December 18, 2013
Improving I-270 North Corridor Recipes
11
Upside-Down Apple Cake
Around Town
3
Eagle Watch and Trail Walk
School
MoDOT Studying Proposed Solutions
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STLCC Receives UMB Scholarship
By Laurna Godwin When was the last time you traveled I-270 in North St. Louis County and encountered congestion and/or had to cross oncoming traffic at the Dunn Road exit ramps? If you have, then you can understand why the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is currently studying proposed solutions for the I-270 north corridor between the I-70 interchange on the west and the Chain of Rocks Bridge on the east. The study is called the I-270 North Environmental Assessment and is the next step in addressing congestion, safety, mobility, accessibility, and aging infrastructure in the corridor. Larry Welty, MoDOT’s North Area Engineer, explains why MoDOT is assessing the area: “We are developing alternatives to address the many issues in the corridor, which have to do with aging infrastructure. Most was built in the 60’s and is coming to the end of its life,” he continues. “We’ve got a couple bridges that may need to be replaced; the pavement needs to be replaced. “Many interchanges need to be updated. The Lindbergh interchange is very close to the Taylor/Lynnhaven interchange, and traffic going to and from Lindbergh on the north of 270 has to go through signals at that interchange,
which backs up traffic. At 367, the movement is heavy; there are lots of problems like that throughout the corridor.” An environmental assessment studies and documents the possible impacts a proposed transportation project may have on the environment. It is a requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). NEPA ensures that decision makers consider the environmental, social and economic impacts when deciding whether or not to move forward with a project. Considering such impacts early in the planning process allows for them to be avoided, minimized or mitigated. This winter, the study team will host a public open house to present proposed solutions for the corridor. You are encouraged to attend to view the solutions and to give your feedback. The exact date of the open house has not yet been determined; however, if you would like to be notified when the open house will take place or want to learn more about the study, please visit www.I-270North. org and sign up to receive our email updates. Meanwhile, if you have questions about the I-270 North Environmental Assessment, you can call 888.ASK.MoDOT or SL270NorthEA@modot.mo.gov. “The open house may be in early March
because we want to get all of our traffic analyses done before we go to the public,” Welty says. The I-270 North Environmental Assessment will last 18 months. The study will conclude with FHWA reviewing MoDOT’s final environmental document. If FHWA does not find any significant impacts, then MoDOT can advance to the design stage once funding is secured. If not, the agency will need to conduct a more detailed environmental study.
Over the Fence
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Santa and the Chimney Mystery
Frozen photo courtesy of Disney
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