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Safe Streets team wins environmental approval; Webster Groves to pilot speed humps, crosswalk sensors and other traffic-calming demonstrations
Summary
Committee staff announced environmental approval and said demonstration projects (speed humps, in-pavement crosswalk treatments and sensor-activated lights) will move into design and procurement once a Federal Highway Administration grant amendment is approved.
The Safe Streets team told the Traffic Advisory Committee that it received environmental approval last week and is preparing design work and equipment procurement for a series of traffic-calming demonstration projects in Webster Groves.
The committee’s Safe Streets staff member said the approved demonstration program will include devices such as speed humps, radar speed-feedback signs, in-pavement crosswalk treatments and a sensor that increases light levels when it detects pedestrians. "The best and biggest news is that we got our environmental approval, last week," the staff member said, and added that the next funding trigger is a grant amendment from the Federal Highway Administration, which must review and approve the change.
Why it matters: The demonstrations are intended to reduce speeding and improve pedestrian safety on corridors residents identified as hazardous. Staff said the projects will test technologies and designs intended to inform longer-term investments, and that community outreach will precede installs so residents understand what to expect.
Staff described communication plans that include a news release, social media posts, a public survey and coordination with schools. The staff member said the team will work with city communications to avoid surprise installations: "Let's just not go put speed humps in without any warning. We are gonna do... some sort of a news blast, whether, you know, social media, Facebook, website," they said. Committee members suggested adding school-district outreach and student-council channels to reach teen drivers.
Several committee members noted that some demonstration projects will need to be scheduled around the Elm Street closure. Staff said some projects could happen this fall in locations away from the closure but that most demonstration work may roll into early next year after construction activity subsides.
The staff member also said some technologies in the original FHWA application—specifically a sensor that raises crosswalk lighting when it detects a pedestrian—are awaiting FHWA confirmation before procurement can proceed. "We're just we're waiting on approval back from FHWA for that technology because it was in our original application," the staff member said.
Next steps: Staff will submit the grant amendment for FHWA review, finalize consultant scope and begin procurement when the amendment is approved. The committee plans coordinated outreach and at least one public demonstration event to show how the devices function before permanent installation.
