Maybe merge the threads then?
What exciting news. The first new Metrolink station in a decade (if they get it built by September 2016) and it will be in the City. For a long time I would have thought that was a near impossibility.
This will be a big boost to CORTEX, eastern CWE and eastern Grove.
(Yes to the thread merge)
Also, Roger, I agree. Those BRT proposals were awful. I'd be happy to see them abandoned.
This will be a big boost to CORTEX, eastern CWE and eastern Grove.
(Yes to the thread merge)
Also, Roger, I agree. Those BRT proposals were awful. I'd be happy to see them abandoned.
On second thought the two threads are probably fine. This one for the station, the other one for buildings going up around it.
Anyone know the specifics for the CWE station expansion? They aren't still trying to move it west, are they?
Anyone know the specifics for the CWE station expansion? They aren't still trying to move it west, are they?
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^ I'm fine with either one or two threads. I do hope this means that Wexford will follow through with its promise to add more density and less parking!
Officials hope to open the Cortex station by March 1, 2017. Also funded by the grant is a project to expand passenger capacity of the Central West End MetroLink station, the light-rail system's busiest.
Karin Hagaman, director of project development for Cortex, said both stations might get new platform canopies of a “signature” design.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 9be9d.html
Karin Hagaman, director of project development for Cortex, said both stations might get new platform canopies of a “signature” design.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 9be9d.html
The TIGER Grant for the new Cortex/Boyle Metrolink station was announced Sept. 9, 2014 with anticipated opening of March 2017.
Hopefully that timeline is still in place. I haven't heard anything indicating any sort of progress.
Side note: Spring 2017 could be a bit of a transit nightmare for BJC, with Boyle Metrolink under construction to the east and Forest Park Metorlink bridge and Kingshighway intersection being rebuilt to the west.
Hopefully that timeline is still in place. I haven't heard anything indicating any sort of progress.
Side note: Spring 2017 could be a bit of a transit nightmare for BJC, with Boyle Metrolink under construction to the east and Forest Park Metorlink bridge and Kingshighway intersection being rebuilt to the west.
^That is a nightmare I'd like to see happen all over the city. 
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Edited for corrected Metro tweet.... construction should begin later this year and open sometime in 2018
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^ tiger funds have to be obligated for construction within 2 years. So they have to start by sept of this year. Tho not sure why a simple station would take til 2018 to finish
^I agree, you wouldn't think building a station platform would take that long. But maybe Cortex/BJC are still planning on including all of these bells and whistles, and the 2018 date is for the full cafe, restrooms, landscaping, etc... Just a thought - totally speculating here.
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^I agree, you wouldn't think building a station platform would take that long. But maybe Cortex/BJC are still planning on including all of these bells and whistles, and the 2018 date is for the full cafe, restrooms, landscaping, etc... Just a thought - totally speculating here.dbInSouthCity wrote:^ tiger funds have to be obligated for construction within 2 years. So they have to start by sept of this year. Tho not sure why a simple station would take til 2018 to finish
IMO the sooner they start on and open the platform the better. All the amenities are secondary.
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I want to know how this station is to connect by bike to Tower Grove Avenue or Clayton Road. The first is probably the most used bike road in town. The second is the planned Chouteau greenway which very well could connect to SLU at Spring if that trestle works out. So it seems like some special accommodations should be considered to connect bikes from this station to the south. This could become easier to get to from SLU than the Grand station for some people if they just hop across Forest Park Avenue and ride along the dedicated trestle to Clayton Road and loop back up.
Right now, there's a very impressive rain garden where I would have imagined a bikeway to go. The plans for this station to connect to the northern side of the tracks rather than the south seems more CORTEX driven then bike plan driven to some extent.
I'm sure it'll work out fine, but I'm still a little surprised that a lot of bicycle thinking doesn't jump out of this plan. Are any of you more familiar with that aspect? How does this fit into the regional bike plan?
