Community Development Specialist Orin Pogue from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) spoke at the Feb. 2 council meeting to go over highlights from Steelville’s completed Active Transportation Plan. This is a 10-year plan funded through the University of Missouri Extension’s High Obesity Program, which aims to combat obesity and promote active, healthy living in underserved communities.

“The ultimate goal of this plan was to develop and prioritize Steelville’s sidewalk network and supporting crosswalks connecting community areas of interest for overall user safety, and as well identify ways to improve the short and long term health outcomes of residents,” Pogue said.

Three meetings were held at the Community Center on May 14, July 31 and Sept. 17 to identify and prioritize which improvements were needed. A group of 13 stakeholders from the community, made up of multiple council members and residents, were present to provide their thoughts and feedback. An online survey was also sent out to the community and was taken by 31 people.

MRPC is proposing 10 additional sidewalk routes in the city, three additional crosswalks and three potential trails or trail extensions. During the planning process, stakeholders considered pedestrian safety, comfort, connectivity, directness and overall cohesion. Pogue said traffic counts, speed limits, road geometry and federal highway guidelines were also taken into account.

The proposed sidewalk developments, in priority order, include:

• Spring Street

• Main Street

• Grand Drive

• First Street

• Church Road/Fourth Street/Esther Street/First Street

• Shady Lane

• Industrial Drive

•Pine Street

• Perkins Drive

• Highway 8

The plan notes that Steelville already has a significant sidewalk network (about 2.4 miles total) compared to other small towns in the Meramec region, giving it a good base for development.

The proposed crosswalk developments, in priority order, would be added to the intersections of Spring Street and Main Street, Second Street and Main Street, and Highway 8 at Country Mart and the housing development, as long as the proposed sidewalk goes in at Highway 8.

The highest prioritized trail development is to extend Greenway Trail through downtown, ending at Hoppe Spring Park. Currently stretching about .8 miles, this is the town’s only existing trail. 

The second priority would be the creation of Frisco Rail Trail, running a total of about 1.7 miles along the unused Frisco Railbed that bisects Steelville from east to west.

“Stakeholders noted that city leadership has pursued this trail development in the past unsuccessfully, primarily due to complications surrounding residue left behind after transporting lead from mines in Southern Missouri,” the plan notes. 

“The group thoroughly discussed the barriers that have been and are in place to get that rail trail built,” Pogue said. “But, once again, because this is a 10-year plan, and things change with administrations and all kinds of stuff, a lot can change in 10 years. So we wanted to go ahead and get that priority put on paper in case things change.”

The third trail priority is the proposed North City Trail, running about one mile to connect the proposed Industrial Drive sidewalks with the proposed First Street sidewalks. Because this trail in part includes the Steelville Mountain Bike Park, it would extend recreation opportunities for mountain biking. In total, the plan proposed an additional 3.35 miles of trails be added to the town.

The plan also suggests the city invest in wayfinding signage and maps as well as amenities such as public restrooms, benches and water stations to benefit residents as well as the tourists it attracts.

“This plan is not intended to be set in stone, and you’re absolutely not held to any priority orders or recommendations in this plan moving forward,” Pogue told the council. “The plan is intended to be a roadmap or guiding reference when pursuing active transportation projects and adding to supporting infrastructure.” 

MRPC recommends that the stakeholder group continue to meet annually to monitor progress, which will bring infrastructure improvements to the forefront of local planning efforts. This will be the responsibility of city staff to initiate. The plan states that implementing all of the MRPC’s recommendations could take anywhere from a year to decades.