Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and for the 11th year in a row, I’m posting about St. Louis’ Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. (MLK herein). Unlike the past couple of years, this year offers no new projects completed or started. To check out changes I rode the #32 MetroBus on Thursday January 15th — the #32 runs on Cass until it merges with MLK West of Grand. Then on Saturday 1/17 I drove the length of the continuous portion of MLK — from East of Tucker to past the city limits.
This post covers the main changes I saw from last year:
Modifications to ADA ramps, new crosswalks
Buildings being torn down or that may be gone before next year
Signalized intersections now 4-way stops
In the car I started at Tucker, the farthest East MLK is continuous, and headed West past the city limits in the suburb of Wellston.
1) DA Ramps & New Points to Cross MLK
MLK goes through multiple wards, areas built at different period and very different grids. Within the last decade a major traffic calming project on MLK between Jefferson & Grand reduced travel lanes, protected parking lanes, installed new lighting, and replaced sidewalks. As I’ve written before, this multi-million dollar from-scratch project forgot to make any provisions to cross MLK for the mile-long project. Now, years later, this is finally getting corrected as best they can after the fact.
The Jefferson-Grand had the greatest need, but this new work took place from end to end, where needed. These examples from East to West. For those unfamiliar, I often use public transit with a power wheelchair.
All along MLK Dr I saw evidence of new ramps and crosswalks. Hopefully the city will come back to fill in the asphalt gap — I often need to report these as I encounter them.This new crossing point is at N 22ndAnother view of the same. Lack of crosswalks is often an unintended consequence of street removal to create super blocks.I’ve personally had trouble getting to/from the bus stop on the North side of LeffingwellLooking South-ish at LeffingwellJust West of Glasgow Ave, looking NorthSame new crosswalk, looking SouthNew crosswalk at N Cardinal Ave, has been a 3-way stop for years, just no way to crossI was driving this day but I’m usually in a wheelchair, I first saw this man East of Jefferson and now he’s almost to Cardinal. He’s in the street because the new ramps have those huge gaps that can’t be crossed until filled with asphalt.Where MLK meets Cozens a new channel was created for wheelchair navigation, lacks a point to pass when two meet each other. Sorry for the blurry image.The crosswalk leads to where a new ramp was, based on Google’s aerial, but a newer ramp was build midway between Cozens & MLKSame type of channel to the West where Cass & MLK meet, again no place to meet anyoneMuch further West, at Burd Ave, a needed crosswalk is now completed.
If only the civil engineers had considered the basic idea that pedestrians need to places to cross the street.
2) Demolished or will be
I saw no evidence of buildings removed in the last year, but one was actively being razed and others will likely be razed rather than rehabbed/rebuilt.
In November 2014 fire destroyed The Hit Zone at 2618 MLK, just West of Jefferson. According to city records he 2-story building was built in 1996. Click image for KSDK story on the fireEast side view of the destroyed bar at 2618 MLK
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5088 MLK, just West of kingshighway, had a big fire in the fall It was inspected/condemned on 10/30/2-141495 Stewart Pl, built in 1890, was condemned on 12/24/2013 — over a year ago.I’ve been watching 5716 MLK for years, I love the design. After seeing daylight through a side window I drove down the side street (Shawmut) to see the back.Unfortunately the roof has collapsed over the Western half of the building.5746 MLK being razed brick by brick, built in 1907. A city (LRA) propertyOctober 2009, Source: GEO St. LouisLast remains of the State Bank of Wellston, in Wellston. Click image for more informationPassing by on MetroBus, April 2013
Many of these neighborhoods are depressing; lots of poverty, few jobs in the area. I’d imagine many residents would like a way out. Yet, efforts to bring investment and jobs would be labeled as gentrification. Not sure how to change the situation in these neighborhoods, but I don’t like watching them crumble.
3) From Signalized to 4-Way Stop
Two intersections that have traffic signals, now shut off, are 4-way stops.
MLK & Euclid is now a 4-way stop, the signals are turned off.
