Renault, Missouri

[mayorbk 66]

New Wells Citizens want Train

New Wells, Missouri is located Southwest of Renault along I-255. To get to and from the suburban community residents must use the congested and dangerous I-255 through the Industrial areas and suburbs of Southern Renault.  I-255 is crowded and winds its way through the Southern parts of the city with little to no room for expansion. Other ways for citizens to travel to and from Renault require traveling through surface streets or traveling around the 224 beltway to other interstates. MetroBus services the community but there are no direct routes into the city.

The City has grown form a rural town to a suburban community over the last 50 years. The town had a railroad station on the east side of downtown until 1963 when the last  trains stopped in New Wells. 

picture: from Renault Downtown Library Archives, New Wells Station (circa 1960).

The city purchased the station in 1970 after in was left to rot away by the railroad. New Wells turned the area into a park and green space. Recently a group of New Wells citizens have joined together to form a subgroup of the Citizens for Urban Transit Systems (CUTS), a regional organization working with MetroRail, MetroBus, and local governments to expand public transportation in the metro area.

The group points out that a new station will bring new businesses to the city ass well as relieve traffic issues on I-255 and other local highways. CUTS also points out that a public parking garage located near the Station Park is almost never used but a  new station/park & Ride facility will help the city recoup money used to construct the garage.

picture: current station park in downtown New Wells (2009)

 

[Mayorm 14]

nice update, I really like the historical pic. I say yes to the new station

[Mayorm 14]

page flip bug, sorry for the double post

[Benedict 3,119]

I love the historic picture!

[mayorbk 66]

Renault Enters 2014

 

 

Southwestern suburbs, such as New Wells, Missouri, continue to grow creating new challenges for city planner. Despite the city securing a commuter rail station, the car still reigns the primary mode of transportation. Missouri Route C was once a farm to market road, like all lettered state routes in Missouri but has been upgraded to interstate standards through much of the Renault city limits. Phase I of the expressway extension was complete in 2012 with a new span across Apple Creek and a full interchange at Main Street in New Wells. Further south the road goes from four to two lanes. In 2012 MoDOT began preparations to upgrade the route. The plans call for grade separation and a new interchange with Blue Creek Rd.  

 

Picture: Construction began on the new interchange in New Wells.

 

 

Downtown Renault continues to emerge from the economic downturn. The city has seen steady growth in population as well as new industries and businesses. Local real estate experts expect the growth to continue.  Some of the most dramatic changes have occurred in the Riverfront district around the ballpark. Once an industrial zone, the new stadium has spurred many new bars and restaurants to open in the neighborhood.  The area has also had permanent residences for the first time through loft conversions.   

      

Picture: New construction around Riverfront Ballpark.

            

                

A join project by MetroRail, MoDOT, Amtrak, and BNSF to rebuild the congested rail hub of Wittenberg Jct. was completed in late 2013. The project extended two spur tracks north of Wittenberg Station, moved the MetroRail Green Line below ground and rebuilt the Union Ave. MetroRail Station. Additional tracks were extended along the BNSF main north towards St. Louis to provide less backups during rush hour when freight, Missourian Service (regional), and River Service (local)  create dispatching nightmares north of the city.

 

Picture: Southbound Missourian from St. Louis meets a northbound River Service train at Wittenberg Jct.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

Wow, cool!  Three and a half years between updates!  I'm impressed, thank you for continuing this.  That construction barrel shot is at once amazing and depressing.

[Benedict 3,119]

Welcome back - I always love a nice surprise return!!

[mayorbk 66]

Replies:

 

NMUSpidey and Benedict: Thank you! It's nice to be back after a few busy years at college, new computer, and finally found Renault files on an external drive. It's been a joy to build the region and the city journal over the years; I have lots of exciting plans now that the city is up and running again.

[Schulmanator 5,793]

Glad to see you back! Cool orange barrels -- cooler still that I am not stuck driving through them!

[Mayorm 14]

Great update and welcome back! The construction barrels though, must have taken forever to do that!

[simlink 1,098]

Nice detailing with the construction photo - very neat!

[Sabretooth78 808]

Nice to see this resurrected!

[mayorbk 66]

Missouri Route C Project (cont.)

 

Another major construction project that was recently completed when Missouri Rt. C was rebuilt through the University Hills neighborhood. The previous alignment had drivers exit the freeway portion of the route on the southeast corner of Eastern Missouri State University then wind through the University Hills neighborhood on surface streets before exiting back on freeway infrastructure near Renault International Airport.
 

