Webster Groves TAC to negotiate with TrailNet for Complete Streets outreach; forms crosswalk subcommittee

The Webster Groves Traffic Advisory Commission voted to authorize its education subcommittee and staff to negotiate a contract with TrailNet and to empower the subcommittee and staff liaison to finalize a contract for community outreach on Complete Streets, the commission decided at its March meeting. Commission members said the outreach is intended to provide basic public education about Complete Streets and to support the SS 4a demonstration projects without absorbing TrailNet’s message.

The commission moved to pursue TrailNet’s proposal after subcommittee members described a two-phase scoping process: two 45-minute planning meetings with commission representatives to set goals and develop talking points, followed by a 60–90 minute public workshop (an “open house” format) that TrailNet targeted for May 25. TrailNet’s proposal presented a fee in the $2,600 range; commission members said the Traffic Advisory Commission (TAC) had originally set aside about $2,000 for outreach, and members discussed whether the extra cost could be justified and whether the group should negotiate different terms.

Commissioners said they want TrailNet to provide a preliminary agenda or sample presentation before the public workshop, and they agreed to keep the commission’s community outreach separate from—rather than folded into—the SS 4a task force’s messaging so the TAC can control content…