SierraScape February - March 2005
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by Ginger Harris

In the mid-'90's when citizens expressed a preference for extending MetroLink rather than the I-170 "Innerbelt" highway south of I-64/40, County Councilman Kurt Odenwald helped his constituents stop the southern extension of I-170. However, political pressure persisted to find another north-south route for auto traffic destined for Clayton and beyond. Hanley Road became a target for replacing the southward extension of I-170.

Hanley is a major north-south arterial that extends from Lindbergh Blvd in North St. Louis County (where it's called "Graham" and "St. Ferdinand") to Gravois Blvd in South County (where it's called "Laclede Station Road").

In July 2003 St. Louis County Highway & Traffic Department (SLCHTD) announced formation of a steering committee to study the 1.8 mile segment of Hanley from I-64/40 to where the arterial changes its name to Laclede Station Road (where Old Laclede Station Road meets Hanley Road, just north of Deer Creek in South Maplewood). The Steering Committee was composed of SLCHTD, officials of the three municipalities bordering this segment (Brentwood, Richmond Heights and Maplewood), and 5th District County Councilman Odenwald. The three municipalities and SLCHTD added Metro transit agency and six large land owners/development companies to create a Stakeholder Committee. Each of these jurisdictions and companies contributed $15,000 for the $150,000 study, though some county officials stated that "no taxes" were used for the study.

SLCHTD's July 2003 press release stated that its steering committee "will provide information and solicit input continuously from the public throughout the development of the plan." However, at least in one municipality, some smaller businesses bordering Hanley Road were not aware of the study until postcards arrived in their mailboxes the day of the one public meeting that has been scheduled over the 12-month period of the study. SLCHTD's website gave readers barely a week's notice of the public meeting, for the benefit of those few residents who happened to be aware of the study's existence.

The announced purpose of the study was to "improve circulation throughout the study area, improve pedestrian access, provide a consistent streetscape, and provide for the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles."

Although the study promised to address "all modes of ground transportation, from vehicular to pedestrian," in the consultant's almost 60-page final report dated May 2004, I found only two places where bicycles are mentioned. Both involved the criterion "Enhancements to Pedestrian/Bicycle Modes." This criterion was one of 15 criteria evaluated to determine the best design for widening Hanley. The study found that two of the six alternatives contributed significantly to non-motorized transportation modes,two alternatives contributed moderately to these modes, and two did not contribute to these modes. In fact, however, a representative of SLCHTD has told the regional Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee that the chosen design for Hanley Road will not accommodate cyclists at all, because there will be only enough right-of-way purchased for 7 to 10 lanes of traffic (each 12-feet wide) plus five-foot wide sidewalks, but not the extra two feet in each direction that would be needed to create wide curb lanes that could be shared by bicycles and cars.

It's hard to imagine that any of the proposed alternatives would improve pedestrian access even though the chosen design will include sidewalks on both sides of Hanley. First, the new barely five-foot-wide sidewalks will be smack against the curb, replacing older, narrower sidewalks that in most places had been separated from the curb by a grass strip. Thus, the new sidewalks will not feel as safe or inviting to walk along as the old ones were.

Secondly, the proposed widened road will be designed for a 40 MPH speed (compared to its current 35 MPH limit), even though it is anticipated that the official speed limit will remain at 35 MPH. In situations where a road is designed to accommodate higher speeds, and feels safe at higher speeds due to its greater width, vehicle drivers are more inclined to drive over the speed limit. Thus, the widening of Hanley is likely to make it scarier to walk along this road.

Thirdly, the new road design proposes to limit where crosswalks will be provided. East-west crosswalks across Hanley will only be at signalized intersections (an average of one every quarter mile), and only on one side of the intersection. Even north-south crosswalks will be limited. For example, where big box stores want dual left-turn exit lanes, crosswalks will be eliminated. Thus, pedestrians may have to walk some distance out of their way to cross Hanley or even to cross a side street.

Fourthly, SLCHTD engineers haven't figured out how they can provide pedestrian access across Manchester Road, where they're proposing to separate the grade with a "single-point interchange."

Fifth, pedestrian "refuges" are not being proposed between northbound and southbound lanes in the middle of Hanley. Pedestrians will have to cross the entire 7- or 8-lane highway within the 25-second cycle or put themselves in danger. The only exception is at Dale Avenue, where a tunnel will allow for a huge 20-foot refuge in the middle of that intersection.

The Hanley widening was also evaluated for its "Environmental Impact," meaning impact on Black Creek (along the west side of Hanley near Manchester) and on a church parking lot. The study found that none of the alternatives had a significant impact on these two "environmentally sensitive areas," even though the chosen alternative would require additional stream bank stabilization.

Although many affected local officials are still unaware of it, SLCHTD expects to extend the widening of this corridor to I-44 or beyond, affecting Webster Groves and Shrewsbury.

If Sierrans living in Brentwood, Richmond Heights, Maplewood, Webster Groves and Shrewsbury call the Sierra Club office (314-644-0890) and then their local officials, we will hopefully get these widening plans revised.