A collaborative St. Louis region will work cooperatively for the benefit of all citizens. Collaboration preserves the individual identity of cities, towns, and neighborhoods while allowing residents and communities to benefit from shared resources, coordinated services, and increased efficiency.

Residents in every county have expressed their appreciation of the small town feel of our regional communities, combined with the amenities of a large metropolitan area. The Regional Economic Assessment, Regional Water Infrastructure Assessment, and Transit Oriented Development Market Assessment conducted as part of this plan all identify collaboration as a vital component to the success of the St. Louis region. Leaders and residents alike have, for many years, recognized the need to share common goals and effectively coordinate local resources.

Collaboration is an essential element in achieving many of the other goals identified in this project. OneSTL partners will use the regional plan as an opportunity to organize leaders, residents, and resources to build a collaborative future. The St. Louis region will continue to support collaboration among local governments, agencies, and communities.

A prosperous St. Louis region will promote economic growth that supports our local communities and equitably benefits all of the regions citizens. Prosperity capitalizes and builds upon our unique regional assets to create a resilient economy that is strong both nationally and globally.

Residents and regional leaders stress the importance of a strong economy for the sustainability of the region. Compared to other major metropolitan regions, St. Louis is in the middle of the pack with respect to many economic and social characteristics, including education levels, income growth, and poverty rates. The recent recession impacted St. Louis about as much as it did the nation as a whole, as measured by changes in employment levels and housing price. St. Louis, like many regions, is redefining its niche in the global marketplace after decades of losing manufacturing jobs and corporate headquarters.

St. Louis has unique assets, many of which are related to its geographic location. OneSTL partners will continue to work together to strengthen and support existing coordinated economic development efforts, increase the use of sustainable practices in government and businesses that protect our natural resources, focus on quality jobs and the local economy and reduce racial disparities in economic opportunities.

A distinctive St. Louis region will embrace the variety of cities, towns, and neighborhoods that make our communities vibrant and accessible places to live and work. A distinctive region builds upon our unique community characteristics to provide a diversity of places and housing options that support all of our citizens.

Residents consistently voiced their fondness for their community, because of its unique or distinctive characteristics. In many parts of the region, there are stable multi-generational communities with strong family ties and unique neighborhoods that entice young people to remain or return to their roots. However, many communities suffer from lack of services, including restaurants or banks, lack safe conditions for walking, biking, or have limited access to parks or recreation facilities. Many communities lack adequate transportation connections to other parts of the region.

Our distinctive neighborhoods and communities provide the region’s residents with choices about where and how to live. Urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods with varying characteristics enrich the quality of life for the region’s residents. OneSTL partners will work to preserve the character of our local communities, enhance access to transportation opportunities, amenities, and community services, and provide a variety of housing types and affordability to address the diversity of our region’s citizens.

An inclusive St. Louis region will embrace its entire population. Inclusiveness recognizes the value of diversity in creating and maintaining a vibrant, entrepreneurial, and globally-competitive region.

The St. Louis region has a rich legacy of diversity in ethnicity, age, religion, lifestyle, race, socio-economic groups, and affiliations. Today it can be seen in the burgeoning immigrant populations from Bosnia, Vietnam, China, India, Mexico, and the Middle East. If we want to be a truly inclusive region, it is crucial that we address issues such as poverty, education, infant mortality, unemployment, crime, income, and higher education.

A metropolitan area that embraces, empowers, and builds upon its diversity tends to be more creative, equitable, entrepreneurial, and resilient. OneSTL partners will provide tools and policies to increase the social and economic well-being of all demographic groups represented in our region, and in the process, reduce the number of areas where poverty and inequity is concentrated.

A green St. Louis region will protect and enhance its natural systems while improving the performance of its water supply, stormwater, and wastewater infrastructure. Green strategies create networks for natural habitat, recreation, access to nature, flood mitigation, and water and air quality improvement.

Residents in communities across the region desire clean air, water, and access to open space and parks for recreation and enjoyment. They also expressed concern about flooding, soil erosion, and the increasing costs of sewer services. The Regional Water Infrastructure Assessment and Pilot Study process also show that water resource needs and costs will increase significantly in the coming decades as sewer districts and cities in the region replace obsolete infrastructure and improve water quality.

A healthy and well-functioning natural environment is critical to a strong economy and citizen quality of life. Investments in parks and green spaces can benefit communities. OneSTL partners will pursue strategies and policies for blue and green infrastructure investments that will save money for both governments and citizens while also providing enhanced water quality and reduced flood risk.

A prepared St. Louis region will be organized and equipped with the resources, capabilities and plans to maintain safe and healthy cities and to respond to the unexpected natural or man-made disaster. When a crisis occurs, a prepared region is able to respond quickly, efficiently and responsibly to meet the needs of all citizens.

Across the region, residents expressed concerns about flooding. In some communities, crime and neighborhood safety were also key issues. Working together, local governments can be more effective in addressing regional challenges such as preparing for unprecedented draught or flood, or addressing problems of neighborhood safety.

Safety in our communities is based on relationships, trust, communication and the work of fostering relationships among residents, local officials, law enforcement and the many agencies with overlapping jurisdictional authorities. OneSTL partners will work to prepare communities to address local problems as they arise. A prepared region is a more resilient region; and prepared local governments working together provide a strong base for that resilience.

A connected St. Louis region links residents to jobs, amenities, and community services. Connectivity provides transportation opportunities to all citizens, regardless of age, income, or ability.

Communities that are well connected within the region provide residents who commute to work, school, and other activities with more choices as to where they live. Residents in different parts of the region have very different perspectives on the range of choices they have for transportation ranging from the outlying communities where transit options are few or not available, to the core of the region where people generally feel they have more choice.

The region benefits from a system that includes a well-connected highway network, while the core of the region is served by a light rail and bus system. OneSTL partners will work to enhance the regional transportation system’s efficiency, accessibility, and range of transportation choices to reduce traffic congestion, diminish social inequities, improve air quality, and foster an economically vibrant and prosperous region.

An efficient St. Louis region effectively uses and reuses regional natural resources as well as investment capital and the skills and talents of our citizens. Efficiency applies to the region’s economy, to the functioning of local governments and to the creativity and capability of our work force.

Residents throughout the region have expressed concerns over rising energy costs. As energy costs rise, it results in increased operating expenses for businesses, governments, and institutions and increased housing expenses for citizens.

Energy efficiency is a key area the region can continue to save money and realize improved services. Local businesses and organizations have been successful in demonstrating new ways of doing business that save energy resources while providing high quality work and living environments. OneSTL partners will continue to develop tools and best practices to assist communities and local governments in improving efficiencies, reducing costs, improving fiscal health, and improving the quality of community services.

An educated St. Louis region provides high-quality opportunities to all citizens in all age groups and attainment levels.

The St. Louis region has a strong history of commitment to high quality education and diverse educational choices. The region has several nationally-recognized and ranked universities, research institutions, and professional training programs. However, residents throughout the region expressed concern about education quality and its importance to their own community and to regional vitality. Even in areas where people felt their schools were good, residents still expressed concern about overall educational quality.

The key to improving education is to identify and build upon the region’s existing strengths and assets. OneSTL partners will focus on improving educational standards and access across the region. On-going cooperation and coordination between education, business and government should address issues in student preparation and educational disparity, and identify the strategies to prepare all students to be life-long learners.