Transportation
The framework for an effective transportation network currently exists within Spanish Lake, and it can be improved to enhance safety and accessibility for all users as the community grows.
All data sources can be found in the full report.
Key Takeaways
A solid transportation and mobility foundation exists, but safety, environmental factors, and funding remain key challenges.
Sidewalks, bike routes, and trails have significant gaps that limit safe access and connections.
Public transit is underused due to limited routes and poor pedestrian access.
Opportunities for improvements focus on complete streets, closing gaps, and expanding transit to new destinations.
Issues
Transportation Network Challenged by Environmental and Connectivity Issues
Spanish Lake's transportation network faces resiliency, connectivity, and safety challenges driven by flooding vulnerability, limited east-west access across the BNSF rail corridor, roadway constraints that restrict large vehicles, and narrow roadways.
These conditions contribute to elevated crash risk, with Parker Road, Bellefontaine Road, and Riverview Drive ranking among St. Louis County’s highest-injury roadways.
More Trail and Park Connections Needed
Additionally, existing trails are not well-connected, and insufficient right-of-way restricts safe, accessible connections to parks and other amenities.
Spanish Lake has limited bicycle infrastructure, with few designated bike facilities, constrained roadway widths that limit reconfiguration for bike trails and other non-car facilities, and a mismatch between key destinations and bike-friendly routes.
Mobility Limited by Sidewalk Gaps and ADA Compliance
Sidewalk infrastructure in Spanish Lake is often substandard or missing, with ADA-compliance issues, poor connectivity, and physical constraints that limit the community's ability to close key sidewalk gaps.
Public Transit Gaps Limit Use
Public transit service in Spanish Lake is constrained by limited route coverage, poor transit shelter infrastructure, low service frequency, and substandard pedestrian access. These factors have resulted in lower ridership despite a large share of residents living within walking distance of transit.
Increased Transportation Funding Needed
Transportation infrastructure funding remains a challenge for St. Louis County. Current maintenance and preservation needs exceed available funding, and improvements will require additional funding.
Opportunities
Strengthen Network Resiliency and Safety
There are several key opportunities to improve network resiliency and safety throughout Spanish Lake, most notably by establishing multiple routes that can efficiently and safely move people through the community, better defining truck access to WildCare Park, and ensuring that upcoming network improvements benefit all users, from pedestrians to drivers and cyclists.
Strengthen Walkable Corridors and Close Sidewalk Gaps
Enhancements should focus on strengthening corridors as walkable destinations where it makes sense, improving access to transit, and closing sidewalk gaps by building on the planned East-West Gateway Council of Governments Great Streets initiative and access to existing and planned Greenways.
Expand Active Mobility and Transportation Access
Improved active transportation can expand access to parks and commercial areas, encourage walking and biking for healthier lifestyles, support local investment, and leverage partnerships with regional agencies to advance implementation.
Bicycle and active transportation opportunities center on converting wide, low-volume corridors into complete streets that are safe for bicyclists and pedestrians, while improving connections between existing trails and future greenways.
Improve Transit Service
Improving transit service and facilities, and extending routes to WildCare Park and other commercial centers, would increase ridership and encourage public transit use for short trips within Spanish Lake.
