St. Louis has ignited fury among pedestrian safety advocates by dismantling concrete bumpouts that were installed to narrow sections of bustling city streets and compel drivers to reduce their speed. City authorities have eliminated three curb extensions: one situated at the southwest corner of Broadway and Market Street, another at the entrance to the Ballpark Hilton Hotel's valet circle, and a third on the opposite side of that circle.
Traffic Chaos Triggers Removal
This decisive action was taken following a concert last month at the Dome at America's Center, which resulted in drivers becoming ensnared in hours-long traffic gridlocks in these specific areas. Bob O'Loughlin, the proprietor of Lodging Hospitality Management, which owns the Ballpark Hilton, informed the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the bumpouts were generating traffic congestion even on ordinary days, not just during major events.
Advocates Decry City's Priorities
In the aftermath of the concert debacle, Mayor Cara Spencer convened with downtown stakeholders to address the escalating problem. St. Louis Urbanists, a collective advocating for a more walkable and pedestrian-friendly city, publicised photographs depicting the removal of one bumpout. The group vehemently criticised the decision, labelling it 'a masterclass in how our City government officially prioritizes driver convenience over your lives'.
'[The bumpouts] are being removed. The reason? It wasn't a safety failure or a catastrophic flaw. They are being ripped out due to observations of 'traffic' after one single event,' the organisation stated. Their social media post further contended, 'This decision proves that driver convenience measured in minutes after a single event is officially more important to this City than the actual lives of people crossing the street.'
Political Controversy and Denials
Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi expressed profound frustration, alleging that the sidewalk extensions were removed without her prior knowledge or consultation. 'This is deeply frustrating and makes our Downtown a more dangerous place to live, work and visit,' Antwi declared in a statement disseminated via social media.
The original installation of these bumpouts occurred in response to a significant surge in traffic fatalities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics of Mayor Spencer have alleged that she authorised the removals at the behest of Bob O'Loughlin, given that a company under his control has made financial contributions to her political action committee. Mayor Spencer refuted these claims on Thursday, asserting, 'It wasn't a favor. It was a mess.' O'Loughlin similarly denied exerting any undue influence over the mayor's office regarding this matter.
Calls for Further Action and Safety Concerns
O'Loughlin additionally proposed that the city contemplate removing more extensions that have reduced Broadway from four lanes to two. He argued that this road serves as the primary egress route for individuals driving to the downtown core for popular events, and excessive congestion could deter attendance. 'If it takes people three hours to get in and out,' he cautioned, 'people will stop coming.' While advocating for law enforcement to address reckless driving, O'Loughlin acknowledged St. Louis's notorious reputation for drag racing incidents.
Alarming Pedestrian Fatality Statistics
The urgency of pedestrian safety is underscored by stark statistics. In 2024, St. Louis recorded 23 pedestrian deaths. By comparison, New York City reported 122 pedestrian fatalities during the same period. However, when adjusted for population, St. Louis's pedestrian fatality rate is dramatically higher—approximately 8.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, versus a rate of roughly 1.4 in New York City.
In a related development, St. Louis has recently established a special downtown district initiative. This programme will employ off-duty police officers in the coming months specifically to combat and suppress drag racing activities, aiming to enhance overall street safety amidst the ongoing controversy over traffic management versus pedestrian protection.
