The Maplewood City Council last week voted on operations and maintenance details for the already approved Great Rivers Greenway trail through the city.
The recent Council votes were for two separate agreements:
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An operations and maintenance agreement for the portion within city limits (final vote was 2/11/25)
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A cost-share agreement with Great Rivers Greenway for construction (final vote expected 2/25/25)
According to City Manager Amber Withycombe, the project financing combines two elements: the Great Rivers Greenway trail construction and Greenwood Boulevard’s reconstruction. Here’s how the funding breaks down:
For the trail:
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Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) grant secured by Great Rivers Greenway: $1,407,051
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Great Rivers Greenway contribution: $536,000
For the street reconstruction:
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Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) grant secured by the city: $1,128,000
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City’s expected contribution: approximately $622,000
After completion the city will take over ownership and maintenance of the trail. Construction is scheduled to begin in late summer 2025. The city expects the project to take a few months.
The trail through Maplewood will go from Big Bend, east on Oxford Avenue, north (left) on Sussex Avenue, east (right) on Greenwood Boulevard, then right on Canterbury Avenue to Ellendale Avenue, connecting the Deer Creek Greenway with the River Des Peres Greenway and the future Brickline Greenway. See the full Great Rivers Greenway map here.
Why are they not using the Greenwood overpass of Big Bend instead of what I would guess is going to be a stop light at Oxford to cross Big Bend? That is an extremely busy boulevard, especially at rush hour, lots going on. So it becomes another accident waiting to happen, cars win, bikes lose. A tunnel was mentioned in these comments, I don’t’ think that’s on the docket, extremely expensive and that’s an area prone to flooding anyway. I sent an email to Great Rivers Greenway about this safety concern, no reply. They just want money, not ideas.
Traffic backs up something terrible heading south on Big Bend at that point already. My predication, traffic backed up on the north side to Sunnen Business Park.
This is an amazing addition to Maplewood because it will be the final connection between the Deer Creek Greenway and River Des Peres Greenway, which also connects to Gravois Greenway (Grant’s Trail).
Will the trail include the Greenberg Tunnel under Big Bend?
What will be at the area marked 196A?
According to the GRG site, a small park named after the two cross streets, Oxford and Big Bend.
https://greatriversgreenway.org/projects/oxfordbend/
Hooray! I’ve been looking forward to this trail for years. It’s going to be a great addition to Maplewood.