Date: May 30, 2003

Contact: Ellen Dailey 442-2082

Press Release

CREVE COEUR CITY COUNCIL APPROVES ALTERNATIVE MEDIAN DESIGN FOR OLIVE BOULEVARD

At its May 27 meeting, the Creve Coeur City Council approved an amendment to the median design between Tempo and Questover for the Olive Boulevard Sidewalk & Median Project. This amendment represents a compromise between the city and several of the existing businesses located within this block of Olive (Genovese Jewelers, Missouri State Bank and Ortmann-Stipanovich Funeral Home). These businesses opposed the median design that was originally approved for this block by the city, as it would have reduced vehicular access to their entrances to right-in and right-out turns only. The alternative design approved by the City Council on Tuesday night was proposed by the businesses as a compromise during meetings with the project’s design (consisting of city staff, the city’s engineering consultant and MoDOT). The new design assures greater access to Olive for the businesses and their customers, with the addition of left-in turns from Olive at their existing entrances, but restricting left-out turns from the businesses.

Under the both the former and current design, vehicles are provided additional means of access to and from Olive Boulevard including:

· Dedicated (signalized) U-turn movements at Tempo and Questover/Ross

· Existing cross-access easements provide vehicular access between the existing businesses. All businesses within this block will be able to access either Tempo or Questover via this connection of parking lots.

· Through-access from Questover to Tempo will not be provided. The city will vacate a portion of the existing cross easements as assurance to the adjoining neighborhoods that through access will not occur.

Scott Haley, Director of Community Development, stressed “One of the key goals of the Olive Boulevard Sidewalk & Median Project is to help improve traffic safety and efficiency on Olive with the incorporation of access management techniques.” Access management is the planning, design and implementation of land use and transportation strategies that control the flow of traffic between a roadway and surrounding land.

In an April 16, 2003 letter to the city, Karen Yeomans, West St. Louis County Area Engineer, writes, “The City of Creve Coeur has long been a champion of access management. MoDOT supports and recognizes the city’s efforts to utilize access management techniques for this enhancement project.”

Creve Coeur Police Chief John Beardslee states “reducing the number of conflict points (the number and direction of potential vehicular movements) on Olive through median construction is one such access management technique, thus reducing the number of accidents.” The city anticipates fewer accidents on Olive within the project area as a result of this project.

Additional project goals include developing a pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment that is safer and more accessible, and improving aesthetics throughout the project area with landscaped plantings.

The City of Creve Coeur has been working with residents and businesses to design and implement the project since the fall of 2000. In February 2001, following a competitive application process, the city was awarded $1.5 million in federal transportation enhancement funds to design and construct this project, which extends from Cross Creek to Mason. Some of the key design elements include:

· removal of the center turn lane at limited sections of Olive Boulevard and construction of a landscaped median

· Construction of a 5-foot wide bike lane within the existing shoulder

· Removal of the remaining shoulder, and replacement with a 6-foot wide sidewalk and planter strip.

The grant requires that at least 20% of the eligible project costs be paid with local funds. The city is contributing approximately $375,000 towards the project.