MoDOT Calls I-70 to Boulevard Plan “Not Feasible” Because CityArchRiver2015 Says So

MoDOT held a public meeting April 10 to solicit public comments on the CityArchRiver2015 Foundation's plan to remove several blocks of downtown St. Louis streets including Memorial Drive at the Gateway Mall. The public was given 12 days notice of the meeting that was held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in City Hall. At the meeting, three "alternatives" were presented for addressing perceived inadequacies in pedestrian connections between downtown and the Arch grounds (click here to read the nextSTL summary of the public meeting).

At the meeting, alternatives two and three were labeled "does not meet the need and purpose of the (CityArchRiver) project". And so no alternatives were presented. Now MoDOT is responding to individuals who suggested as part of the requested public feedback that I-70 should be converted to a boulevard. MoDOT is stating that there are "two key reasons why removal of the I-70 corridor is not feasible." (full text of MoDOT form response below)

Reason one is that the CityArchRiver plan "precludes eliminating I-70 and turning it into a boulevard." Why? Because, MoDOT states, a boulevard in place of the Interstate "would not solve the primary purpose and need for the CAR 2015 project. A primary purpose of the CAR 2015 project is to ease both pedestrian and bike flow from downtown into the Arch grounds. A four to six lane boulevard would restrict pedestrian and bike access, not make it better. In addition, an at-grade boulevard does not link the Arch grounds with Luther Ely Square Park and the courthouse."