O'Fallon outlines $10M-plus plan for new shared-use paths, funding and schedule detailed

City project manager Lily Thomas told the O'Fallon Parks & Recreation Advisory Board on July 14 that the city is advancing three linked shared-use path projects intended to expand regional connectivity and improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The most-complete project, the Twin Island Trailhead on Technology Drive, was built as part of a MoDOT bridge rebuild and includes a 12-foot shared-use path. "The full project cost about 3,870,000," Thomas said, adding that MoDOT covered roughly $2.2 million of construction and the city about $1.7 million. The city also received approximately $539,000 in TAP grant funds and anticipates about $275,000 from Great Rivers Greenway plus MoDOT design credits.

Why it matters: the three projects together create a continuous Greenway link from residential areas through Bluebird Meadow Park to Sports Park and toward neighboring municipalities, which officials said could boost recreational use and local business traffic.

Thomas described the Bluebird Meadow–Sports Park project as a 12-foot shared-use path with a 150-foot prefabricated bridge and multiple culvert crossings. The project estimate is about $4.9 million; Thomas said the citys share is roughly $2.3 million, the city was awarded $900,000 in TAP funds, Great Rivers Greenway plans to contribute $1.4 million and Saint Charles County has an agreement for $450,000 with talks to split remaining costs 50/50.

The presentation emphasized safety features: a rapid-flashing beacon at the Sports Park crossing, rumble strips on approaches and clear pedestrian routing through multiple parking entrances. Thomas also said design work incorporated a "no-rise" requirement for Darden Creek, which constrained bridge and abutment design to prevent raising water levels.

Thomas also reviewed a Highway N shared-use path planned from Spring Orchard Drive to Meadowlake Drive: a 10- to 14-foot-wide corridor with ADA-compliant crossings. The city did not secure federal construction funding in 2025 but was recommended for design funding and plans to reapply for construction funding in 2026. "Right of way would begin in 2027 and construction in 2028," Thomas said, with an estimated construction cost of about $1.4 million and partner cost-sharing for design and construction.

Board members asked practical questions about parking and overflow at the Twin Island trailhead; Thomas said the new trailhead has nine parking spaces and one handicap space (10 total) and noted Great Rivers Greenway maintains the Bluebird Meadow loop, which provides additional access points. On the possibility of extending into the Bush Wildlife Area, Thomas said the citys desire remains but that construction there is currently on hold pending conservation approvals.

Safety and operations were a recurring theme: the city and partner agencies recommended a wider 14-foot cross-section in areas where golf-cart use and pedestrian flows may coexist. Thomas said the city posts "no motorized vehicles" signage on some paths, but local ordinances can allow certain golf-cart operations unless signs explicitly prohibit them, so designers favored wider lanes where adjacent jurisdictions requested them.

What happens next: designers will refine plans during utility coordination and environmental review; the Highway N project is on a federal timeline that points to right-of-way work in 2027 and construction in 2028 if funding is secured. Thomas said remaining wayfinding signage at the Twin Island Trailhead is expected to be installed within the contract window.

Sources: Lily Thomas, project manager, Engineering Department (presentation and Q&A).