O’Fallon’s updated bike trail master plan will guide the system’s expansion to 2040

More bike trails are in the works for O’Fallon, as identified in the recently adopted 2040 Bike Trail Master Plan, with hopes of better connectivity to neighboring trails in other communities.

The city has received a Metro East Recreation and Park District grant for $300,000 to help with construction of an Ogles Creek Bike Trail, from Millburn School Road to Timber Ridge Trace Drive.

The cost is estimated at $1.5 million, and construction set to begin in 2025. The city budgeted $1.2 million for the FY25 project. Baxmeyer Construction’s low bid of $1,070,337.77 was approved by the O’Fallon City Council Dec. 16, and state motor fuel tax funds will be used, too.

Thouvenot, Wade and Moerchen Inc. updated the Bicycle Facilities Plan, which was first completed in 2005. The engineering firm proposed corridors within the city and examined potential connection points to neighboring trails in other communities, such as Shiloh, Fairview Heights, and both the St. Clair and Madison county transit districts.

Two public meetings were held for residents to provide suggestions and feedback regarding the plan.

Parks Director Andrew Dallner said the new plan is expected to form a road map for expansion of the city’s trail system over the next 20 years. It addresses both recreation and transportation needs and provides connectivity for residents who might not have access to a car or bus.

“Many individuals either cannot afford vehicular transportation or choose to forego it for a variety of reasons. A multi-modal transportation network allows for better access for all residents,” he said.

With 10 parks, sponsored activities by the Department of Parks and Recreation, and cycling events sponsored by Bike Surgeon, which is located in the downtown district, the city provides some opportunities to both cyclists and pedestrians, but there are areas that are unsafe and difficult to access, he said.

“We hope to create new trails and develop strategic connections between trails, parks and other places of recreation and leisure,” Dallner said.

“Trail system users rely less on cars – and that promotes a healthier lifestyle, which aligns with the 15-minute city concept and goals identified in the city’s 2040 Master Plan.”

With more interconnectedness, residents and visitors of O’Fallon alike can fully utilize its parks and trail system safely with ease of access.

In drafting the plan, the engineers included detailed information about existing trails, heat maps reflecting the preference of cyclists and pedestrians, crash data, barriers to future trail growth, and opportunities for future growth.

The plan does not include the city’s sidewalk network, because sidewalks are considered solely for pedestrians and do not address additional bicycling needs, Dallner noted.

After the first meeting, more than 330 people participated in a short online survey. The survey asked questions to assess how well O’Fallon residents feel their cycling/pedestrian needs are being met and to help determine future trail corridor priorities going forward. Half of participants were 40-60 years old; one-third were 19-39 years old.

During a second public meeting, the city presented the final plan to the public. The city’s goals include:

• Provide clear, concise guidelines for future trail development
• Be well-positioned to receive grant funding
• Offer a well-connected means of safe pedestrian/bike transportation to local schools, parks, civic buildings, and commercial zones
• Connect to the planned regional trail system
• Streamline, economize, and eliminate redundant routes the network envisioned in the original Master Plan into a more refined, streamlined trail map
• Reflect recommendations from the Forward 50 Great Streets Plan
• Prioritize and categorize various routes and phasing of routes to align with future, known grant funding opportunities
• Compare O’Fallon’s Plan to neighboring communities and agencies to ensure alignment

Most survey participants had good knowledge of existing trails in the area. They said the top new trails to consider were the CSX line and St. Ellen Trail extension over Interstate 64.

Locally, multiple stakeholder groups that have a vested interest in the trail system in O’Fallon were consulted to identify their unique needs or wants. Cyclists, including members of Bike Surgeon’s cycling club, participated.

Public Works Director Jeff Taylor said those cyclists are mostly interested in off-road trails that connect to the bigger trail system for longer rides, such as CSX line (Sports Park to Downtown; Downtown to Rock Springs; Rock Springs to Rec Plex), Lincoln Avenue corridor south of Highway 50, Illini Trail and Sports Park connection, Green Mount Road gap (Highway 50 to Sports Park).

O’Fallon solicited input from Shiloh to the south and Fairview Heights to the west to coordinate planned trail development that guarantees future continuity of the regional trail network.

The major roadway corridors that O’Fallon had selected aligned with planned future development for both municipalities, including St. Ellen Trail corridor over I-64 in Fairview Heights and the Lincoln Avenue/Cross Street corridor in Shiloh.

Trail Developers St. Clair County Transit District has been constructing trails continuously in the county for 15 years. According to their current regional plan, four additional trails were slated to be under construction in 2024.

The Metro East Parks and Recreation District funds local trails with an annual grant program of up to $300,000 per trail project that connects to a regional trail segment, provides a local trail connection within the community, or develops a dedicated trail facility.

After the public meetings, city staff and TWM determined priority corridors for further study:

• • Kyle Road – Lincoln Avenue to Goshen Trail
• • Illini Drive – Goshen Trail to Illini Trail
• • CSX Line – Sports Park to Downtown
• • South Lincoln – Highway 50 to I-64
• • Gap along Green Mount Road – between Highway 50 and Sports Park
• • St. Ellen Trail extension over I-64, from Hartman Lane to Green Mount Road

These proposed corridors connect trails throughout the city that are already built. They also provide connections between O’Fallon’s larger parks and commercial zones as well as nearby regional trail networks, Taylor said.

The city will aim for progress each year on one or more, Dallner and Taylor said.