What's wrong with Gravois?

• Gravois Avenue is a busy thoroughfare running through dozens of neighborhoods in South St Louis. 
• Built like a highway, Gravois’ design causes numerous car crashes, leading to a high fatality rate-- especially for pedestrians and cyclists. 
• According to Trailnet’s analysis, 61 pedestrians and cyclists were hit by vehicles between 2020 and 2024, including 8 fatalities, making Gravois the deadliest street in the city.

Why, out of all the streets in STL, did we decide to focus on Gravois?

• Gravois has the highest fatality rate out of any MODOT-maintained route in the entire state. Our neighbors, community members, and families have been hurt, injured, or even killed by traffic violence on Gravois. This is unacceptable, and we demand upgrades to the street that would make it safer for all users of Gravois.

• Gravois has significant safety improvements included in MODOT’s repaving plan, but those wouldn’t be implemented until 2029. This was too long to wait.

What are our recommendations for making Gravois better?

Quick build safety improvements at key locations where car crashes have led to fatalities. 

• This would use temporary materials that can be installed cheaply, quickly, and efficiently, to slow traffic and ensure drivers pay attention. Examples include:
  • Hardened centerlines that require drivers to make more careful turns
  • Medians that prevent driving in the center turn lane
  • Bumpouts that restrict parking at corners where parking is not allowed

Changing the speed limit.

• A 25 mph speed limit that would pave the way for more substantial safety improvements to the street, such as raised crosswalks.

Fixing sidewalks.

• Surveying existing conditions of sidewalks, and repairing them so that they are accessible to everyone.

What have we done so far?

• We launched the campaign in June 2025, taking our petition to City Hall.
• We hosted a group bike ride and a walk audit over the summer to assess issues with Gravois.

• We collected stories of people’s experiences walking, riding, and driving on Gravois, and shared them on social media. We learned of people's feelings of hurt and hopelessness when confronted with the deadly conditions on Gravois.
• We partnered with Cleanup Crew STL to build community and improve walking conditions.

• We met with key stakeholders, including each of the alders whose ward contains a section of Gravois, Mayor Spencer, representatives from the City’s BPS, Streets, and Planning departments, representatives from MODOT, and Board of Aldermen President Green.

• We coordinated with the Better Bevo Now neighborhood association to pass a resolution supporting quick build safety improvements on Gravois.
• We delivered our set of recommendations to city officials. The City Board of Aldermen supported our recommendations by passing Resolution 197 -- this was a big win for us!

What's happening now?

How you can help

• Join the CP2 (Coalition to Protect Cyclists and Pedestrians) working group-- We meet every first Thursday of the month. Check Instagram for details.

Our Asks

• Gravois Petition

• Gravois Letter

• StoryBank