The Livable and Walkable Communities Institute (LWCI) helps cities be more pedestrian-focused. The group audited Maplewood’s ‘walkability’ in November, and recently released their report. See the Maplewood Walkability Study Report.
The report’s key findings:
- Manchester Road has “good bones” for Aging In Place and placemaking.
- Big Bend bisects Maplewood, disrupting crucial east-west pedestrian and bicycle travel.
- Conditions for bicycling and walking along Manchester Road are very challenging, at best.
- Downtown housing would greatly benefit the senior population, empty nesters and young professionals.
- The ‘big box’ store in downtown Maplewood is incongruous with the current walking context… ‘liner buildings are suggested.
A memorandum written by Community Development Director Rachelle L’Ecuyer on behalf of the Special Business District cited numerous concerns with the walkability study. She notes the report offers some great suggestions for Maplewood and most would be exciting, but there are some issues.
In the memorandum:
- The report states Maplewood has “excess parking” (starting on page 31 in the report). The reality is that many lots are not open to the public, so parking is at a premium in downtown Maplewood, which is especially true on weekends. The only “excess” parking is on the Shop ’n Save lot, where the city has no jurisdiction.
- The report suggests that Hanley Road replace Big Bend as a major north-south road (page 16 in the report). Changing people’s habits would be hard, and what would happen to businesses on Big Bend?
- The memorandum disagrees with the statement that walking on Manchester is “challenging at best” (page 16 in the report).
- The report suggests “liner” buildings in front of Shop ’n Save (page 17 in the report) — along the north side of Manchester. This is often a recommendation, but the land is privately owned.
Note: New sidewalks on Manchester Road from Breddell Avenue to Hanley Road are part of the third and final phase of improvements to Manchester Road in Maplewood. It was originally scheduled to begin in spring 2015. MoDOT has said Maplewood will bid the project out on March 22, 2016.
A ‘photovision’ is part of the report, which suggests how traffic could be calmed and the area be made more pedestrian-friendly. Councilman Barry Greenberg said he had hoped the photovision would have been done on Big Bend, which often has faster traffic.
See the complete Maplewood Walkability Study.
The Maplewood city council discussed the report at a work session on March 8. Mayor Jim White said the city would need cooperation from the county for some of the suggestions, depending on the location. He also said there used to be more crosswalks but they were removed because they were too dangerous. He said the Manchester/Sutton intersection is the most dangerous in the city. “We need to keep people off these roadways,” he said.
Councilman Shawn Faulkingham said crosswalks need to be made more visible. Barry Greenberg suggested an island in Manchester in the turning lane, in the 7300 block, to make crossing easier.
Doug, do you know if the City plans to ask citizens for their input on the report, or how they plan to move forward? The only group asked for their thoughts so far seem to the be the Special Business District. I remember quite a few of Rachelle’s comments were addressed in the very informative (and evidence-based) presentation during the Walkability event.
Adelina – I don’t know if the city plans to ask for residents’ input on the walkability study. I’ll check.
Adelina – City says the study is still in draft form and a working document. The mayor and council will decide how it will be implemented. As you know, though, every council meeting begins with an opportunity for residents to speak to the council.
They tried to do a walkability study here in Brentwood but they got run over! Kidding aside Maplewood has fine a great job in making itself as desirable place to live. Wish Brentwood leadership would try and think outside the box, the big box if you knew what I mean.
They tried to do a walkability study here in Brentwood but they got run over! – “That’s gold, Jerry. GOLD!”
Does anyone else feel like this? As a cautious driver on Manchester and Sutton, especially during the evening hours, I always feel unsettled that someone is going to pop out from behind a car and I am going to mow them over, from no fault of my own. Unfortunately, we cannot just say “they just need to use the crosswalk”, because there is no real way to enforce that. I look forward to any environmental changes that will make it feel safer and friendlier for both pedestrians and drivers and make it easier for both to navigate.
That being said, Manchester should not be used as just a way to get somewhere else. This is our downtown and we need to take pride in the fact that we have so many people on foot and bike that enjoy our businesses and services. Let’s be responsible with what we have.
(as a side note, does anyone else think that having no stop sign at Marrietta going south on Sutton is a little awkward? I realize that it is to prevent cars from backing up to Manchester, but i always feel uneasy here.)
I agree with you, Seth. If you are trying to go south on Sutton by turning left off of Marietta, it is difficult to see if cars are coming south down Sutton from Manchester.
It doesn’t help when cars ILLEGALLY park on the Northeast corner of Sutton at Marietta.
Im all for making Manchester from Big Bend to Hanley more walkable. However, one of the major pieces of this is looking at the building codes and zoning. When codes have minimum set backs from the road instead of maximum distances, this causes a lot of parking to be in front of the store and for a lot of breaks along the sidewalk. While changing codes may not have a dramatic impact in the next year or two, long term it would set the foundation for a more desirable space.
I agree Joe! The Richmond Heights apartment complex is an example of what something like this would look like.
