By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Regional planners have named St. Louis-based Arcturis to lead a feasibility study that will look at building a connection between the Arch grounds and downtown St. Louis.
Arcturis and four other firms will study how to turn a four-block zone into a pedestrian-friendly walkway that could also accommodate economic development.
Project manager Bill Burke says the team is studying successful riverfront development models in cities like Chattanooga:
"They used a combination of connections; they went on grade, they went over and they also went under their highway to make connections back to their riverfront," Burke said. "It's really been an investment in their city that helped reinvigorate their downtown."
The team will develop cost estimates for three different designs. The first planned public forum on the project will take place in July or August.