Next City lists trestle on its Disruption Index. That's good disruption, for the record...
http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/disrupt ... is-trestle
http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/disrupt ... is-trestle
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What is the progress on this? Do they have a projected completion date?
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This is a very good question. It has a pretty high price tag and will take some time (if ever) to get done. I know that GRG will about double its spending in the city and county on trail projects (in addition to the Arch related work) so some of that money seems like it could be directed to the Trestle, especially since the plans within the city are getting near completion. (I am not entirely sure, but I think S. Riverfront and Old Chain of Rocks Bridge site are pretty much it for the City besides the Trestle.)Gateway City wrote:What is the progress on this? Do they have a projected completion date?
Anyway, I think it would be helpful if GRG gave an overview of specific projects we'd see if the tax passes.
^Roger, you might have a better outstanding than I but believe a lot or substantial portion of the initial funding/tax revenues went into the necessary studies, Environmentla impact requirements and preliminary engineering. A good chunk of that has taken place or finalized and we will see much more of the current tax revenues dedicated strictly to the construction aspect of the GRG plan.
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^ dredger,
I think you are right about a lot of preliminary studies, etc. getting done and of course the bridge painting, but beyond that I don't know too much about GRG's funding plans for it. I know that currently GRG spends less than $2 million a yr. on city projects and my belief/assumption is that the Trestle is a special project that will require additional $$ beyond what the existing tax provides. As always, I may very well be completely wrong!
I think you are right about a lot of preliminary studies, etc. getting done and of course the bridge painting, but beyond that I don't know too much about GRG's funding plans for it. I know that currently GRG spends less than $2 million a yr. on city projects and my belief/assumption is that the Trestle is a special project that will require additional $$ beyond what the existing tax provides. As always, I may very well be completely wrong!
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^That makes the most sense. If the standard budget allocations are $2M/year in STL City, then this project most likely is being considered as extraneous and additional to the annual allocation amounts.
My thought is that they are waiting for more work to be completed with the New Mississippi River Bridge before they begin work. The entrances & exits being built now are incredibly disruptive (in the best of ways), and I think that it would be rather difficult to try launching one massive infrastructural redevelopment project when a new, even more massive infrastructure development is taking place within a stone's throw of the Trestle bridge.
I'm excited to ride this and see how it connects to the North Riverfront Trail. But, I'm patient for this. After all, that Trestle has lasted for nearly a century and isn't going anywhere...
My thought is that they are waiting for more work to be completed with the New Mississippi River Bridge before they begin work. The entrances & exits being built now are incredibly disruptive (in the best of ways), and I think that it would be rather difficult to try launching one massive infrastructural redevelopment project when a new, even more massive infrastructure development is taking place within a stone's throw of the Trestle bridge.
I'm excited to ride this and see how it connects to the North Riverfront Trail. But, I'm patient for this. After all, that Trestle has lasted for nearly a century and isn't going anywhere...
Until the city tears it down because it looks ugly
Joking aside, I'm looking forward to seeing them continue what they have started. I hope they paint more of it.
Joking aside, I'm looking forward to seeing them continue what they have started. I hope they paint more of it.
^ If not mistaken, believe North Trestle is being looked at in terms of making the trail itself happen within the current GRG tax revenues with the hope/intention of expanding it into the linear park as envisioned in the renderings. In other words, GRG is slowly putting the trestle back into a state of good repair in order to pave a trail on top of it. Nothing more nothing less. I think the park portion is of significant cost with no source of funding identified let alone secured.
I don't think the GRG committ a bulk of its revenues to this one particular project when a lot of trails still need to be built out. I think its great that they secured/took ownership of the Trestle itself and working torwards simply getting trail on top. The linear park can wait in my opinion. In the meantime, let the fall out happen with the Arch Grounds tax vote and move forward after that. Maybe some of the Corporate Donors sitting on the fence see a better proposal in the Trestle and/or the Gateway Mall
Wonder if any GRG folks would be interested in commenting? Been making my share of guesses on what I think is happening and not happening. Their website is always there but nice to have to some comments from the source
I don't think the GRG committ a bulk of its revenues to this one particular project when a lot of trails still need to be built out. I think its great that they secured/took ownership of the Trestle itself and working torwards simply getting trail on top. The linear park can wait in my opinion. In the meantime, let the fall out happen with the Arch Grounds tax vote and move forward after that. Maybe some of the Corporate Donors sitting on the fence see a better proposal in the Trestle and/or the Gateway Mall
Wonder if any GRG folks would be interested in commenting? Been making my share of guesses on what I think is happening and not happening. Their website is always there but nice to have to some comments from the source
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I spoke with a GRG representative tonight about the trestle. Prop P funds will help them with ongoing aquisition and design work, but they will still have to raise a lot of money before the trestle becomes a reality.
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^ It's probably something that they can raise separate funds for - being that it's unique and high-profile. Raising funds for old rail bed acquisition, paving a trail, or sign maintenance would be exponentially more difficult.
