I don't know of any event, but I have seen the new gravel overflow parking area full several times now. Great to see.
^ The downside is that it can only be used at certain times when extra lights are brought in, because it gets extremely dark down there. It wouldn't be safe or comfortable to come home to the overflow lot at night due to the slope and gravel surface. There's plenty of space back there for an eventual garage though.
Has Metro still not posted ridership data for Fiscal Year 2008? (Which ended in June) They reported great numbers month to month throughout last year usually 10% for Bus ridership and and 12-13%. It's too bad they couldn't come up with some big numbers to post before the Prop M vote.
Metrolink ridership for the year must have been up around 75,000.
Metrolink ridership for the year must have been up around 75,000.
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I live basically right at the FP/DeB metro. They check my same 30-day pass every single time I go down the stairs. Every. Single. Time. The same guard twice in the same day sometimes. And then often I get checked again on the train. It's rather annoying. You strike up acquaintance-level relationships with several of the guards. You'd think after a while they'd realize you always have a 30-day pass and they don't need to see several times a day. I suppose it's in interest of not looking like they're singling kids out or profiling.
I find it amazing that some folks haven't been checked in years.
I find it amazing that some folks haven't been checked in years.
throatybeard wrote:I live basically right at the FP/DeB metro. They check my same 30-day pass every single time I go down the stairs. Every. Single. Time. The same guard twice in the same day sometimes. And then often I get checked again on the train. It's rather annoying. You strike up acquaintance-level relationships with several of the guards. You'd think after a while they'd realize you always have a 30-day pass and they don't need to see several times a day. I suppose it's in interest of not looking like they're singling kids out or profiling.
I find it amazing that some folks haven't been checked in years.
Not long after I had posted my observation about not being checked in two years, Metro had guards at most stations including the ones I use, I guess as part of the "restore public trust before the Prop M vote" campaign. I am checked every day now as well.
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So at what point will we find out about service cuts? I might be getting a job offer downtown and I'd love to take Metrolink, but if I'll have to switch trains at Forest Park and get out of the office by 6:30 to make it back to Brentwood before the train shuts down at 8, it'll be kind of a pain.
^
Thats one of the reasons I moved downtown when it came time for me to look for a new place in November. I lived in Skinker-DeBaliviere previously -- right near the Skinker stop -- but I was worried that with Prop Ms failure, I would have a hard time leaving the office early enough to make it home before Metro service closed at 8 p.m. or whatever. I didnt want to chance living on the Shrewsbury line any longer.
By the way, I SWEAR that I know how to use apostrophes, but my laptop is rejecting them right now for some reason. I have a communication degree, honest!!!
Thats one of the reasons I moved downtown when it came time for me to look for a new place in November. I lived in Skinker-DeBaliviere previously -- right near the Skinker stop -- but I was worried that with Prop Ms failure, I would have a hard time leaving the office early enough to make it home before Metro service closed at 8 p.m. or whatever. I didnt want to chance living on the Shrewsbury line any longer.
By the way, I SWEAR that I know how to use apostrophes, but my laptop is rejecting them right now for some reason. I have a communication degree, honest!!!
So at what point will we find out about service cuts? I might be getting a job offer downtown and I'd love to take Metrolink, but if I'll have to switch trains at Forest Park and get out of the office by 6:30 to make it back to Brentwood before the train shuts down at 8, it'll be kind of a pain.
We will present the service cut plan on Dec. 11th at 1:00 pm at Metro and request formal approval on Dec. 19.
If approved as recommended, cuts will take place on March 30th, before baseball starts.
Peak hour weekday service will operate through from Shrewsbury to Fairview Hts. From 9:00 am until 2:30 pm or so, the Blue line will operate as a shuttle. It will operate again as a shuttle after 7:00 pm.
Service will operate at night until 11:30 pm as shuttle on the Blue Line. We will schedule close transfers between the Red Line connections at Forest Park.
We will definitely operate night service, but only every 20 minutes.
No special extra service for special events to Missouri. Illinois will fund special events for the time being. Best frequency after a special event westbound will be every 20 minutes. We will not encourage special event usage.
