposing to remove raised section of interstate next and replace with Blvd to Landing to taking out the parkway out of Forest Parkway from Grand to Downtown, to a slug greenway/brickline funding, and so on in short order.
141 already ends at 370. That said, I don’t understand the need for the region to further expand highways in St. Louis County and City any longer. Florissant’s population is the same as it was 30 years ago and 15,000 people fewer than it was at its peak. A Florissant routing would plow through additional flood plain and skirt stagnant low density neighborhoods along the Missouri River.
Even setting aside this particular website’s propensity for opposing highway projects...what’s the point? There’s no growth up here and 270 and it’s ongoing $250 million+ reconstruction will provide more than decent access to Florissant.
^ I know the reasons for the 270 reconstruction...the point was we’re spending $250 million+ just a bit south of here on a beltway that already cuts through Florissant.
Why should we spend hundreds of millions more to extend yet another beltway into roughly the same area?
Yeah that's the point. Would 141 extension get anywhere faster than 270 already does? Are there thousands of people living off Charbonier who can't get to Cross Keys fast enough? This makes no sense to me at all.
Yeah that's the point. Would 141 extension get anywhere faster than 270 already does? Are there thousands of people living off Charbonier who can't get to Cross Keys fast enough? This makes no sense to me at all.
I don't think this project is on the list In terms of the regional freightway probably for the reasons being expressed from what is being gained and their plenty of existing infrastructure that needs to be replaced and or upgraded. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong about freightway list of projects currently being promoted.
In some way this discussion reminds of the following story about Duluth MN advocating as a place to move to in part because as city of 80k already has infrastructure in place for a city of 130k. St. Louis region is Duluth on steriods. It doesn't need to add. It simply needs to bring things to a state of good repair and approve upon existing.
Yeah that's the point. Would 141 extension get anywhere faster than 270 already does? Are there thousands of people living off Charbonier who can't get to Cross Keys fast enough? This makes no sense to me at all.
Maybe they don't want a full 6 lane divided highway? Maybe they want some money to upgrade the Missouri Bottom Road connection so they shoot high and then get some money?
Or maybe they're crazy and Florissant really wants a 141 extension?
Yeah that's the point. Would 141 extension get anywhere faster than 270 already does? Are there thousands of people living off Charbonier who can't get to Cross Keys fast enough? This makes no sense to me at all.
I think it has more to do with better access to 370 to the already under construction Hazelwood Trade Port.
Oakland has lined up its signature urban highway removal project with wide range support in the Bay Area and a very vocal mayor ready to make it happen as being reported this week in all the major news outlets. Link to SF Chronicles story. A great project ready begging to happen for a lot of good reasons. Have taken this freeway a number of times but not common to my commute and a lot of users is access to growing Downtown Oakland so doesn't significantly impact those commutes.
A lot will be on St. Louis mayor Jones plate but wish St. Louis could rally around a project even though it might not be as same scale or impact of removing I-980 but easy to see a few projects as contenders such as removing raised section between near north St. Louis and Lacledes Landing to coincide with Cass Ave upgrades, or reimagined Market/FPP/Grand blvd and intersection to coincide with Brickline and or simply some much needed interchange realignments as noted by others. Tough to see MoDOT buy in on first, not sure if they really have much say on second and believe they voiced support on interchange upgrades.
