Without the intrusion or distraction of automobile traffic, participants will be able to partake in various recreational activities, visit other neighborhoods, rediscover the City and experience the Great Rivers Greenway’s bike routes.

Fore more information visit: http://stlouis.missouri.org/open-streets/ or contact:

Open Streets 2010 Route Map (Click to Enlarge)

St. Louis City New Yard Waste Containers/Bins

Waelterman’s letter to the St. Louis City Board of Alderman:

Dear Aldermen,
 
As you know, the City of St. Louis – like most Cities across the country – is dealing with budget constraints because of the global recession, and rising costs of pensions and health care. The Department of Streets, like all other departments, is looking for ways to save money while still effectively providing needed services to our residents.
 
In that spirit, the Department of Streets is experimenting with once-a-week trash pickup, which is the rule for municipalities in the region and in the country.  For the last two months, our Refuse Division has been picking up trash once a week on one alley route in each ward.  During our experiment, we’ve learned many important lessons – and we are making improvements as we get comments and suggestions through the Citizens Service Bureau.
 
Despite the challenges we’ve faced – frozen trash because of the bitterly cold weather and added trash volume after Christmas, among others – we think this program can work. We hope that it will encourage citizens to drop off their recyclables at our 27 sites, to become more aware of what they’re throwing away, to compact their trash, and – if needed – to walk a couple more steps to a dumpster that is not full.
 
This will work better if we replace some of our 300 gallon trash receptacles with 600 gallon receptacles.  We acknowledge that we’ll have to plan occasionally for additional trash pickup in some traditionally heavy times like Christmas.  But, overall, this plan should work, will reduce the amount of waste we put in landfills, and could save the City a projected $1 million per year.
 
There is another benefit.  An increasing number of our fleet of trash service vehicles are outdated and with very poor fuel efficiency.  This change would allow us to retire the most inefficient vehicles, improving our fuel efficiency, and thus making this an even more “green” initiative.
 
The Refuse Division is working to keep the alleys clean.  It’s important for residents to make sure their trash is in the proper receptacle.  As we have been adjusting cans and routes in our pilot program, my employees have been working hard to take care of any overfill trash.  However, if this program becomes permanent, residents will be responsible for making sure their trash is in the proper receptacle.  Once-a-week trash pickup will not mean unsanitary conditions – and my employees are committed to keep that promise.
                                                                                                          
There is a way to reduce our costs while minimizing layoffs.  The recent furlough agreement between the City of St. Louis and the Unions will help to prevent any of our employees – the people who pick up the trash and drive the trash trucks – from being let go during the pilot program.  Currently, the staff displaced with the pilot program balances out the required furlough days off.  If the program continues to be successful, as we expect it to be, a few refuse employees can be reassigned to vacant positions elsewhere in the Department of Streets.
 
Here are some helpful hints to suggest to your residents:
Please take your household trash bags to the alley dumpster as the bags are filled so we can gather accurate data about trash collection.
Many of the items that residents throw away can be easily recycled.  By separating cardboard, cans, paper, or glass items and taking them to one of 27 recycling centers, trash volume will be drastically reduced.  Visit http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/recycle/ for the recycling center closest to your home.
Encourage residents to walk their trash to the next available trash receptacle when the receptacle nearest their home is full.  Residents are welcome to use any trash receptacle on their block.
Encourage residents to compact their trash.  They should flatten boxes, which otherwise take up a lot of room in the dumpster.
When you have a problem with trash, please call Citizens’ Service Bureau.  They can be reached at 622-4800 Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.  Or, you can submit your comment, problem, or suggestion electronically by visiting http://stlcin.missouri.org/csb/csb.cfm.
 
Thanks for your understanding and your patience.  Once-a-week pickups will save the City money in a challenging time for city budgets – and be more environmentally responsible.
 
We plan to continue this trial run through the spring.  Your comments and suggestions are making it better.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Todd Waelterman
Director of Streets

In 2009, South Grand Boulevard was selected as one of four Great Streets Initiative pilot projects in the St. Louis region. Since 2006, East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG) has been helping communities in the St. Louis region expand the way they think about streets. Local leaders and citizens are encouraged to think beyond the curb to see how transportation decisions affect the total built environment.