January 18, 2015Featured, Sunday PollComments Off on Sunday Poll: The State Of Race Relations In The St. Louis Region Are…
Please vote in the poll, located in the right sidebar
Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day — much has happened in St. Louis since this time last year. The poll today is simple: rate the state of race relations in our region: improving, declining, steady?
The poll is, as always, at the top of the right sidebar. Mobile viewers will need to switch to the desktop layout at the bottom to vote in the poll.
It’s Friday so that means a post with good news. Today’s good news is that the area of Midtown known as Grand Center is beginning to implement some of the improvements from their master plan. The blocks between Grand & Spring are very long — too long. They’d painted crosswalks at midpoints years ago, but these crossing points didn’t work for those of us in wheelchairs. Even the able-bodied could face difficulties with parked cars, motorists not stopping, etc.
So last month I was happy to see a new crossing on Olive between the Nine Network (KETC) and St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU)
The curb gently bows out to narrow the crossing with of Olive. Looking North, the Nine Network on the left, St. Louis Public Radio on the right, the new Media Commons plaza center.Looking the other direction you can see both new ramps built within the parking lane.
In April 2010, while visiting the Pulitzer, I photographed the problem in Grand Center: paint but no ADA ramps, cars able to block the crosswalk. The following was very common in Grand Center so I’m very glad to see it getting addressed!
The Subaru wagon is parked in line with other cars. but blocking the crosswalk. No ramp on either end of the crosswalk. April 2010
Pushing the ramps out into the parking lane puts pedestrians where they can look both directions and where motorists can see pedestrians entering the crosswalk so they can stop to let them cross. Tomorrow will be a nice day so get out and take a walk. See you Sunday with a new poll.
BOARD BILL NO. 198 INTRODUCED BY ALDERMAN SCOTT OGILVIE, ALDERWOMAN LYDA KEWSON, ALDERWOMAN MEGAN GREEN, ALDERMAN SHANE COHN, ALDERWOMAN CHRISTINE INGRASSIA, ALDERWOMAN CAROL HOWARD An ordinance repealing Ordinance 68663, codified as Chapter 3.110.120 of the Revised Code of the City of St. Louis and in lieu thereof enacting a new ordinance relating to a “complete streets” policy for the City of St. Louis, stating guiding principles and practices so that transportation improvements are planned, designed and constructed to encourage walking, bicycling and transit use while promoting safe operations for all users.
The first reading of the bill was in November, this will be the first hearing on it. The full Bill, as introduced, can be viewed here (5 page PDF). As noted in the summary above, it repeals & replaces Ordinance 68663 — a “Complete Streets” law adopted a few years ago. This new bill is more — complete.
The best part is the creation of a Complete Streets Steering Committee, comprised of:
Directors or their designees from the Departments of Streets, Planning and Urban Design, Board of Public Service, Health Department, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, and the Office of the Disabled.
This committee would meet quarterly and:
Develop short-term and long-term steps and planning necessary to create a comprehensive and integrated transportation network serving the needs of all users;
Assess potential obstacles to implementing Complete Streets practices;
Develop an action plan to more fully integrate complete streets principles into appropriate policy documents, plans, project selection processes, design manuals and maintenance procedures;
Provide an annual written report and presentation to the Board of Aldermen showing progress made in implementing this policy.
January 14, 2015Economy, Politics/PolicyComments Off on Readers: The Public Shouldn’t Build & Own Any New Stadium
Stadium week continues with the results of the Sunday Poll:
Reaction to the following: The public should build & own a new stadium to keep the Rams in St. Louis
Strongly Disagree 47 [65.28%]
Strongly Agree 9 [12.5%]
Neutral 6 [8.33%]
Tie 5 [6.94%]
Somewhat Disagree
Somewhat Agree
An overwhelming majority disagree with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, who thinks a stadium should be a publicly-owned asset. I agree — I’m ok with long-term local & state government incentives helping Kroenke finance a stadium, but we don’t need to be stuck owning another white elephant. Let him build, own, maintain it — much harder to walk away that way!
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