On September 10, 4theVille hosted a pop-up park on MLK and North Sarah to celebrate the Ville’s heritage, highlight talented Black artists and history, and imagine the Ville’s potential.
Trailnet helped out with a traffic calming demonstration with brightly colored tires, traffic cones, and tape to create bump-outs on MLK & North Sarah and MLK & Whittier in the Ville. The temporary curb bump-outs and high-visibility crosswalks create a safer and more comfortable street for all users by making a safer and shorter distance for people walking along the street to cross.
Even though the lane configuration of the street remained the same, by bumping-out the curbs and reinforcing the intended traffic patterns, there was a noticeable decrease in speeding along the corridor during the demonstration. This temporary change helped Trailnet and 4theVille engage residents on what changes they would like to see at this and other locations in the future to make it easier for people to get around safely.
This pop-up is part of a larger effort by 4theVille and Trailnet to engage residents in conversations about how the built environment could make it easier for people in the neighborhoods to get around.
The pop-up event provides side benefits in highlighting local history and addressing stormwater runoff, through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice – Collaborative Problem Solving program. Additional support was provided through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services “Missouri Livable Streets” Program, an effort to advance complete and livable streets in communities across the state and connect people to every day destinations through connected communities that prioritize people getting around in many different ways.
Trailnet is grateful to have been part of such an amazing effort by 4theVille, “It was really terrific to be a part of this collaborative effort to highlight the unique history of one of the countries most historic Black neighborhoods, and help engage residents in ways that history can be elevated and celebrated for future generations,” Taylor March, Trailnet’s Director of Policy said.
We look forward to how we can continue to help make the streets places for people, and help highlight all the amazing history of the Ville Neighborhood!
Tuesday, December 7 (snow date Dec. 16th) 5:30-7:30PM,All About Winter Riding – Come learn with the experts all about winter riding. This class will cover winter clothing suggestions, bike maintenance, riding conditions and how to choose the proper gear and routes for those snowy days.
Thank you to everyone who came and participated in Trailnet’s 2021 Bicycle Education classes! It’s been so much fun to meet new people and teach new skills! Stay tuned for future bike education classes in 2022.
As we continue to collect count data each consecutive year, we are able to show changes in bicycling and pedestrian activity. Documenting these changes is essential to shaping infrastructure projects that make our region more livable for all.
We need volunteers who can commit to counting bicyclists and pedestrians at designated locations from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 14th and/or Sept. 15th.
The counts are a simple tally form. You’ll need to print a copy of the tally form for each “screen line” shown for your location.
You can check out the locations and the screen lines on our map before you sign up. Two weeks prior to the counts you will receive an email with more instructions, as well as the tally form. You will need to print out the tally form(s) prior to the count. You will need one tally form for each screen line at your location (most locations have two).
Bringing sunscreen and a chair will increase your enjoyment of the counts. If you are at a particularly busy location (ex. Skinker and Forest Park Parkway) you may want to ask a friend to join you to help count, besides everything is more fun with a buddy!
Note that in cases of inclement weather, such as thunderstorms, Trailnet will reschedule this event to the following week as a policy. Please use your best judgment and seek shelter if the weather becomes threatening.
Also check our Twitter and Facebook pages for ongoing updates or if you have any questions. In the event of a cancelation, counts will be done the following week on September 16th and 17th.
Trailnet is honored to offer enriching internships every year that allow people to gain experience building a better, more connected St. Louis. Trailnet interns come from dynamic backgrounds and are immediately plugged in to our exciting work. This month, we’re highlighting Aidan Gillespie, one of our talented 2021 summer interns.
Read on to learn about how Aidan is dedicated to working towards a more sustainable planet with active transportation options for all.
Aidan Gillespie
1) What you did this summer (outside of Trailnet)?
Well, perhaps most significantly, my wife and I added a new childto our family when our son was born this July. He has been an absolute joy to be around. Aside from that, I’ve spent time exploring some new biking and walking routes in my neighborhood.
2) What you’re studying in school?
I’m a student in SLU’s Master of Urban Planning and Development program. I’m finishing up my second year in the program as a part-time student.
3) What drew you to intern at Trailnet? I have always been fascinated by transportation planning issues and the way transportation intersects with so many other facets of a community’s livability. Trailnet has been the perfect place to work alongside people so mission-driven and so passionately engaged in making Saint Louis a safe place for all people to use low-stress transportation modes. In particular, I was drawn to Trailnet because of its reach. Trailnet collaborates with so many communities and organizations that I’ve been able to see the vast web of individuals and groups committed to active transportation.