EWG recognizes the importance of streets as community resources, and through the St. Louis Great Streets Initiative intends to make them more than just conduits for cars. Great Streets in St. Louis will emphasize all modes of travel, especially walking. Great Streets will address and reconsider the auto-centric approach that has dominated design over the years in order to transform these streets into great community resources.
Considering how street design choices affect the pedestrian realm and abutting land uses is central to the St. Louis Great Streets Initiative. Connecting communities requires more than just installing a sidewalk along the edge of a busy street. It requires the careful and intentional creation of an environment that suits walking, bicycling, and transit. It requires taming traffic in a way that still allows for mobility, but at speeds that are safe and undamaging. It requires a ‘green’ approach to storm water management.

To learn more about the development plans for South Grand and the plans for a “green” approach to storm water management, view their plans online here. Or, contact:

Rachel Witt
Executive Director
South Grand Community Improvement District
3203-A South Grand Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63118
Phone: (314)772-5750
Email: Rachel@southgrand.org
Website: www.southgrand.org

St. Louis, MO, October 15, 2009 — The City of St. Louis has decided
to proceed with the conversion of South Grand Boulevard, between
Arsenal and Utah, from four lanes of traffic to three lanes of
traffic. The City has determined that a three-lane configuration,
consisting of two through lanes and a center turn lane, is the
preferred approach to calm traffic, create a more pedestrian-friendly
environment, and encourage continued economic development. The project
is one of four demonstration projects under the East-West Gateway
Council of Governments‘ Great Streets Initiative.

View Larger Map

The decision is based on consensus from the community and key
stakeholders, with support from Alderman Steve Conway and Alderwoman
Jennifer Florida. The public engagement process encompassed a series
of public informational meetings with polling sessions, on-line
surveys, and a comment hotline. In addition, technical data gathered
over the past three months and the success of a 30-day pilot project
implemented by the City Streets Department aided in the evaluation and
recommendation to move forward with the project. Alderman Conway and
Alderwoman Florida are committed to working with other stakeholders to
address any additional technical concerns that may arise as the
project progresses.

This decision authorizes the design team, led by the firm of Design
Workshop, to proceed with preparing final plans for Phase 1 of the
project. The City’s Board of Public Service must submit final plans to
MoDOT by December 1, 2009 for review and approval. At this time, $1.8
million have been allocated for construction of Phase 1 of the project
through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

For questions or comments, contact: Jennifer Florida, 15th Ward Alderwoman, jflorida15@yahoo.com, 314-622-3287

(Click on Image for Source)

The list includes properties North of Meramec as of this date (CLICK HERE TO VIEW LIST). It has been forwarded to the Alderman, NSO, and Forestry Department.

Once funds are available for new trees in the 15ht and 25th Ward, the St. Louis Forestry Department will survey the area, choose an appropriate tree, and then place the following door hang on the properties door to allow the homeowner to opt-out of planting a tree in front of their house:

If you would like a tree planted in front of your home,contact us and we will add your address to the list…or contact the Forestry Department directly at: 314 613-7200

South Grand St. Louis Street Improvement Plan

I wanted to let you know about the upcoming test that the City Streets Department has agreed to conduct. This will happen beginning September 8, so any help you can give us in getting out the information to your neighborhoods would be appreciated. A press release is in preparation to alert media outlets.

At the public meetings and through the on-line surveys conducted in August, we found that many members of the public and business community favored an option to reconfigure South Grand from Arsenal to Utah from four through lanes to two through lanes and a center turn lane. After meetings and conversations among several parties, including the two aldermen, Streets Department staff, members of the CID, design team staff, and East-West Gateway staff, we decided it would be a good idea to test the viability of proposed changes under real traffic conditions for 30 days before committing to a final preferred alternative for the corridor.

The Streets Department has agreed to a plan: crews will change the timing of traffic signals, reduce the number of traffic lanes from four to three, place concrete barriers to simulate curb extensions at intersections, and close the two alleys on the west side of Grand between Arsenal and Juniata. Placement of electronic message boards and signal timing changes are planned for Tuesday, September 8. Restriping, placement of barriers to simulate curb extensions, and alley closures are planned for Wednesday and Thursday. The restriping work will proceed weather permitting.

If the 30-day test shows that the lane reduction will not handle the traffic volumes adequately, the project will keep the existing four-lane configuration and focus on the other elements of the project: retiming signals; adding curb extensions; improving crosswalks; and enhancing the appearance through lighting, signage, and landscaping.

South Grand St. Louis Street Improvement Plan

You can read more about this project here. Or, to take an online survey about your thoughts on the project, click this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=r9l5uAVDV_2bJ9a4mu4sBsfg_3d_3d%20