Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation

City: Oakville / St. Louis South County.    Route: Koch Rd to Bussen Rd.    Location: From JB Park to Cliff Cave Park

Type: Bicycle Lane, Open up a private road for cycling/pedesterain travel.

Description:
This project would be in line with what is being done with the Mississippi River Greenway Project List. The goal of this project would be to connect Jefferson Barracks Park to Cliff Cave Park with a greener route, easier to travel route by bike and walk. Currently the only way to get from Jefferson Barracks park to Cliff Cave park is via Telegraph Rd. which is a very busy and at times congested route with automobiles. Telegraph does have a bike route on the road. However if you have road this by bike you are often breathing in car fumes and very close to the traffic. When riding by myself I prefer to stay off the main roads. I often take Koch rd to JB park from where I live in Oakville. However there is no easy connection between JB park and Cliff Cave Park. Currently there is a Quarry between the two parks. Koch rd goes into this Quarry and ends. There is also a private road "Bussen Road" that connects with Cliff Cave Road. The Bussen Road could meet up with Koch Rd. Car traffic doesn't have to be allowed on this path just foot and bicycle traffic. This would provide a less traveled route for bikes and pedestrians between these two parks. Another alternative could be a bike/pedestrian path that runs parallel with the train tracks that run below JB park and along Cliff Cave Park. Obvious safety factors that would have to be considered with this option however this would provide a Greenway with a river view similar to some of the other river routes in the St. Louis Area. Great River Road in Alton for example. The Quarry could give back to the community by providing a safe route through their private land. They are blasting once or twice a day 5 days a week and taking resources from the community at this point. Link to Google to see the Telegraph Route: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=38.506938,-90.28367&daddr=Cliff+Cave+County+Park,+Saint+Louis,+Missouri+63129,+63129&geocode=%3BFa3XSgIdkzae-g&view=map&gl=us&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=38.504318,-90.28264&sspn=0.028412,0.055189&ie=UTF8&ll=38.485845,-90.278091&spn=0.056838,0.110378&z=13 Link to Google to see the backroad route: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=New+South+Gate+Entrance&daddr=38.478051,-90.299892+to:Cliff+Cave+County+Park,+Saint+Louis,+Missouri+63129,+63129&geocode=FQJWSwIdsFye-g%3B%3BFa3XSgIdkzae-g&view=map&gl=us&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=13&via=1&sll=38.479529,-90.283413&sspn=0.056843,0.110378&ie=UTF8&ll=38.475094,-90.282984&spn=0.028423,0.055189&z=14 I cannot provide a proposed route with a google link since Koch and Bussen Road do not connect.

Importance:
This would provide a safer alternative for cyclists and pedestrians. This would also potentially shorten the path between these two parks. Currently it is a about 4 miles using a combination of back roads or 5 miles via Telegraph. This helps connects the greenways the River Des Peres Greenway to the Mississippi River Greenway. Could be free if you get the Quarry to do all the work.

Obstacles:
The Private Quarry at the end of Koch Road. They have a gate on Bussen Road since this is a private road.

Map

Top 8 Project
Top 100 Project

Facility Type(s):
·Bike Lane

School:
·Bicycle
·Pedesrian
·ADA