The Route N Study concluded in July 2022 with FHWA issuing a letter of acceptance for the study PEL documentation.

MoDOT and St. Charles County are working together on next steps for initiating the preliminary engineering design on Rte. N from Rte. Z on the west to Rte. 364 / I-64 interchange on the east. This effort is anticipated to begin in early 2023 and is expected to take approximately 12-18 months.

Engineers with the Missouri Department of Transportation and St. Charles County explain the Route N Study for St. Charles County as a PEL study, which sets up the corridor for future development phases on a segment-by-segment basis as funding and resources becomes available.

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., the Route N study team hosted a public meeting at the National Equestrian Center, 6880 Lake St Louis Blvd, Lake St Louis, MO 63367. Over 200 attendees interacted with the Route N team and viewed project materials during the meeting.

Meeting materials are available on the Public Involvement page. Refer to the Route N study Frequently Asked Questions for additional information on the Route N Study.

The Route N NEPA Study was on pause for much 2020 and 2021 while the study team coordinated with Federal Highway Administration, St. Charles County, and East-West Gateway and worked through regional planning requirements. It was determined that the best path forward to document study information and coordination would be to transition to a planning and environmental linkages (PEL) study, setting the corridor up for future development phases on a segment-by-segment basis as resources and funding permit.

Over the next few months, the study team will complete PEL study documentation and engage the public and agencies to further communicate the transition of the study and next steps for the Route N corridor.

The Route N NEPA Study continues to be in the review phase.  MoDOT and the study team are coordinating with the Federal Highway Administration, St. Charles County, and East-West Gateway to amend the region’s long-range transportation plan with projects from the Route N Environmental Assessment (EA) document.  Following amendment of the long-range transportation plan and resolution of Federal Highway Administration comments on the EA, the EA may officially be approved and circulated for comment.  A Public Hearing will be conducted following the EA approval.

When the study moves closer to hosting the Public Hearing, circumstances around the novel coronavirus pandemic will be evaluated.  Further updates will be posted to the study website.  Stakeholders on the study’s email list will receive email notification when the EA is available for comment and a public hearing has been scheduled.

MoDOT identifies the Tentative Preferred Alternative for the Route N NEPA Study as the Buckner Road Alternative.  Please click here for more information.  Click here to see the Tentative Preferred Alternative.

MoDOT is currently completing the Environmental Assessment (EA) document for the Route N study. The EA will include details on how decisions were made for the entire study including the Conceptual Alternatives, the Reasonable Alternatives, screening of alternatives, impacts of the alternatives, public involvement, and identifying the Tentative Preferred Alternative.  The EA is expected to be circulated for comment in late 2019.  A Public Hearing on the EA will be conducted after the EA is circulated for comment.

Please note that the Tentative Preferred Alternative is subject to change and will not be officially approved until MoDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approve the study's EA and issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).  The FONSI can be approved only after the region’s long-range transportation plan, Connected2045, is amended to include projects from the Route N EA.  We anticipate the FONSI being approved in early 2020. In order for that to happen, East-West Gateway's Board of Directors, comprised of the bi-state St. Louis region's leaders and decision makers, must agree that this project is a regionally significant priority and should be included in the fiscally constrained long-range plan.  A formal vote would be required and an amendment to the long range plan would be needed.  Because the plan is fiscally constrained, other projects that are currently included in Connected2045 may have to be shifted out. After the FONSI is approved, the project can move forward with design and eventual construction.  Please note that funding for design and construction has not been identified.

MoDOT and the study team appreciates the participation of all of the stakeholders that have been involved in this very important study.  Your participation and input at meetings and through surveys has been invaluable. The study team listened and took your input into consideration. The recent MetroQuest survey received over 3,000 responses, which far exceeded the approximately 200 responses from public information meetings one and two. Where feasible, the input re-adjusted the footprints of the Reasonable Alternatives to minimize impacts. These MetroQuest responses, and other input, were essential to helping MoDOT determine the Tentative Preferred Alternative.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Shaun Tooley at shaun.tooley@modot.mo.gov or at 1.888.ASK.MODOT.

St. Charles County is currently working on an intersection realignment for Route N and Z. CLICK HERE to learn more about where they are in this process.