No bus service in the West beyond I-270. No express service anyway. We will operate to Earth City and to a few neighborhoods north of I-270 in the north. There will be many revised routes.
Call a Ride will be cut back 15 % to 20 %. Metrobus 48% and Metrolink 32 %.
Lots of politics flying around regarding special events, diminished service to Illinois.
Probability for any last minute funding is probably less than 10 %. Only options involve Obama stimulus money or one time only funding from the State.
Metro will move forward to implement cuts March 30th. If something happens to prevent it, it will be last minute and due to political intervention.
Metro will move forward to implement cuts March 30th. If something happens to prevent it, it will be last minute and due to political intervention.
At this point, given all Metro has said about the relationship between a "no" vote in November and future in 2009 and onwards, I kinda hope special funding does not come through. I think it needs to be made clear that Metro was not "threatening" the voters and that because County voters voted "no," Metro followed the will of the people and cut service.
We will not encourage special event usage.
Not encouraging people to ride metrolink. What a sad reality. What could be more St. Louis than riding Metrolink to a Cards game? And now it will be discouraged. What a shame. S***.
^ I believe the point is that due to cost constraints, Metrolink is not planning to meet capacity for special events. However, perhaps its possible that agreements could be fostered by interested parties (with $$$.) I think they're asking the Cardinals, Rams & Blues to pay up!
I can already hear all the so. county and west county suburbanites on the platform after a game waiting 20 minutes for a train...
"Where the hell is the train?"
"Don't they run more trains after games?"
"The the _____ no wonder Metro doesn't have any money ... they don't run trains"
All being spoken by the ones who voted against Prop M of course!
LOL
"Where the hell is the train?"
"Don't they run more trains after games?"
"The the _____ no wonder Metro doesn't have any money ... they don't run trains"
All being spoken by the ones who voted against Prop M of course!
LOL
Maybe we will print handouts to distribute after every game that explains the facts every time. We won't have the capacity to do special events. We will need 41 train operators to operate the schedule over a week. We will have only 15 back up operators. At least half of these will be needed to cover vacations and illness. This leaves only 7 operators over the week to cover all unexpected issues including special events. You need a critical mass to provide a flexible rail operation and we are dropping to a very low level.
The County voters said "no" and no meant a smaller system. We will lose 1/3 of our operations and support staff. That's huge.
I really believe that cutting the system is a bad thing and will not lead to a better system. Indianapolis cut back nearly 20 years ago and has never come back.
People will blame Metro for mismanagement and being stupid. They won't believe anything we say. THey will say, why do we want to vote to give them money when they don't even serve us. The only thing we used Metro for was to go to a ball game and now you can't even do that.
What I find interesting is that Cities like Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver (including conservative suburbs) have made major commitments to expanded public transit. Many failed for quite a while but but one can say that these Cities are bastions of liberalism. I am not surprised about the major transit investments in Cities like Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis and lots of Cities in California have invested in transit. Most of these cities seem to be growing and have lots of traffic and projections of more. St. Louis is not growing within St. Louis County and St. Louis City. We live in a State which is dominated by very non urban interests. Its a low service state that's happy about that. I have very little hope that we will turn it around.
The concept of a smaller transit district might work. But what is missing is a lack of leadership. Do you see any of our local or state officials who have run on any sort of platform of more transit.
Many of the people on this forum lobby for the North Side South Side Street Light rail in the City. Do you see the Mayor running on that issue. What do you see from the City Council?
As I see it, to build and operate 75 to 90 miles of light rail, Metro will need something like $400 million in annual operating revenue. At least $80 to $100 million per year will be necessary in capital funds to match bonds. THis means having a total operating revenue of $500 million which grows 3 % each year. I don't see it. We can't support a system with 250 peak buses and 19 peak trains. Our budget next year will be $170 million. This year it is $221 million.
Hate to be downer, but its not very encouraging at the moment. I won't give up cause its not my nature. But gosh, its sure going to be a sad day.
The County voters said "no" and no meant a smaller system. We will lose 1/3 of our operations and support staff. That's huge.
