urbanSTL

Voters do have short-memory spans. For example, I doubt many remember that in 1999, when finally adopted by East-West Gateway and subsequently handed off to Bi-State, the project was only $400 million and scheduled to open in 2004. By 2002, it was a more realistic $550 million and 2005. Of course, that's changed now to $680 million and 2006.



But what many people also forget or fail to have ever learned is that when Metro took charge of the project after discovering the Collaborative's mismanagement and firing them in 2004, the project was looking to be over $700 million and not open until 2007. So indeed, since taking over the project when it wasn't even yet 50% complete, but more than half of even the expanded budget was already gone, Metro has successfully sped up the project and kept the budget in-check.

Part of any tax increase passed should have least go to operations so metro dosen't have to make 20% service reductions and the rest shoud go to metrolink expansion.

Any future tax levy would indeed go to operations. Every additional quarter-cent in sales taxes in the City and County would raise only about $50 million a year for Metro. As such, just one quarter-cent is now needed to preserve and sustain operations of committed MetroLink (existing plus Cross County) and planned MetroBus (Metro Redefined) routes. A half-cent increase would be needed for any additional MetroLink expansion in the future.

Metro train spotted by a coworker at the Shersbury station. If nothing else it means that they are testing and can run the entire system.

I heard on the radio that the train was slowly towed and not yet self powered as a part of a test.

Found on the metrostlouis.org site:

Cross County MetroLink Train Being Towed From Forest Park Area To Shrewsbury



What: MetroLink will be conducting a series of tests on Tuesday, June 20, by towing a light rail vehicle (LRV) on the new Cross County MetroLink tracks from near the Des Peres pedestrian bridge (along Forest Park Parkway) to the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 station at the south end of the line. The train will be visible to the public at a variety of locations along the alignment. The train and test crew are moving at walk speed (2-3mph average) stopping at each station platform to take measurements.



Project representatives will be on hand at the Shrewsbury station at 1:00pm to answer questions.



When: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 9:00am to 1:00pm

File under "better late than never" notification!!

The train was at the Shrewsbury Station platform today 6/22. It was "on" with the lights on the train visibly lit. They said on the radio this morning that the tests on the new line began today.

some pictures of the Shrewsbury station (June 25, 2006)



urbanreviewstl had some thoughts on the bike racks on his blog...here is a closeup:





Only one test car there today:





Most signage is in:





I hope these show arrival/departure times and other pertinent info (i.e. not only the time):





Nobody was there but me, but the A/C unit on the train was running!





wider shot:





I wonder if the ticket windows will operate most days or special events only:

Oh bprop, you are very cruel for posting those. I must say you are quite gutsy for actually going onto the platform and taking the photos!!



As for the signs, I know the ones on the new Illinois stations do tell you when the train is coming, although you usually see the train coming before the annoucment finally starts. But I don't think the IL stations have anything that says welcome to (name) station, etc. Maybe there have been great advancements in scrolling marquee technology in the last 5 years!



I drive past this station each day on the way to work and can not wait for opening day, even with higher fares!

TIABstl wrote:Oh bprop, you are very cruel for posting those. I must say you are quite gutsy for actually going onto the platform and taking the photos!!!

I was wondering that, but there aren't any signs whatsoever around the station. Not at the parking lot entrance, nor on the stairs or ramps or even up on the platform itself. I was just a hapless wanderer who stumbled across this nearly-finished edifice (Plus I figured that I had several hundred dollars of my own tax money tied up in the extension!)

bprop wrote:(Plus I figured that I had several hundred dollars of my own tax money tied up in the extension!)

You should have demanded a ride to Clayton.

I hope these show arrival/departure times and other pertinent info (i.e. not only the time):

On the St. Clair Line in Metro East an automated announcement is made in coorelation to the digital boards saying "Attention Westbound Passenger... a Westbound train is arriving in 30 seconds serving Downtown St. Louis and Lambert St. Louis International Airport" and the sign reads tims and temp. when a train is not arriving. These message boards do look a little newer and more inovated. The message on the one above - was just for you!!! Maybe

You should have demanded a ride to Clayton.

heck Jblues, he should have jumped on and drove the darn thing there - nobody around - why not! LOL

I apologize if this question has been asked before. I remember reading somewhere on this forum a poster mentioned what they thought was a mistake in the original line by not allowing (at least in the tunnels) enought room to expand the platforms to run longer trains. Does anyone know if the Cross County Line was built with longer trains in mind? Are the tunnels long enough?



Thanks.

I believe it was Salci that mentioned that in his interview?



The platforms, at least at this station, don't appear to be long enough to support another car.



Going one direction, the tracks curve and incline soon past the platform, and would intrude over the current pedestrian pathway (older pic; use your imagination )









In the other direction, the elevator is a bit too close to allow the platform to extend quite that far, it appears. But I'm not positive it couldn't be done here.







Other stations, anyone?

It seems that MetroLink became a victim of its own success. According to the original plans, back in the early 90's, they planned to only run two car trains at peak times/events hence the need for shorter platforms. And if the new line feeds into a current one that can only support two car trains, why spend the money on a longer platform?



