Reconnecting the Westside focuses on restoring connections and addressing challenges caused by the
construction of I-35 and
We invite you to share your experiences, in this ongoing conversation to Shape the Westside.
Community Summit #2 Engagement
Share Your Ideas and Feedback!
The project team gathered and categorized input into three distinct concepts, aligning with the Purpose and Need. These concepts will be developed into more specific project alternatives to be screened, refined, and reintroduced for additional input.
Purpose and Need
Purpose and Need
Purpose and Need for Reconnecting the Westside project on I-35 Corridor.
We need your input now to ensure the project process reflects the needs of impacted neighborhoods and corridor users.
Purpose Statement (Draft)
Develop solutions to address the aging infrastructure condition of the I-35 viaduct while improving transportation choice and transportation safety issues. Construction of I-35 created access barriers to and from the Westside Neighborhood and has contributed to safety, health and economic development challenges. The project intends to address transportation-related needs while also recognizing, considering and mitigating these issues.
Needs (Draft)
Maintain “state of good repair”: The I-35 viaduct and other transportation facilities are aging and/or in poor condition. Sidewalks, streets, and other neighborhood infrastructure are in need of replacement.
Promote multimodal access and mobility: The legacy of physical transportation barriers contributes to the lack of transportation choice. Wide streets, complicated intersections, highways, railroads, and infrequent transit service make connections within the neighborhood and to adjacent areas difficult.
Improve safety: I-35 and I-670 within the Study Area have a high frequency of crashes compared to the statewide system in Missouri, which also negatively impacts travel reliability on the Interstate system. Several local roadways are on the High Injury Network, with a high rate of fatal and serious injury crashes.
Goals (Draft)
- Mitigate the impact of noise and air pollution.
- Improve connections to and enhance parks, recreation, and open space resources.
- Develop transportation solutions that are sensitive to historic displacements and do not proliferate ongoing gentrification.
- Provide opportunities for economic development.
- Implement feasible and cost-effective solutions.
What would you add to the draft Purpose, Needs, and Community Goals?
Open
"Remain" Concept
Concept 1: Remain
Ideas in the “Remain” Concept focus on keeping the highway in its current footprint, while making investments to improve connections and reduce the highway's negative effects.
The images below highlight similar examples from other communities and suggest possible locations for these treatments.
Initial Alternative Concepts
"Realign" Concept
Concept 2: Realign
Ideas in the “Realign” Concept focus on major changes to the highway location or “alignment” to a potentially less disruptive location. Highway access would remain in its current general location, allowing adjacent land to be reimagined for new uses.
The images below highlight similar examples from other communities and suggest possible locations for these treatments.
Initial Alternative Concepts
"Remove" Concept
Concept 3: Remove
Ideas in the “Remove” propose eliminating the highway from the neighborhood entirely, redirecting traffic to other major routes across the region. The vacated space could then be repurposed for alternative uses.
The images below highlight similar examples from other communities and suggest possible locations for these treatments.
Initial Alternative Concepts
Comment Form
Comment Form
Sharing Westside Stories
If you have a Westside story to share, the project team encourages you to use this comment form to share your story.
