Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation

City: Sunset Hills, Missouri.    Route: 1) I-44 at Meramec River Bridge; 2) I-270 at Rott Road; 3) I-270 at Sappington Road    Location: Three Locations: 1) Trail Crossing Under I-44 at Meramec River; On-Street Bikeway Improvements at I-270 Rott Road Underpass; On-Street Bikeway Improvements at I-270 at Sappington Road Overpass.

Type: Signs, Multipurpose Trail Designed as Class I Bikeway; on-street bikeways designed as warning accommodations or routes.

Description:
The Ride Into the Sunset Bikeway is a non-motorized transportation system, portions of which are currently under design. Components of this application will 1) Cross beneath I-44 on a trail that is highly visible to eastbound highway traffic; 2) Cross beneath I-270 on Rott Road by means of an on-street bikeway; and 3) Cross over I-270 on Sappington Road by means of an on-street bikeway. All three components will be linked through other elements of the city?s comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian system that are being developed. Total Project Cost: $259,504. Breakout Follows: 1) Trail Component. General Conditions, Mobilization, Erosion Control, Excavation and Haul, Concrete Retaining Wall, Asphalt Pavement, Finish Grade and Seed, 15% Contengency: $249,004.00 2) Rott Road Component. Directional signs, Share the Road signs, Ride Into Sunsete Signs, Informational Kiosks. $7,000.00 3) Sappington Road Component. Directional signs, Share the Road signs, Ride Into Sunset signs, Informational Kiosks. $3,500.00

Importance:
The trail and on-street crossings are important components in the city?s evolving non-motorized transportation system. There are many reasons why this is a particularly good project, as addressed below: Component 1. The 585-foot long Trail Component will provide important non-motorized connectivity to the City of Kirkwood, to the Powder Valley Nature/Conservation Center, and to the Meramec Greenway which is under development. The trail itself will be highly visible to traffic on the eastbound lanes of I-44, one of MoDOT?s busier interstates. Component 2. The Rott Road Component will connect: Watson Trail Park/Lindbergh Boulevard to the Sunset Hills Athletic Fields and future Meramec Greenway; provide for safe bicycle movement at the I-270 underpass. It will also connect the following: Community Center, swimming pool, government complex, South County Technical High School; Athletic Fields; Lindbergh Boulevard (which already has Share the Road signs), Robyn Road and Rott Road. Component 3. The Sappington Road Component will provide for safe bicycle and pedestrian movement on the overpass at I-270 as well as connections to Mini Ha Ha Park and Lindbergh High School. It will also connect to the new Meramec River Bridge (which will have bicycle pedestrian accommodations); the City of Fenton including Meramec River/Fenton Park Trail system; the commuter parking lot on Highway 30 at I-270; Lindbergh Boulevard (which already has Share the Road signs); senior living centers on Gravois Road; St. Catherine Laboure Grade School; Gemp Davidson Conservation Area, Southview School, Long School and Grant?s Trail (by means of a future phase); Sappington and Kennerly Roads. (Gravois already has Share the Road signs.) Additional Background. These three project components are key elements in the City of Sunset Hills Bikeable-Walkable Communities Plan, a MoDOT funded plan that has become official city policy. The Plan resulted from a yearlong planning process that included extensive reconnaissance, analysis, and public involvement. The trail and on-street improvements have been strongly embraced by the city as a high-priority facility, On-street bicycle and pedestrian improvements are an important part of the Department of Public Works? efforts to provide for and facilitate non-motorized transportation in the city. The Plan has also been officially incorporated into the city's parks and recreation master plan. The city is securing property through acquisition and easements for the entire __ mile trail corridor, and project plans, specifications and estimates are well underway. In addition, it has obtained a commitment for partnering assistance from The Great Rivers Greenway District. Comprehensive projects such as this have often become a public issue in other communities. However, public involvement and support for the Sunset Hills project has been very strong. The city has already gained an enthusiastic and willing partner for some improvements in The Great Rivers Greenway District, and it has willing easement partners along the trail corridor. For the reasons described above, we believe this is an excellent project for MoDOT consideration. Letters of support are available on request.

Obstacles:
The slopes and vegetation along the northernmost part of the project at I-44 presents a more costly development challenge and will necessitate a higher level of investment. (Refer to image) Having MoDOT as a second regional partner will enable this project to move forward. The project also addresses obstacles/barriers to cross-movement that affect Sunset Hills and the entire region: I-44 and I-270. Funding of the entire project has also been an obstacle that would be alleviated with MoDOT involvement as an additional regional partner.

Map

Top 8 Project
Top 100 Project

Facility Type(s):
·Signage

School:
·Bicycle
·Pedesrian