Wabash wrote:It isn't far, but their is a huge psychological barrier from midtown.
Imagine what could be done with $40M to lessen the psychological barriers around the Grand/CWE/Skinker-DeB and Delmar stops.
- 11K
Imagine what could be done with $40M to lessen the psychological barriers around the Grand/CWE/Skinker-DeB and Delmar stops.
This is pretty minor but.... This could really boost attendance at the Missouri History Museum. In a way it would be a living, moving extension of the museum. Like all of their shows and permanent collection, this would be a piece of St. Louis history brought back to life. I imagine riders will want to hop off and check out whatever show is up as long as they're there.
(Not that museum district $$$ should go to the trolley).
(Not that museum district $$$ should go to the trolley).
maybe one huge benefit of this will be more demand for such streetcars lines throughout st. louis. there really should be N/S lines down Broadway, Grand, Skinker and Kingshighway to connect the Metro.
someone argued that metro should go all the way to St. Charles, and i'm not sure i'd agree. I'd almost rather build up the system in the city and central corridor.
someone argued that metro should go all the way to St. Charles, and i'm not sure i'd agree. I'd almost rather build up the system in the city and central corridor.
- 2,005
Trolley from Forest Park to Loop may revive the "clang, clang clang"
07/05/2009
UNIVERSITY CITY — A lone saxophonist stood on a corner in the Delmar Loop on a recent day, trying out a "new" song.
"It's 'Meet Me in St. Louis,' from the movie," explained Tony Street, the hip 30-year-old. "My mother loves it." He may want to learn "The Trolley Song" from the same 1945 classic, which featured Judy Garland in a story about a St. Louis family and the 1904 World's Fair.
The song celebrates the "clang, clang, clang" of the streetcars that were common a century ago, then disappeared, but may one day again run right past the spot where Street played.
Proponents of building a 2.2-mile line from Forest Park to the Lion Gates at the western end of the Loop will present details, answer questions and seek reactions at a meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Regional Arts Commission.
The project's cost, $45 million to $55 million, would be paid mostly using federal funds, with a local share and private donations.
The Trolley Company Advisory Board, led by Loop businessman Joe Edwards, will make a formal recommendation by the end of the month to the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, a clearinghouse for federal money.
Read More
07/05/2009
UNIVERSITY CITY — A lone saxophonist stood on a corner in the Delmar Loop on a recent day, trying out a "new" song.
"It's 'Meet Me in St. Louis,' from the movie," explained Tony Street, the hip 30-year-old. "My mother loves it." He may want to learn "The Trolley Song" from the same 1945 classic, which featured Judy Garland in a story about a St. Louis family and the 1904 World's Fair.
The song celebrates the "clang, clang, clang" of the streetcars that were common a century ago, then disappeared, but may one day again run right past the spot where Street played.
Proponents of building a 2.2-mile line from Forest Park to the Lion Gates at the western end of the Loop will present details, answer questions and seek reactions at a meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Regional Arts Commission.
The project's cost, $45 million to $55 million, would be paid mostly using federal funds, with a local share and private donations.
The Trolley Company Advisory Board, led by Loop businessman Joe Edwards, will make a formal recommendation by the end of the month to the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, a clearinghouse for federal money.
Read More
- 5,433
That is a cool model. Funny how Edwards' properties east and west of Skinker are suddenly across the street from each other. 
The trolley looks pretty nice, as does the Infiniti G35 parked outside of Pin-Up Bowl.
The trolley looks pretty nice, as does the Infiniti G35 parked outside of Pin-Up Bowl.
- 6,775
That girl in the green top is pretty hot.
- 1,026
so did Joe bust out th action figures from his BBHill display cases for that model?
and I love the two people in the background. Nice Godzilla effect
and I love the two people in the background. Nice Godzilla effect
- 2,772
DeBaliviere wrote:The model looks cool:
Have you seen it in person? It's pretty cool. A good testament as to what it would be like.
- 2,093
markofucity wrote:so did Joe bust out th action figures from his BBHill display cases for that model?
that would be funny. Sort of like when George Costanza built a scale model of his office and used a GI Joe for himself.
Jerry: I really think you oughta be the M&M
LOL!
