ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said Wednesday she proposes spending at least $40 million in federal COVID aid on measures aimed at reducing traffic violence in the city.
The move — which would require legislative approval — follows high-profile traffic deaths, including near Ted Drewes and along the South Grand business district, that have sparked outrage and calls for increased enforcement to combat reckless driving.
Jones laid out her thinking in a Riverfront Times op-ed, writing that although aldermen are currently responsible for determining infrastructure needs in their wards, "when people do not feel safe traveling on our roads, it's clear the current fragmented system isn't working."
"St. Louis needs a mobility and transportation master plan that takes our entire city into account to coordinate broader work while helping us access federal grants we currently cannot," Jones wrote. "While the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has increased traffic enforcement especially in high-crash areas, we need structural change on how our city cares for our streets..."
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