I really believe that cutting the system is a bad thing and will not lead to a better system. Indianapolis cut back nearly 20 years ago and has never come back.
People will blame Metro for mismanagement and being stupid. They won't believe anything we say. THey will say, why do we want to vote to give them money when they don't even serve us. The only thing we used Metro for was to go to a ball game and now you can't even do that.
What I find interesting is that Cities like Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver (including conservative suburbs) have made major commitments to expanded public transit. Many failed for quite a while but but one can say that these Cities are bastions of liberalism. I am not surprised about the major transit investments in Cities like Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis and lots of Cities in California have invested in transit. Most of these cities seem to be growing and have lots of traffic and projections of more. St. Louis is not growing within St. Louis County and St. Louis City. We live in a State which is dominated by very non urban interests. Its a low service state that's happy about that. I have very little hope that we will turn it around.
The concept of a smaller transit district might work. But what is missing is a lack of leadership. Do you see any of our local or state officials who have run on any sort of platform of more transit.
Many of the people on this forum lobby for the North Side South Side Street Light rail in the City. Do you see the Mayor running on that issue. What do you see from the City Council?
As I see it, to build and operate 75 to 90 miles of light rail, Metro will need something like $400 million in annual operating revenue. At least $80 to $100 million per year will be necessary in capital funds to match bonds. THis means having a total operating revenue of $500 million which grows 3 % each year. I don't see it. We can't support a system with 250 peak buses and 19 peak trains. Our budget next year will be $170 million. This year it is $221 million.
Hate to be downer, but its not very encouraging at the moment. I won't give up cause its not my nature. But gosh, its sure going to be a sad day.
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How late would metrolink trains run on the red line after service cuts?
Red Line will operate as late as today. last trains just after midnight
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matguy70 wrote:I can already hear all the so. county and west county suburbanites on the platform after a game waiting 20 minutes for a train...
"Where the hell is the train?"
"Don't they run more trains after games?"
"The the _____ no wonder Metro doesn't have any money ... they don't run trains"
All being spoken by the ones who voted against Prop M of course!
LOL
And then there's the out-of-towners like myself that have to walk (if it's close enough) or drive back to our motel.
I think it's kind of a poor reflection on a city this size when probably at least half the residents in the Metro area don't care at all about Metro.
- 83
How quickly can another tax increase be put on the ballot? Next fall? I'd like to think that if the service cuts go through and people suffer, they might be more inclined to pass the sales tax increase. If it did pass, could service be restored quickly, or would it be a matter of years before service returns to what it is today?
Its so pathetic how anything remotely progressive or urban gets strangled and left to dry in this town. Cities without an ounce of urban fabric compared to St. Louis (Charlotte, Denver, Dallas etc. etc. etc.) are on track to producing comprehensive rail systems and St. Louis (who was a head of the curve for light rail and still is in some respect) wants to kill it. Its crazy how many people on Stltoday call our transit system the "ghettolink". This is the same type of backwards mentality that has kept the region running in place for the past 50 years and it doesn't seem like its gonna change anytime soon (so sadly). Hopefully the younger generation coming up will have a different mindset.
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i like this little number:
Someone, please tell me why we allow a privately held company to use tax dollars as funding? Mass transit? Then why don't we allow the same courtesy to the cab companies, bus companies, etc.? Today I learned those 65 & older, who live in IL get a "free pass" while the same 65 & older in MO only get a discount? What's up with that?? Please, enlighten me! -stlcitygirl714
the biggest problem is people just don't know, or care in this lady's case read what else she said, it's funny and sad at the same time, what metro's role is and how it works. a private company, i've heard that people say it should be self sustaining, which is slightly more believable, but still not possible, then it being flat out a private enterprise.
you mention denver, interesting thing going on in my neighborhood where ugly duplexes are going up all around me, near a light rail stop. but the people don't want these things started an uprising and got the zoning changed so no more can be built. nimbyism is everywhere. even in places that are growing and want to promote a dense environment.
