The West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project
The West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project aims to help re-imagine and transform part of West Florissant Avenue to create a safe and accessible area for vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders. These improvements will seek to create an attractive sense of place – helping to make West Florissant Avenue a more desirable place to shop, socialize, travel, and live. Ultimately, the project also hopes to be a catalyst for more community development and improved economic conditions along the corridor.
West Florissant Avenue is a critical transportation corridor in the St. Louis region, linking North St. Louis County and the cities of Ferguson and Dellwood to the surrounding communities. Nationally, it is best known as one of the areas directly impacted during the 2014 civil unrest after the death of Michael Brown. For the thousands of people who drive, walk, bicycle, and ride transit on West Florissant Avenue, this is where they live, shop, and live – and it deserves to be a safe and welcoming corridor for everyone.
WHAT IT IS
Proposed Improvements
Based on engineering analysis and community feedback:
- Median
- Modified property access
- New sidewalks
- New crosswalks
- A shared-use path
- Upgraded transit stops
- Redone roadway
- New street amenities like new lighting and trees
- Bike racks, benches and trash receptacles
WHY IT IS NEEDED
Safety for both pedestrians and vehicles are a concern on West Florissant Avenue
- Cars traveling at high speeds
- Numerous driveways
- Little or no curbing for long distances
- Between 2010 and 2017, there were 27 pedestrian or bicycle crashes resulting in 27 injuries
- A pedestrian was killed when he was struck by two cars while crossing the street in 2019
WHAT’S NEW
Chambers Intersection Next Design Phase Funded Next phase will complete design plans
APRIL 2021 – The Chambers at West Florissant Avenue intersection is the meeting point of two major bus lines and has heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Unfortunately, that sometimes means more accidents and less safe conditions for people walking to the bus or riding their bikes to work. St. Louis County Department of Transportation announced in April 2021 that the next design phase for the Chambers Intersection would be funded. What does that mean? It means that instead of 30% designed, as it was after the conceptual design phase, the intersection will get to finish its redesign plans. That is one step closer to construction and making the intersection safer for all.
WHAT GUIDES US
The project reflects the values, dreams, and work of the communities and creates an attractive sense of place.
The project connects communities and improves economic conditions.
The project builds momentum along the corridor by linking the communities, activities, and developments in the area.
The project makes it easier and safer for you to live, work and play along the corridor, no matter your mode of transportation.