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I don't believe to date GRF has ever done a capital campaign but they should have active development staff working to supplement the tax revenue. The success of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge shows that individuals and corporations will help innovative projects. The Trestle is a great candidate for such a campaign.Alex Ihnen wrote:^ It's probably something that they can raise separate funds for - being that it's unique and high-profile. Raising funds for old rail bed acquisition, paving a trail, or sign maintenance would be exponentially more difficult.
Be a part of elevating St. Louis: Trestle Open House June 18
http://www.friendsofthetrestle.org/News.aspx
http://www.friendsofthetrestle.org/News.aspx
An open house will be held Tuesday, June 18, 4:30-7:30 pm, in the Crown District of Old North St. Louis at 2617 North 14th Street. ... The Trestle project will transform the abandoned Iron Horse Trestle into a 1.5-mile elevated park, spanning from Branch Street to 14th Street in the heart of Old North St. Louis.
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GRG continues to plan for it and I believe is hiring a fundraiser who will be working on this and other projects, but apart from the painting of the Trestle above 70 I don't think there has been any concrete work.
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After reading this, I'm left a little confused. The Iron Horse Trestle seems permanently tabled for lack of fundraising.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... d4dab.html
I feel like this whole thing has been very badly communicated. I'm reluctant to donate to GRG or their foundation, because they're tax funded and should not need it. I'm happy to give to the Old North Restoration Group or Trailnet or any other group willing to raise money separately for this specific purpose. Is there an existing organization that can collect money for the trestle project? The fact that I've been following this story for more than a decade and I do not know who to give my money to indicates a communication problem.
St. Louis has several dozen good projects in need of someone to hold the purse for a few years while money accumulates. If the water tower foundation had a dedicated account for the north city towers, I'd donate. If trailnet had a trestle fund, I'd donate. etc. Maybe that money never quite accumulates as high as it needs to, but at some point it can be passed to someone who can move the ball.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... d4dab.html
I feel like this whole thing has been very badly communicated. I'm reluctant to donate to GRG or their foundation, because they're tax funded and should not need it. I'm happy to give to the Old North Restoration Group or Trailnet or any other group willing to raise money separately for this specific purpose. Is there an existing organization that can collect money for the trestle project? The fact that I've been following this story for more than a decade and I do not know who to give my money to indicates a communication problem.
St. Louis has several dozen good projects in need of someone to hold the purse for a few years while money accumulates. If the water tower foundation had a dedicated account for the north city towers, I'd donate. If trailnet had a trestle fund, I'd donate. etc. Maybe that money never quite accumulates as high as it needs to, but at some point it can be passed to someone who can move the ball.
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I don't think we need a STL Sleeper Funds organization for unfundable long range plans that should happen but aren't currently anyone's priority, but certainly some already existing organizations should step up and do this.
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I haven't done the math, but GRG obviously now has more money after Prop P passed.
I bike from downtown to the riverfront trail regularly. I'd use the trestle.
But given our lack of bike infrastructure, I don't think spending a bunch of money on the trestle is really the best use of funds at this time. It'd be cool to ride on, but all the streets in that direction are very quiet and easy to ride on.
Whatever money they spend on the trestle could be better used adding bike lanes and trails that would be useful to many more people than the trestle would. I'd imagine you could get a lot of that built for the same cost as a trestle rehab.
But given our lack of bike infrastructure, I don't think spending a bunch of money on the trestle is really the best use of funds at this time. It'd be cool to ride on, but all the streets in that direction are very quiet and easy to ride on.
Whatever money they spend on the trestle could be better used adding bike lanes and trails that would be useful to many more people than the trestle would. I'd imagine you could get a lot of that built for the same cost as a trestle rehab.
Nothing really exciting unfortunately...but GRG is soliciting bids for some pretty significant maintenance work on the Trestle.
https://www.sldcplanroom.com/jobs/4583/ ... s-missouri
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Would be great to see GRG finally identify some funding for the actual project. With the coming Tucker cycle track it would make a much more convenient connection from downtown to the northern bridges than the Mississippi Greenway.
https://www.sldcplanroom.com/jobs/4583/ ... s-missouri
Up for removal is roughly 10,600 pounds of timber, 8,100 pounds of metal, 2 platforms and 2,808sqft of deteriorating concrete decking (just the underside, however). A damaged catenary will be repaired. From what I can gather they're doing to the rest of the trestle what they did to the 11th and I-70 bridges several years back...minus the painting.This work consists of repairs to the Iron Horse Trestle including concrete pier repair, steel repairs, removal of delaminated concrete from the bottom of concrete decks, removal of damaged ties, hardware, and equipment, and other removals included in the drawings and specifications.
Would be great to see GRG finally identify some funding for the actual project. With the coming Tucker cycle track it would make a much more convenient connection from downtown to the northern bridges than the Mississippi Greenway.