Webster Groves, county plan converge as streetscape design moves toward mid‑spring sign‑off

Sinan, a City public works department representative, told the Webster Groves Business District Commission that Saint Louis County is advancing a federally funded arterial project along the corridor and that the county’s design team has offered to expand its scope to include pedestrian‑scale lighting and other streetscape improvements the city wants.

“This is 1 of the already committed, streams of funding,” Sinan said, describing the county project as part of an established federal funding stream and noting the county’s near‑term design deadlines needed to secure construction funding.

The commission stressed that the business district has previously developed streetscape concepts and wants those materials incorporated into the county process. A business district representative said the district has multiple prior studies — including a 1998 Booker study and follow‑up work paid for by the district — and urged the city and county to avoid “reinventing the wheel.”

Why it matters: the county’s schedule for design submittals is tight. Sinan said county design approvals must be submitted by about June or July to preserve eligibility for federal funding and that construction is expected to follow in the next federal fiscal year. The commission wants to ensure local design elements — decorative pedestrian lighting, conduit for future power connections, bump‑outs at intersections and other pedestrian amenities — are considered during the county’s design phase so they do not need costly retrofits later.

Commission members described specific local priorities: pedestrian bump‑outs at Alma, improved sidewalks and curb replacements as needed, and an enhanced corridor treatment with pedestrian‑scale fixtures and streetscape furnishings (benches, trash receptacles, planters). County plans shared with the commission show selected bump‑outs and sidewalk work; the county’s current proposal for lighting is limited to the north side of the street, according to staff. The county also intends limited work at the signalized intersection at Big Bend and Gore (the transcript references a southbound signal), but not wholesale replacement of the signal equipment.

Commissioners pressed staff to consolidate and deliver the business district’s existing design files to the county. The district said it paid for multiple previous studies (the Booker study and a later, roughly $33,000 study), plus a traffic study and concept documents captured in a Google document, and asked the city to compile those materials into one package for county review. Staff agreed to identify county project numbers and gather available records so district members can review the county’s concept and supply input.

On lighting strategy, Sinan described tradeoffs: the county’s roadway lighting and the district’s desired pedestrian lights may share poles or be installed on one side only; conduit installation during county construction will be important to allow future connections without reopening pavement. The commission also discussed options to stagger pedestrian lights on both sides, remove old cobra‑head roadway lights where appropriate, and preserve sidewalk clearances given narrow building setbacks.

The commission directed staff to serve as a point of contact and to schedule a joint review of available documents. Commissioners and staff agreed to exchange files and identify county design submittal dates so district concepts can be considered before the county finalizes its design.

The discussion was recorded under the streetscape agenda item and concluded with agreement that city staff (Chris and Jeff, and staff listed as Sinan) will assemble available studies and follow up with district representatives and the county design team.