4) Can you tell us about your planning involvement at SLU? I participate in the SLU Urban Planning Association events and I’m a student member of the APA.
5) What about your time at Trailnet was valuable to your career? First, the internship definitely offered opportunities to get to know some of the leading advocates for active transportation in Saint Louis. Second, I had hands-on experience with real planning projects that benefit communities.
6) What has been the most fun Trailnet project to work on or learn about? As someone who enjoys exploring maps, I really liked working with Sam to compile and plot data for the quarterly crash report. Also, since Trailnet is hoping to create a program for partners to adopt a bike lane, I spent time reaching out to other communities with similar programs to learn best practices. I learned that people in this field really love their work and are eager to share what they’ve learned along the way. 7) What do you do like to do for fun? I enjoy taking my sons on walks to new places, running, traveling to the National Parks, genealogical research, and playing subway mapping games like Mini Metro.
Thank you so much Aidan for you time and work at Trailnet! You are so wonderful, and we all wish you a wonderful school year!
The Real Cost of Distracted Driving
CW: Car crash, death
This is hard and important.
In 2019, Randall Siddens was helping pick up cones after a triathlon in Columbia, MO. when he was hit and killed by a person driving while looking at their phone.
The video produced by our partners at Mercy Injury Prevention – Springfield worked with Randall’s wife and the first responders who were there to tell Randall’s story. Randall’s story is a real and tragic reminder of the risk whenever someone is on their phone while driving.
(This video contains dash cam footage from immediately before and after the crash, as well as emotional testimony and may not be appropriate for all viewers)
Dangerous, distracted driving poses one of the biggest threats to people walking and biking in our community. In Missouri more than 2,500 crashes a year involve people using their phones while driving.
Trailnet is working with partners across the state to curb distracted driving and pass legislation that limits phone use by people driving. This bi-partisan coalition, Hands Free Missouri, is pushing for driving rules that limit people from using their phones while driving to only, push-button voice activated, or hands free modes.
These hands-free cell phone rules have been shown to save lives in other states and are working to pass life-saving legislation here.
Trailnet is helping organize and plan these efforts for the upcoming legislative session. This month, Trailnet staff visited the Missouri Capitol to meet with state legislative staff and statewide partners with the goal of passing legislation to curb distracted driving.
It is vital that Missouri lawmakers pass meaningful distracted driving legislation and each of us realize the real, human risk that comes from distracted driving.
If you want to get involved and help fight distracted driving:
Set an example for the people in your life by not using your phone while driving
Get involved with Trailnet’s advocacy work by emailing our Policy Manager: kevinhahn@trailnet.org
We’re Hiring: Community Planning Manager
Community Planning Manager
Trailnet seeks an urban planner to lead our planning efforts to create healthy, active and vibrant communities where walking, biking and the use of transit become a way of life. The Community Planning Manager plays a key role in shaping our planning and design community engagement efforts to increase access to equitable mobility options for all.
A successful candidate will be self-motivated while still team-centric. They should be strategic, charismatic, and possess the analytical skills to break down complex problems with real-world constraints (wicked problems). A strong candidate should also be able to realize solutions quickly and incorporate continuous feedback through multiple iterations.
About the Organization
Trailnet is a not for profit 501 (c) 3 organization with a 32-year history of advancing St. Louis as a place where walking, bicycling, and the use of public transit are a way of life. By advocating for a network of safe, easy-to-access walking and bicycling routes across St. Louis, we aim to bridge transportation equity gaps and make it easier for all people to get from place to place. We work to make our region more sustainable by increasing active transportation options that curb greenhouse gas emissions. Trailnet brings people together throughout the bi-state region with a wide breadth of bicycle rides, educational events, and advocacy programs.
Our tight-knit team is based in downtown St. Louis above a coffee shop and around the corner from the Downtown Bicycle Station and the MetroLink. Our office is downtown but you can find us at neighborhood planning meetings, traffic calming demonstrations, and community bike rides throughout the metro area. We offer a competitive benefits package and flexible work schedules. We work to make St. Louis a premiere city for walking, biking, and transit.
Join our collaborative, mission-driven team.
