Trailnet’s 2025 State of the Streets

Expanded report highlights progress, challenges, and opportunities for safer streets across the region

ST. LOUIS, MO, June 22, 2026  — Trailnet today released its inaugural State of Our Streets report, a comprehensive look at transportation safety, infrastructure, and mobility across the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.

For years, Trailnet’s annual Crash Report has helped residents, advocates, and decision-makers better understand the human toll of traffic violence. This year, Trailnet has evolved that publication into the State of Our Streets, a broader examination of not only crash trends, but also the policies, plans, infrastructure investments, and advocacy efforts shaping the future of transportation throughout the region.

“For years, our Crash Report helped us understand where traffic violence was happening,” said Cindy Mense, CEO of Trailnet. “The State of Our Streets takes the next step by showcasing what’s changing across our region and how we can work together to continue making our streets safer. We hope this report helps residents, advocates, and decision-makers turn data into action that makes our streets safer for everyone.”

The report highlights both encouraging progress and persistent challenges. In recent years, the St. Louis region has adopted transformative transportation plans like the City of St. Louis Transportation and Mobility Plan, updated policies like the City of St. Louis’ Complete Streets policy, established new guidelines for higher safety standards like the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Blueprint for Arterials, and invested in safer infrastructure for vulnerable road users.

At the same time, high-speed and arterial roads are still especially dangerous for people getting around outside of vehicles. In 2025, pedestrian fatalities declined in both the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, though the County experienced an increase in pedestrian injuries. The region also recorded five cyclist fatalities after recording none in 2024. The findings reinforce a consistent theme throughout the report: the most severe crashes overwhelmingly occur on high-speed and arterial roadways.

Key Findings — City of St. Louis
Gravois Avenue was the City’s highest-crash corridor for vulnerable road users, with 23 crashes, resulting in 19 people injured and four people killed.

Speed kills. More than 90% of pedestrian fatalities occurred on roads posted above 25 mph, with more than half occurring on streets posted at 35 mph.

Arterial roads remain especially dangerous for vulnerable road users. Nearly 85% of pedestrian fatalities and 66% of cyclist fatalities occurred on these wider streets that encourage speeding.
Many of the most severe pedestrian crashes occurred just beyond intersections, where crossing opportunities are often limited.

Communities experiencing multiple forms of inequity – e.g. low rates of car ownership, higher rates of unemployment, predominantly Black and Brown residents –  continue to experience disproportionate impacts from traffic violence.

Key Findings — St. Louis County
Lindbergh Boulevard/US 61/67 was the County’s highest-crash corridor for vulnerable road users, with 22 crashes, resulting in 19 people injured and one person killed.

Speed kills. Most pedestrian crashes, and nearly all pedestrian fatalities, occurred on roads posted between 35 and 45 mph.

Arterial roads are especially dangerous, accounting for 78% of pedestrian fatalities and 100% of cyclist fatalities.

Driver failure to yield remained one of the leading contributing factors in crashes involving people bicycling.

“Every person killed or seriously injured on our streets represents an immeasurable loss to a family and our community,” said Mense. “These deaths are heartbreaking, and they show us where we need to make change. By slowing vehicle speeds, redesigning dangerous roads, expanding protected bicycle facilities, improving sidewalks, and adding safe and frequent crossings, we can prevent future tragedies. The solutions are known, and spelled out in this report. Now we have to continue investing in them.”

The report concludes with advocacy recommendations that empower residents to take part in building a safer transportation system. By supporting calmer streets, safer speed limits, protected bicycle infrastructure, accessible sidewalks, and the implementation of adopted transportation plans, St. Louisans can help shape a future where walking, biking, rolling, and taking public transit are safe, comfortable, and connected for everyone. 

“Safer streets are not created by chance; they are created by communities that choose to invest in them,” said Mense.

The full State of Our Streets 2025 report is available at trailnet.org/SOS.