Right now, there's a very impressive rain garden where I would have imagined a bikeway to go. The plans for this station to connect to the northern side of the tracks rather than the south seems more CORTEX driven then bike plan driven to some extent.
I'm sure it'll work out fine, but I'm still a little surprised that a lot of bicycle thinking doesn't jump out of this plan. Are any of you more familiar with that aspect? How does this fit into the regional bike plan?
Even if there was a big fancy roundabout where Clayton and Boyle come together, Tower Grove Avenue still needs to cut across that lot to meet up there. The bike connection is not as obvious as it should be for two of the biggest bikeways in town smashing together a block from a train station.
Check out Cortex's TOD Study published in January '14 and CMT's pitch for the new station presented in March '14.CarexCurator wrote:I want to know how this station is to connect to by bike to Tower Grove Avenue or Clayton Road.
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Thanks Wabash! I see now. People realize the Tower Grove Avenue connection sucks but they have no plan for fixing it. There's also no strong attention to Clayton Road as a designated bikeway.
Well that's a start. We'll have to give it another decade or two I guess.
Well that's a start. We'll have to give it another decade or two I guess.
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I take Clayton out of Forest Park to Boyle on my bicycle commute to work. Even without designation or "proper" treatment it is/has been a good street to commute. I've noticed since I started working in the area in 2010 to now there's been more and more bicyclists using it vs the year before getting that awareness critical mass for drivers around BJC.
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I'm not saying it doesn't work now, just that it should be recognized and prioritized as a connection to the station earlier rather than later. It's going to come up eventually.
The station according to the rendering posted above includes a GRG bike trail, covered bicycle parking, and a "bicycle comfort station". So, it looks like bike commuters are being recognized and prioritized early as opposed to eventually.
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It does say bike trail doesn't it.
So how does that bike trail connect south to Tower Grove Avenue? The way I see it, it would need to curve around the rain garden, around that triangle median, and around a corner. I have not seen any plans that suggest making that less annoying to navigate.
So how does that bike trail connect south to Tower Grove Avenue? The way I see it, it would need to curve around the rain garden, around that triangle median, and around a corner. I have not seen any plans that suggest making that less annoying to navigate.
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^ That jankiness around Clayton/Boyle/Tower Grove is unfortunate (and I hate all those pedestrian "beg buttons") and hopefully we'll see some good plans and execution. But honestly, Tower Grove north of Vandeventer isn't better than any other street for biking so I'd probably just use Boyle. And as aj says hopefully more cyclists and pedestrians in the area will mean an improved bike/ped environment as well. Somewhat of an aside, I already am beginning to see signs of more activity... people walking down to the TimHo's, walking dogs, etc. and there isn't even any residential in yet.
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In response to a comment about "shouldn't take long to build a platform".
This is correct. In fantasy world
In real world on local projects it takes about 870-950 days from when fed funds are awarded to when construction can start. Why? Biggest is coordination with utility companies. In that spot you can have Ameren line, laclede line, msd, charter, AT&T ect. Now if they are on public right of way that means they have to relocate and relocate for on their own dime. They take their time. Also no chance in hell that Ameren will cut and move lines in summer or laclede in winter. While this project may be a priority to cortex it's not to utilitie company relocation crews who may be working on about 100 other projects with MoDOT, private developer, counties, cities ect. Generally they want a 16-18month heads up.
This is correct. In fantasy world
In real world on local projects it takes about 870-950 days from when fed funds are awarded to when construction can start. Why? Biggest is coordination with utility companies. In that spot you can have Ameren line, laclede line, msd, charter, AT&T ect. Now if they are on public right of way that means they have to relocate and relocate for on their own dime. They take their time. Also no chance in hell that Ameren will cut and move lines in summer or laclede in winter. While this project may be a priority to cortex it's not to utilitie company relocation crews who may be working on about 100 other projects with MoDOT, private developer, counties, cities ect. Generally they want a 16-18month heads up.
Platform construction will start early 2017
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Cortex tweeted pic of crews beginning to remove the abandoned rail line. Metro says station should open late next year or early 2018.