Trailnet’s planning efforts include a wide range of projects to incorporate walking and biking into the existing transportation system. Major projects include:
The Community Planning Manager serves as the primary contact for planning projects involving contracted partners, municipalities, community partners, and government officials. Managing all aspects of the contract including compliance, marketing, proposal development, implementation and evaluation, the Community Planning Manager realizes Trailnet’s mission in planning environmental changes to promote lovable urban places. Together with the CEO, the Community Planning Manager conceives and implements a comprehensive strategy to grow our fee-for-service planning program in a way that is consistent with our values and policy principles.
Reporting Relationships
The Community Planning Manager supervises the Program Coordinator, manages consultant relationships, and oversees planning and community engagement efforts and associated activities that impact urban design.
The Community Planning Manager reports to the Chief Executive Officer. This position works in collaboration with the Trailnet staff to deliver services that integrate public health, urban planning and advocacy.
This position works closely with Trailnet’s Policy Director, to identify and address barriers to creating more multimodal transportation options and find new ways to increase equitable public and neighborhood-level engagement.
Responsibilities
Planning and Community Engagement
Seek out and build relationships with community leaders, metropolitan planning organizations, elected officials, and state and federal level administrators to inform and transform communities through healthy design that accommodates all modes of active and motorized travel
Plan and implement community engagement efforts to elicit critical information for bicycle and pedestrian planning projects, identify issues of importance, develop and adapt solutions, and prioritize needs
Develop and maintain familiarity with current and future activities of key agencies and programs (Local, State and Federal Transportation entities, Safe Routes to School, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Recreational Trails, Street departments, Metro East Parks and Recreation District, Great Rivers Greenway, BiState Metro, etc.)
Lead and assist project partners with field investigations and analysis of data
Work with federal, state, and local governmental agencies to manage, develop, and negotiate bicycle and pedestrian planning projects, including master plans
Produce high-quality deliverables
Develop internal standards for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and assure standards are incorporated into all of our efforts
Initiate and follow through on data collection such as requesting and collecting existing data from municipalities on streets, trails, parks, public facilities, and neighborhoods, etc.
Produce technical documents like plans, reports, maps, GIS analyses, etc.
Approve all recommendations, communications, and collateral concerning bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and related safety claims
Project management skills
Develop fee-for service planning program to enhance and grow our consulting work with strategic marketing and partnerships
Design and manage projects including project justification, cost estimating, budgets, reports, data collection, and contracts
Assist other Trailnet staff on shared initiatives, large annual events, and mission related projects, as appropriate
Qualifications
Masters degree in urban planning or a closely related field with two years relevant experience; or a Bachelor’s degree plus four years relevant experience.
Experience with local governments, multimodal planning, grant writing, and project administration is a must
Must be highly computer literate (GIS software, G-Suite, Microsoft office, Adobe Creative Suite, 3D modeling design software, etc.)
Must be at ease with public meetings, presentations, and marketing the program.
AICP certification preferred
Requirements
Job-specific knowledge & experience
Knowledge of Complete Streets, street design standards, and bicycle facility types as tools for creating livable communities that promote active living
Familiarity with NACTO, AASHTO and MUTCD guidelines
Experience with racially-equitable community engagement, strong cultural competency
Ability to connect bicycle and pedestrian planning to larger public health issues, identifying opportunities for complementary programs and policy
Familiarity with the St. Louis civic community is a plus
Ability and interest in presenting case studies and success stories to local, regional, and national level conferences
General ability & skills
Ability to manage multiple projects with multiple partners and differing deadlines
Excellent communication, interpersonal, analytical, systems thinking, and visualization skills are essential
Ability to think strategically, including systems level thinking, ability to optimize systems and resources, and ability to think ahead to next steps
Ability to work independently and manage self and partners toward goals, while being a genuine “team player”
Ability to work in a fast moving environment; ability to work with fast-paced colleagues
Compensation and additional information
Salary commensurate with experience. Competitive benefits package and flexible work schedule available. This exempt, full time position has a base salary range of $45,000-$55,000 per year.
Commitment to Equity and Equal Opportunity
Trailnet is committed to support diversity and equal opportunity in its services, administration, and employment, as well as research and activities. We strive to foster a working environment that values contributions from team members including those based on race, color, creed, gender, faith background, culture, sexual orientation, sexual identity, mental disabilities, physical disabilities, or veteran status. We work with a wide range of external partners and stakeholders, and we seek candidates that are committed to their own cultural competency. Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community are encouraged to apply.