Student ghetto east of EMSU's campus. Freeway portion of Rt. C ends on the edge of the picture.
Over the years the university purchased many properties on its east edge and the area adjacent area was a student ghetto with a combination of university-owned and private rental properties for students. Following completion of two new dorms on the west side of campus, the university, city of Renault, and Missouri Department of Transportation began a project to extend Missouri Rt. C through the area on an elevated freeway while the university constructed a new state-of-the-art football stadium.
 

New EMSU dorms hold over 8,000 residential students and eliminates the need for university-owned properties east of the main campus.
 

New Route C and EMSU Stadium in place of the student ghetto.

The new Route C freeway alignment bypasses congested surface streets and allows EMSU football fans easier access to the new EMSU stadium on game days. A new clover leaf interchange with Interstate 24 allows for easier regional travel for fans, students, and the public in the area. Missouri Route C now continues as a full expressway through most of the Renault city limits.

[Benedict 3,119]

Very nice, and interesting to see you label the route with letters.

[Ceafus 88 1,826]

Nice CJ! I like the construction picture from a few updates ago, and Iike your use of Maxis Highways.

[mayorbk 66]

Replies:

 

Benedict:  In Missouri many rural "farm to market" routes are designated with letters rather than numbers. Although with the recent growth and upgrades in my CJ, the road has been upgraded, for now, the lettered route still remains.

 

Ceafus 88:  Thanks for the reply.  I've actually been converting many highways with the new RHW via the latest NAM so future updates will have less MHW. The MHW is narrow, tight and fits well in the older/dense areas of the region but the more suburban areas will have lots more RHW.

 

Renault Soccer Development

 

 

The Renault Soccer Inc. recently announced a new professional soccer team will call the Renault metro area home.  Renault FC will initially begin play using local college stadiums until a soccer-specific stadium is constructed.  Although the company wanted to build the facility downtown, high real estate values and limited space forced Renault Soccer Inc. to turn to the suburban areas.  The city of Shawnee, IL has become the frontrunner for the project.  The city has been working with the team and the Renault Sports and Tourism Commission to search for a suitable site.  A spacious tract of land off Bayou Blvd. owned by the city is the likely target.  The flat, swampy land is located on the north side of Shawnee, IL and north of Carbondale Pike.  The land is also located near the Rattlesnake Bluffs Shopping Center, Rattlesnake Bluffs Transportation Center, and Interstate 224 via Carbondale Pike.

 

 

The city council will vote on the project in an upcoming meeting but first invites concerned citizens to voice their opinions of the project. Although the land is not directly adjacent to residential property, a large number of residents live to the East of the shopping center and there are some concerns for traffic, noise, and crime associated with the stadium. Shawnee City Council seems to like the project; citing that it will increase tourism and business for the city; raise the reputation of the city; and help distinguish itself from Renault.

 

Shawnee citizens (Simtropolis members) please discuss the pros and cons of constructing a 15,000-20,000 seat soccer stadium in suburban locale:

 

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

I support the project idea, a stadium in this area would be nice.

[dreamtown 79]

Good project, can i have a global view of site?

[inquisitor 0]

Nice update! I've not be around in a while. Glad to see this CJ still going strong.

[mayorbk 66]

Renault Soccer Development (cont.) 

 

Renault FC Stadium (naming rights tbd) is nearing completion. The main structure of the stadium is complete, field turf installed, and parking lot paved.  The majority of the work still needed is the interiors such as the club lounges and boxes.

 

As part of the project, Rattlesnake Bluffs Dr. was extended to Bayou Blvd (just north of the stadium). Rattlesnake Bluff Transportation Center was also moved to the West side of the railroad tracks in closer proximity to the stadium.  Park-like landscaping replaced the swampy land around the stadium as well as six additional fields for youth, high school and college tournaments.

 

Sports editor of the Renault Post called the new facility, "The crown jewel of the Renault sporting community..." and exclaimed the importance for regional tourism, health and fitness, and quality of life.  He went on to say, "the support from the Shawnee community and experts from Simtropolis Consulting Services helped make the stadium a reality."

 

Pic: Renault FC Stadium sits behind Rattlesnake Bluffs Shopping Ctr and adacent to Carbondale Pike.)

[Benedict 3,119]

Great to see you back!