About the 20th Street Mobility Improvements Project

What is the 20th Street Mobility Improvements Project?

The project will reconstruct 1.6 miles of 20th Street between Market Street and St. Louis Avenue and will consist of adding a separated bicycle path that is part of the Brickline Greenway, a bicycle pathway that is part of the Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) network of pathways. The new corridor will provide a safer and more attractive experience for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, vehicular drivers, and property owners.

What are the goals of this project?

• Increase safety and better serve pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, vehicular drivers and property owners
• Upgrade the poor condition of the roadway and its pavement markings, sidewalk, signals, lighting and signing
• Create an accessible corridor for all users
• Transfer the bicycle facility from North Jefferson Avenues and Parnell Street to 20th Street, and eliminating the on-street bicycle facility that currently exists
• Improve vehicular trip efficiency with new interconnected signals
• Support the existing community fabric of residents and businesses
• Assist in changing neighborhood perceptions through streetscape enhancements
• The project provides connections between GRG's proposed Brickline Greenway, the City's planned bicycle pathway ending at Market Street, and future/existing bicycle routes identified along Chestnut Street, Olive Street, Washington Avenue, and St. Louis Avenue.

The project bridges the gap between downtown and North St. Louis by creating a truly low-stress multimodal corridor that safely moves people.

What will be provided on the new project?

• A bicycle-only cycle track with an adjacent sidewalk on the west side of 20th Street;
• An ADA-compliant corridor to complement the new bicycle facilities;
• LED street lighting, landscaped areas, and street trees where appropriate;
• New modern and ADA-compliant signals at five intersections (Olive, Washington, Delmar, Cass, and St. Louis);
• Innovative Smart City Technology along the corridor;
• Improved existing street parking facilities and curb line bump-outs where appropriate;
• Traffic calming designs to slow vehicles down, such as reduced lane widths and improved roadside amenities;
• An updated and improved transit bus stop plan with Metro;
• Mill and overlay existing pavement;
• Appropriate signage and pavement markings to communicate to the corridor users

What else is happening in the corridor and its surrounding area?

The 20th Street project connects with the new MLS Soccer Stadium's improvements. A future Cass Avenue project going across 20th Street is currently in the early stages with many similarities to the 20th Street Project. The North Jefferson Avenue and Parnell Street Project between Market Street and Natural Bridge Road will be under construction and completed by Fall 2024.

How is this project being funded and how much will it cost?

• $5 Million Federal Funds

(Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Grant, awarded in FY2019 by East-West Gateway, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Funds)

• $6 Million Local Funds (Estimated)

(Local Match Funds provided by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) of the City of St. Louis, Annual Appropriation Redevelopment Revenue Bonds)

Will there be any property acquisition?

Yes. Small slivers of right-of-way may be needed at some corners of the major intersections to construct new signals and construct ADA curb ramps. Additionally, temporary construction easements throughout the project are needed to rebuild the sidewalk and place roadside amenities such as lighting and signing posts.

What are the next steps?

A preliminary plan open house is scheduled for February 1, 2023 (snow date is February 2). Additional public comments will be accepted at that time.

Right-of-way plans will be submitted shortly after the open house. Property acquisitions (mostly temporary construction easements needed to construct sidewalks) are anticipated to begin in the Spring of 2023.

Final plans are scheduled to be completed by early Fall 2023.

Construction is tentatively planned for Spring 2024.