Work Conditions:
Office Environment with flexible work-from-home options during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dependable high-speed internet is required for frequent video calls via Zoom and Google Meet.
The Community Planning Manager should have a presence at numerous community indoor and outdoor engagement events in the bistate region. Events include tabling, neighborhood association meetings, stakeholder meetings, traffic calming demonstrations, etc. Additional outdoor Trailnet events include: bike rides and community rides throughout Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Physical Responsibilities:
Transport up to 25 lbs. of tabling or outreach materials to events
Work at a computer
Staff tables at outreach events
To apply
Email your cover letter and resume to hr@trailnet.org. Resumes accepted until the position is filled.
Radical Adventure Riders (RAR) Cycling Industry Pledge
Earlier this year, Trailnet joined with 160 other bike businesses and nonprofits pledging to help make the cycling industry a more welcoming and inclusive space.
The Cycling Industry Pledge is an effort of Radical Adventure Riders (RAR), a group dedicated to improving gender and racial equity in the world of bikes. It focuses on improving representation, comfort and access to the cycling industry for women, LGBTQIA+ folks, and people of color.
Taking this pledge is one small but important step to help get more people on bikes and create spaces where people of all backgrounds can enjoy riding together.
This commitment parallels our work focused on improving core transportation (walking, biking, and transit) access and community engagement grounded in racial equity and focused on communities with greater needs.
We are over halfway through 2021, which means it is time for another quarterly crash report. This report examines crashes from April 2021 to June 2021 on roads within the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. The report compares the number of bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular crashes during a three month period to the same time period in the previous year.
Overall, there’s been a slight decrease in total pedestrian and vehicular deaths in the City and County. We’ve also seen an increase in the total number of vehicular crashes resulting in an injury in the City and County, as well as an increase in pedestrian crashes in the County. Trailnet also analyzed crash trends along particular roads and corridors. We saw that in the City there’s been less pedestrian crashes along the N. Grand Avenue corridor and along all interstates with the City’s boundary. In the County we’ve seen a decrease in crashes along St. Charles Rock Road and Chambers Road, but a notable increase in crashes in the City of Kirkwood.
We encourage you to take a look at our interactive map for both St. Louis City and County. This map shows exactly where the crash took place and also provides additional information on crash characteristics like posted speed limit, type of road, possible circumstance of the crash, and other details.
Click the document to enlarge it.
This graphic shows total number crashes from January 1st to June 30th of 2021.
Clayton works with Trailnet to adopt new Complete Streets Policies
A new set of rules governing how the City of Clayton builds and maintains its streets to accommodate people walking, using mobility devices, biking and using transit is now law.
Trailnet began working with city leaders to update its Complete Streets Policies last year and the policies were approved by the Clayton Board of Aldermen last month.
Complete Streets Policies are a collection of rules that communities adopt to govern how they build and maintain their streets. These policies are passed in order to prioritize the safety of people walking, biking, using wheelchairs, and other non-car transportation, as well as improve safety for people driving.
Clayton’s reformed policies are a result of Trailnet and the city working to:
Improve rules governing equity
Update design standards
Modernize how the success of these projects is measured
Clarify when exceptions to these rules can be applied
Improve how street projects are selected
Clayton’s original complete streets ordinance was adopted in 2012, but over the years, national standards for complete streets evolved to further prioritize the needs of people outside of cars. With that shift, Clayton’s policies required this important update.
These changes were vital to create streets that balance the safety and needs of everyone using the street.
Trailnet receives $40k grant for Jefferson County walk-bike strategy
Trailnet will begin developing a walking and biking strategy for Crystal City, Festus, and Herculaneum in Jefferson County. These efforts will help the communities prioritize infrastructure upgrades, programs and policies to improve access for people walking and biking.
Trailnet will provide support, training, and community engagement resources for the three communities. The goal of the work is to identify future projects for the three communities and provide ongoing technical assistance to advance improvements and identify future funding.
This work is possible thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Jefferson Foundation.
The Jefferson Foundation provides support for charitable and educational activities that promote individual and community health and well-being in Jefferson County. The foundation was formed in 2013 when Mercy Health System acquired Jefferson Regional Medical Center (now Mercy Hospital Jefferson) in Crystal City. Since 2014, the foundation has awarded 1,141 grants for a total of about $52.1 million.