I don't see why platforms couldn't be extended, but I think it would require some stations to be completely rebuilt, or at least they should be. To me at least, there seem to be so many misses when it comes to station layout/access on the original line.



Take the CWE station. For as busy as a station, it's layout is terrible. The platform is rather narrow and the small staircase leading to is often crowded.



Lets hope that any new line built, especially a north, south routes, will be able to support 3 car trains.

Assuming you only want to extend the platforms to accomodate 3 cars instead of 2:



Difficult: Lambert-Main, Lambert-East, Busch Stadium, Laclede Station, East Riverfront

Good luck: Forsyth, Big Bend and Skinker, 8th & Pine, Convention Center

There was talk very early on (I still have the P-D special insert from '94) that if they needed to accommodate more cars in the underground stations, that they could pull in, let people enter/exit, and then pull forward a hundred feet or so, and do the whole thing again!

If there were only a few stations that absolutely could not be extended, what if it was made clear that only the first to cars stopped at those stations? If there really was enough signage at each station, it might work. On the 'L' in Chicago (and the subway in NYC), they have signs that say something like, "Late night trains board in center of platform" or "Orange Line board here." For a couple stops, what if each station had signage telling everyone who is going to those stations to be on the first two cars.



It's a crappy way of doing it, but it may be better than sticking with such a constricting system because of a few stations.

Jax wrote:If there were only a few stations that absolutely could not be extended, what if it was made clear that only the first to cars stopped at those stations? If there really was enough signage at each station, it might work. On the 'L' in Chicago (and the subway in NYC), they have signs that say something like, "Late night trains board in center of platform" or "Orange Line board here." For a couple stops, what if each station had signage telling everyone who is going to those stations to be on the first two cars.



It's a crappy way of doing it, but it may be better than sticking with such a constricting system because of a few stations.

Unfortunately, you can't pass between Metrolink cars the way you can El or NY subway cars.

Unfortunately the transit-riding public in St. Louis wouldn't be able to handle such a setup. A few years ago they tried making people hit the "door open" button if they wanted in or out at a particular stop. This is the way the subways in Paris, Madrid, and some other major cities work. In my opinion, it's an excellent idea when the A/C or heat is running, and especially when the stop isn't as likely to have passengers going through every door anyway.



Well, even though the operator made multiple, loud announcements at each stop to that effect, I saw people banging on the doors, running to the next car, and pushing the emergency buttons because the door didn't open for them. One guy lit up a cigarette because he thought the door opening was imminent, but when it didn't open (and he was too stupid to listen to instructions), he was inside the metrolink car with a lit ciggy and a bunch of yelling passengers.



Buses clearly have their route number displayed above the windshield. The last few series in the fleet have very bright LED signage. Most buses also play a recorded announcement of their route number when the doors open. On any given day, at least half a dozen people board the bus, then when it makes a turn they don't expect, they'll say "This ain't the Gravois?" or "Let me off! Let me off!" in utter shock. And often, it's the same people, day in and day out. I've ridden the buses for about eight years and there are some very familiar faces that do this at least weekly. Regular riders will even warn the driver "She needs the Gravois" or "He doesn't know this is the Shaw Southampton" in an effort to avoid the trouble altogether.



I can't wait to see how many people board a Shrewsbury-bound train and hit the emergency button when it hits the switch and goes underneath the Parkway. It's an innocent mistake....the FIRST time it happens )

I'm driving down I-44 today and noticed two metrotrains sitting on the overpass in shrewsbury. If that is Metro's way of advertising, it is fabulous. It was pretty neat seeing the interior of the trains lit up at 5 in the morning. Maybe Metro plans on opening soon! =D>

rustedhinge wrote:I'm driving down I-44 today and noticed two metrotrains sitting on the overpass in shrewsbury. If that is Metro's way of advertising, it is fabulous. It was pretty neat seeing the interior of the trains lit up at 5 in the morning. Maybe Metro plans on opening soon! =D>

It was Metro's effort to market and remind the region's transit shareholders that this project's completion is near. MDOT would not approve signs "coming soon".



Look for August 28th for possible startup.



Full scale operational test from Emerson to Shrewsbury planned for week of August 14th.

rustedhinge wrote:I'm driving down I-44 today and noticed two metrotrains sitting on the overpass in shrewsbury. If that is Metro's way of advertising, it is fabulous. It was pretty neat seeing the interior of the trains lit up at 5 in the morning. Maybe Metro plans on opening soon! =D>

I saw this today on my way to West County Mall!

Starting July 5th at 7pm, I-44 will have lane reductions in order to rebuild the bridge over River Des Peres. Since this will likely place a bottleneck below the elevated MetroLink structure over I-44, many motorists are bound to be sitting in traffic, seeing the MetroLink line and wishing that it was already open.



Fortunately, Metro will finish Cross County with trains running from Shrewsbury I-44 to Downtown every 10 minutes, easily before MODOT finishes rebuilding this I-44 bridge. So then, in the short term, the jams will only make motorists envious, but in another two months, I-44 commuters will soon have a new transit option to Downtown.