read about it here
Someone, please tell me why we allow a privately held company to use tax dollars as funding? Mass transit? Then why don't we allow the same courtesy to the cab companies, bus companies, etc.? Today I learned those 65 & older, who live in IL get a "free pass" while the same 65 & older in MO only get a discount? What's up with that?? Please, enlighten me! -stlcitygirl714
the biggest problem is people just don't know, or care in this lady's case read what else she said, it's funny and sad at the same time, what metro's role is and how it works. a private company, i've heard that people say it should be self sustaining, which is slightly more believable, but still not possible, then it being flat out a private enterprise.
you mention denver, interesting thing going on in my neighborhood where ugly duplexes are going up all around me, near a light rail stop. but the people don't want these things started an uprising and got the zoning changed so no more can be built. nimbyism is everywhere. even in places that are growing and want to promote a dense environment.
read about it here
Here in Charlotte, the light rail line has been open for about a year, and has far, far exceeded expectations. It uses the same honor system as the Metrolink, but there has been little, if any, of the same kind of security concerns - perceived or real. There is only 1 line, and it's not that long, so there can be more concentrated securit. It also doesn't go through any of the really "bad" areas of town.
The transit authority here has had to raise fares, and is talking about some cutbacks in service due to revenue/tax shortfalls, but nothing on the order of what is happening in STL. There are still plans underway to expand the system, with light rail, heavy commuter rail and BRT. The road system here isn't that good, and there is a sense that people don't want Charlotte to turn into another Atlanta traffic wise. Plus, the amount of retail and residential development along the line has been phenomenal...
The transit authority here has had to raise fares, and is talking about some cutbacks in service due to revenue/tax shortfalls, but nothing on the order of what is happening in STL. There are still plans underway to expand the system, with light rail, heavy commuter rail and BRT. The road system here isn't that good, and there is a sense that people don't want Charlotte to turn into another Atlanta traffic wise. Plus, the amount of retail and residential development along the line has been phenomenal...
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The minor service cuts and fare hikes in Charlotte are due to a still steadily growing county-wide half-cent sales tax falling $9 million short of robust projections. In other words, when you get slow-but-steady receipts, you may still have to make cuts, if you expected to be booming. But the real reason for the minor cuts and fare hike is to keep money for system expansion, which was promised to area voters. While St. Louisans barely defeated a half-cent tax hike this year, Charlotteans overwhelmingly (70+%) defeated a repeal of their existing half-cent tax hike last year. Granted, very different circumstances, but clearly different mandates, or at least drastically different momentum.
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Friday, January 30, 2009, 2:22pm CST
Metro agrees to take St. Clair’s $1.9M offer to preserve some service
Officials with St. Louis-area transit agency Metro on Friday directed staff to pursue a letter of agreement with St. Clair County to accept a loan of $1.9 million a year to maintain Metro East service.
The state of Illinois gives St. Clair County, population 200,000, about $20 million a year in transit funding.
By comparison, the state of Missouri allocates $1.4 million in transit funding for the 1.3 million people in the St. Louis city and county region. That funding could be cut further to $1.15 million amid the state budget crunch, according to Dianne Williams, a spokeswoman for Metro.
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... mentAnchor
Metro agrees to take St. Clair’s $1.9M offer to preserve some service
Officials with St. Louis-area transit agency Metro on Friday directed staff to pursue a letter of agreement with St. Clair County to accept a loan of $1.9 million a year to maintain Metro East service.
The state of Illinois gives St. Clair County, population 200,000, about $20 million a year in transit funding.
By comparison, the state of Missouri allocates $1.4 million in transit funding for the 1.3 million people in the St. Louis city and county region. That funding could be cut further to $1.15 million amid the state budget crunch, according to Dianne Williams, a spokeswoman for Metro.
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... mentAnchor
^
Wow. That reeeeeeally puts into perspective just how much Missouri values transportation.
Wow. That reeeeeeally puts into perspective just how much Missouri values transportation.
u2acro wrote:^
Wow. That reeeeeeally puts into perspective just how much Missouri values transportation.
St. Louis city and county: secede from Missouri now! Imagine the transit system we could have if we weren't subsidizing rural Missouri's precious highways. It's time for Greater St. Louis to become the 51st state.
Am I kidding? Maybe...