- 44
Here is a link http://bit.ly/PAFGs to the presentation to be given later this afternoon. You may submit comments from the website www.looptrolley.org
Tom Shrout wrote:Here is a link http://bit.ly/PAFGs to the presentation to be given later this afternoon. You may submit comments from the website www.looptrolley.org
I know this is off topic Tom and we don't even have this project completed yet, but I have a few questions for you.
Do you think this will successful in reintroducing the concept of trolley/streetcar transportation to St. Louis?
I remember you talking about a possible downtown streetcar, are those serious plans? Or on wish lists? Has anyone ever seriously though about implementing a modern styled trolley system back to St. Louis? Something similar to Portland? It kind of seems like for the price of a the proposed N-S metrolink line we could build out a somewhat comprehensive streetcar system in the city of St. Louis.
- 44
If the region is able to cobble enough money together to build the Loop Project, no doubt people would want to expand it to the Central West End, other Forest Park attractions, Grand, downtown, etc. Downtown interests are trying to identify funding for a downtown trolley/circulator. First step is a study. Northing is in place yet. Unfortunately the bifurcated way we fund transit in the region -- money from the county and city separately -- I doubt the county -=- where 80 percent of the transit funding comes from -- would want to put money into a city streetcar system.
The Obama administration has signaled its desire to put more resources into transit. This and Congressional streetcar supporters will get the Federal Transit Administration to look more favorably on streetcar projects. Regions who have their act together will benefit over the next several years.
The Obama administration has signaled its desire to put more resources into transit. This and Congressional streetcar supporters will get the Federal Transit Administration to look more favorably on streetcar projects. Regions who have their act together will benefit over the next several years.
- 137
The Central Scrutinizer wrote:That girl in the green top is pretty hot.
I know bald is also beautiful but did they forget to photoshop her some hair? I can't tell, maybe it's really blonde or something.
- 2,772
Do the street cars move fast enough to be that comprehensive? I guess there would have to be a whole lot of cars running at once...
- 10K
streetsabby wrote:I know bald is also beautiful but did they forget to photoshop her some hair? I can't tell, maybe it's really blonde or something.
I think she's a platinum blonde.
How was the open house last night? Anyone?
- 11K
- 8,908
streetsabby wrote:The Central Scrutinizer wrote:That girl in the green top is pretty hot.
I know bald is also beautiful but did they forget to photoshop her some hair? I can't tell, maybe it's really blonde or something.
Uhhh, how do you photoshop a figurine? That's a real model not a rendering ya know!
According to the presentation slideshow daily ridership projections for the systems projected opening in 2012 are as follows:
2807 Weekday
4264 Weekend
Just over 1,000,000 riders per year
These numbers are very optimistic. For comparison:
New Orleans has about 12,000 weekday riders with 10x as much track.
Memphis has about 2600 weekday riders with 3x as much track.
Tampa has about 1000 weekday riders with the same amount of track.
Little Rock has about 500 weekday riders with 1.5x as much track.
All of these cities are considerably smaller than St. Louis (although Tampa's getting close), but their streetcars also go through downtowns which would seem to make them more useful.
A few details:
4 Loop Stations: 200-300 weekday, 400-600 weekend
Delmar Metro: 800 weekday, 1000 weekend
Forest Park Metro: 300 weekday, 500 weekend
Historical Museum: 50 weekday, 100 weekend
Easy for me to say since I'm not paying for it, but I'm all for investing in the best possible system (ie western loop terminus and as much double track as possible). Investing in a quality system up front will help insure success and be more flexible and prepared for future expansion to the CWE.
2807 Weekday
4264 Weekend
Just over 1,000,000 riders per year
These numbers are very optimistic. For comparison:
New Orleans has about 12,000 weekday riders with 10x as much track.
Memphis has about 2600 weekday riders with 3x as much track.
Tampa has about 1000 weekday riders with the same amount of track.
Little Rock has about 500 weekday riders with 1.5x as much track.
All of these cities are considerably smaller than St. Louis (although Tampa's getting close), but their streetcars also go through downtowns which would seem to make them more useful.
