Midway Road Railroad Crossings - Exploration Study

The purpose of this exploration study is to gain an understanding of the community’s desire for improvements at the railroad crossings on Midway Rd. As the name implies, this study will explore the perspectives of stakeholder groups that represent key interests with the goal of developing a consensus about potential future improvements. It is important to note that this is not a planning project. A planning project is focused on developing engineering solutions and seeking funding to implement those solutions.

It is important to plan for future needs of major highways such as Midway Rd. Planning efforts take years to complete. Available funding is typically tied to the quality of a planning process. It is equally important to understand the perspectives and desires of the local community. It would be premature for St. Louis County to begin a planning process without first engaging with the local community.

Not even close. While there have historically been suggestions to complete major improvements such as bridge overpasses or realign Midway Rd, St. Louis County does not have a conclusive idea or solution. Before starting a planning process to develop a solution, St. Louis County prioritized the need to begin with this Exploration Study to gain an understanding of the community’s desire for potential improvements.

Yes, your input matters. Without active participation by the local community, the Midway Rd of the future may not reflect the values of the local community.

The key is intentional and thorough engagement. The Exploration Study will be divided into four phases of engagement with stakeholder groups that represent key interests. The first phase is dedicated to listening to concerns, issues, and future visions of Midway Rd. The second phase includes an online survey and comment map that will be open for public input for an extended period of time. The third phase includes reporting back to the stakeholder groups about what was learned through the initial meetings, and survey and comment map. It is during this third phase that the meetings will attempt to refine the future vision of Midway Rd. The fourth and final phase includes reporting back to the stakeholder groups about the final conclusions of the Exploration Study and to discuss next steps.

St. Louis County does not have plans or funding to complete major improvements on Midway Rd at the railroad crossings. St. Louis County does occasionally have projects to maintain the roadway pavement surface, railroad crossing surfaces or railroad crossing gates. However, these are considered maintenance type projects that do not include modifying Midway Rd in a significant way.