Absolutely. Something similar to that design on Manchester would be a great addition. There are very few spots more suitable in St Louis. You could live car free with the metro, the MW library, grocery stores, restaurants and bars all within walking distance. Only problem is there is no Joe Edwards for Maplewood.
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I’d like to read this memorandum.
I might agree there are a couple blocks that are very “walkable”. Just pray you don’t have to ever cross Hanley at Manchester. As has been discussed many times, there is absolutely no sidewalk on the north side all the way to the mass transit MetroLink station a mere 700 feet away. There is hardly room to pass oncoming people over the creek bridge on the west side (also in Maplewood) as well.
I will eagerly read this report and, hopefully, the memo as well.
I too am eager to learn what interest there is to help make it possible to bike into and through Maplewood. My experiences in the past have borderlined on nightmarish… consider trying to come from Brentwood with a child in a bike trailer and getting to Deer Creek park if you will. I’d love for the mayor and alderman to watch a go-pro camera of this expedition.
I don’t understand the comment, “We need to keep people off these roadways.” If he is referring to pedestrians, I think he’s looking at it the wrong way. Downtown areas need pedestrians and should always be the priority. More pedestrians usually means more safety and economic development, as they are the ones stopping in stores and making purchases. Many cars on Manchester are just cutting through to avoid highway traffic. It would make more sense to say, “We need to reduce the amount (or change the behavior) of cars on these roadways.”
Just don’t send them down Lyndover because I already see too many cars that speed down a street that is situated on a park where kids play.
Not following the comment that Manchester/Sutton is the most dangerous intersection in the city. My office overlooks the corner. In the 3 + years we’ve been there, I’ve seen one incident there – it involved a cyclist and I’m unsure of the cause. I cross it twice daily and if one follows the signals and keeps an eye out for vehicles turning, it’s difficult to get it wrong. Can things be improved? Sure. Hope the city takes the report in stride and exercises good discernment before spending any money.
I see Maplewood as very walkable. I don’t have a problem. However, if there are places without sidewalks, they should have them. That is a pet peeve of mine about neighborhoods in other municipalities.
If the reference to a big box store is Shop ‘n Save, I think it is unreasonable to want to remove a grocery store because that store makes the community practical for those without transportation and is part of the quality of life of Maplewood. Sounds like the best advice would be to dump the report.
If Manchester west of Big Bend were to be reduced to one lane there are times of day it would be so terribly bogged down. I dislike how that has been done in the city. I was looking for an address (turned out to be a wrong address) on Union Avenue and was driving all up and down a part of it where two lanes had been replaced by one lane plus a bike lane. Cars were honking at me because they were mad I was driving so slow, trying to locate my destination. I didn’t see how I could pull over because there was a bike lane.
What I would have liked to see in the City’s reply is a meaningful discussing on how the City can incorporate these recommendations into future planning. In addition, making Big Bend more walkable, by reducing and slowing traffic down, would actually bring increased economic development to the area, as many previous studies have shown in areas throughout the nation. The east section of Manchester, clearly the most walkable Maplewood throughway, is what has made Maplewood an attraction for business development and homeowners alike. I can’t image what an amazing city we would live in if the rest of Manchester and Big Bend had the same vibrancy and walkability. If the City put as much effort into building Maplewood up, as they put into memos of recycled excuses, we’d be a lot closer to achieving a safe and walkable community.
I agree!
Come on Rochelle. There are spots on Manchester without a sidewalk. Is that walkable? Totally respect the things you bring to the city, but this is a dumb comment. I know phase 3 is supposed to fix that, but is it walkable right now. I’m sorry but businesses on big bend are not as important as the cities citizens.
It isn’t very wheelchair friendly, chief reasons being lack of curb cuts and uneven, broken sidewalks. If I park at Shop-n-Save, there is no way across without going to the end of the block (I know that you should only cross at the walks). Many sidewalks don’t have curb cuts, most notably the ones by the library and school.
Actually the road work on Oakland etc last summer included curb cuts along Lohmeyer
I sent an email with a photo of the curb cut there to 40 S news. It’s inaccessible to get on the sidewalk for this waste of money. It’s a ramp leading to stairs. If you get on the sidewalk but the pool lot, you don’t realize that you can’t get off until you get to the other end.
I just realized that myself
Having ridden the length of Manchester RD West once you cross McCausland It is challenging for the bike rider!
Mayor White, Maplewood’s downtown is very walk-able and your comment stating that the Manchester/Sutton intersection is the most dangerous in the city and that, “We need to keep people off these roadways,” is very short sided and not helpful to the future of our wonderful community.
It really is difficult to bike on Manchester. I’d love to bike to Aldi more often, but it feels like I place myself in a dangerous situation every time I try simply because Manchester is not very bike friendly. It would also be nice to increase the walkability along Manchester for families from the south side of Maplewood who would like to walk to the Maplewood pool in the summer.