A few details:
4 Loop Stations: 200-300 weekday, 400-600 weekend
Delmar Metro: 800 weekday, 1000 weekend
Forest Park Metro: 300 weekday, 500 weekend
Historical Museum: 50 weekday, 100 weekend
Easy for me to say since I'm not paying for it, but I'm all for investing in the best possible system (ie western loop terminus and as much double track as possible). Investing in a quality system up front will help insure success and be more flexible and prepared for future expansion to the CWE.
^^^ The Tampa trolley car sucks ass! For some reason there little development around it and it goes through some very industrial port areas that don't serve it. Tampa's downtown is a lot less lively than Delmar.
Yea, after hearing the details that it would cost 52 million to build, AND 4 MILLION a year in maintenance costs, there is no way I would ever go through with it. 4 million a year is crazy!
As some comments in the PD, why not have a trolley WITH WHEELS? Look at 16th street in Denver. They closed the street off to cars except the bus (would be cooler if it was a trolley) and that works out great!
As some comments in the PD, why not have a trolley WITH WHEELS? Look at 16th street in Denver. They closed the street off to cars except the bus (would be cooler if it was a trolley) and that works out great!
- 2,005
Route for Loop Trolley approved
The East-West Gateway Council of Governments approved Wednesday a route for the proposed Loop Trolley system in University City.
It would run along Delmar Boulevard — from the Lion Gates entrance at Trinity Street to DeBalieviere Avenue, and then to the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Preliminary engineering is under way.
The next hurdle is finding $48.2 million to $51.1 million to build the system. An additional $4.2 million is needed a year to operate it.
"This is by no means a done deal," said Terry Freeland, manager of the corridor studies group for Gateway.
Plans show the new trolleys arriving at stops every 10 minutes on tracks built within the driving lanes. Passengers would be able to connect with MetroLink at the Delmar and Forest Park-DeBaliviere light rail stations. Other stops would include the Pageant, the Tivoli and the History Museum. The trolleys would travel 8 to 10 mph.
Link to Article
The East-West Gateway Council of Governments approved Wednesday a route for the proposed Loop Trolley system in University City.
It would run along Delmar Boulevard — from the Lion Gates entrance at Trinity Street to DeBalieviere Avenue, and then to the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Preliminary engineering is under way.
The next hurdle is finding $48.2 million to $51.1 million to build the system. An additional $4.2 million is needed a year to operate it.
"This is by no means a done deal," said Terry Freeland, manager of the corridor studies group for Gateway.
Plans show the new trolleys arriving at stops every 10 minutes on tracks built within the driving lanes. Passengers would be able to connect with MetroLink at the Delmar and Forest Park-DeBaliviere light rail stations. Other stops would include the Pageant, the Tivoli and the History Museum. The trolleys would travel 8 to 10 mph.
Link to Article
I can attest to what goat314 has to say for the most of the area where the Trolley Tampa runs after spending June 2008 at a Tampa shipyard and staying in a YBOR city hotel next to the Trolley Barn
However, The Tampa Trolley actually connects YBOR city, a well known entertainment district similiar to the loop, with the cruise ship terminals and downtown. Both of which are a hike and have no direct transit connection. In that regards, I think the Tampa Trolley is a much better investment for the area that it serves. Second, the industrial area that goat314 is refering too, between YBOR City and Downtown, is slated for high rise/condo/apartment development. In time, the Tampa trolley will have very dense residential in the heart of its line and will be beneficial to those who either work or seek entertain downtown/the cruise ships/or YBOR city. In other words, Tampa Trolley has a much stronger tourist base to work off in cruise ships as well as providing a transit corridor fora future development
However, The Tampa Trolley actually connects YBOR city, a well known entertainment district similiar to the loop, with the cruise ship terminals and downtown. Both of which are a hike and have no direct transit connection. In that regards, I think the Tampa Trolley is a much better investment for the area that it serves. Second, the industrial area that goat314 is refering too, between YBOR City and Downtown, is slated for high rise/condo/apartment development. In time, the Tampa trolley will have very dense residential in the heart of its line and will be beneficial to those who either work or seek entertain downtown/the cruise ships/or YBOR city. In other words, Tampa Trolley has a much stronger tourist base to work off in cruise ships as well as providing a transit corridor fora future development