New I-64 Completed/Opened 12/07/2009

jmedwick · PostNov 21, 2006#2012006-11-21T15:41+00:00

^ It doesn't really bother me so much. In some ways, I think their plan for closing the highway totaly in two segments is a great idea if it means that the construction will get done as fast as planned. But you also still have to wonder what could have been done with a plan that closed half of the highway at a time (ie. close the west bound lanes for 1 year, close the east bound lanes for 1 year) and then switching traffic back and forth each day. But then again that system is much more of a hastle, so I am ok with the plan as it stands now, so long as the construction moves quickly and on schedule.

I still hope though, that MODOT and the contractors realize the value in offering express METRO bus service, particuarly during 2008 when 40 from Ballas to 170 will be closed. If MODOT were willing to keep 1 lane in each direction open at all times for emergency vehicles and express METRO busses, METRO could come out of the whole deal looking like a hero with some good public support built up for a future tax increase to support expansion. Then in 2009 when the eastern portion is closed, the parking garage at Brentwood should be open, allowing Metrolink to act as the express option into downtown. I mean, to get all of the construction workers into the site, isn't MODOT going to be keeping at last 2 drive lanes open at a time? All it would take is just a bit more cordination and the potential for METRO to build its public image is so huge. It would be such a waste of a good opertunity.

southslider · PostNov 21, 2006#2022006-11-21T17:20+00:00

^Just to clarify, the Metro garage at Brentwood I-64 will be open fairly soon (you can see its current, nearly complete state from driving Hanley or 40), completed long before any lane closures related to the rebuilding of Highway 40 (New I-64) occur.

stlmo314 · PostNov 22, 2006#2032006-11-22T15:22+00:00

Embrace the Snarl

11/22/2006

Last Friday, the day that the Missouri Department of Transportation announced its plans for rebuilding 10.5 miles of U.S. Highway 40/ Interstate 64 in St. Louis and St. Louis County, Post-Dispatch reporters went out to gather reaction from folks who'll be affected — and who won't? We were struck by the wisdom of Heath Billingsley, 36, who commutes from his home in Lafayette Square to his engineering job at Monsanto Co. in Creve Coeur.

"When the time comes," Mr. Billingsley said, "I'll just suck it up and do it."

Good advice. Just suck it up and do it.

There's no way that the three-year construction period that starts next year will be anything but difficult. Traffic jams are going to be bad, maybe horrible. Dislocation will be enormous. It is going to be urban root canal, painful but necessary.Advertisement

The good news, such as it is, is that the project will take less time than originally thought, and the worst of the traffic problems will be postponed a year.

MoDOT awarded the $535 million contract to a consortium called Gateway Constructors, which promised to complete it by Dec. 31, 2009, 10 months ahead of the October 2010 deadline originally contemplated. Key to that is Gateway's plan to use the first year to rebuild the highway interchange at Interstate 170 (the Innerbelt) and then close the highway down in stages, west of I-170 in 2008 and east of I-170 in 2009.

That Solomonic decision will halve the pain for motorists in and out of the Galleria-Brentwood business district. It won't do much for through traffic to and from Kingshighway and Interstate 270. The major impact will be felt downtown and at the Washington University and St. Louis University medical centers — although MetroLink could help soften the blow.

And if you live in West County and are planning to attend a Cardinals or Rams game in 2008 or 2009, you might want to leave early. Say, tomorrow.

It's disappointing, however, that neither MoDOT nor its contracting teams sought a bigger role for the Metro transit agency in their traffic mitigation plans. Nor did they take into account the demands that the Highway 40 project will place on the financially-strapped transit agency. Just to keep service at current levels, Metro will have to put 32 additional buses into service at a cost estimated at $6 million to $7 million a year.

Those costs should have been factored into the highway project. Indeed, subsidizing greater use of Metro buses and MetroLink trains, and perhaps setting aside transit-only routes, could have created many positive benefits: quicker commutes, less air pollution and even a change in the civic mindset that relies too much on automobiles. In the long run, public transit will be key to the area's transportation needs. MoDOT could have, and perhaps should have, used this project to begin the process.

"The reality is, we're a highway department," Mr. Rahn said, insisting that state law restricts the use of most transportation dollars to highways.

With due respect, creative minds

can find enough flexibility in the traffic mitigation component of the highway plan to pay for alternate service options, including greater use of transit. MoDOT and its contractors should revisit the plan to find a way to maximize, and underwrite, the use of Metro buses and trains.

Mr. Rahn said that he and his department have a lot riding on the Big Snarl. "We can't let this fail," he said.

"MoDOT has to come through. If we fail, it will have serious repercussions for us as an organization. This is not just an everyday project where we say, 'Oh well, we hope it works.' "

In the end, Mr. Rahn said, "the burden will fall on residents who have to change."

Change is hard for St. Louis, we know. So remember the wisdom of Heath Billingsley: When the time comes, just suck it up and do it.

stlgasm · PostNov 22, 2006#2042006-11-22T15:43+00:00

I'm all in favor of "Bus Only" lanes with designated stops to pick up and drop off passengers. It's a great opportunity to acquaint people to transit who otherwise wouldn't use it. To not collaborate a comprehensive plan with Metro to provide transit service during construction is beyond short-sighted-- it's idiotic. This could be a defining moment in St. Louis lifestyle. St. Louisans once embraced one of the most extensive streetcar networks in the country, so I have no doubt we can re-learn mass transit as an intrinsic way of life in the city.

I do think the usefulness of MetroLink to West County commuters during the highway rebuilding is a bit overblown-- the line doesn't even go west of the Innerbelt! It's beyond me why Metro and MoDOT couldn't forsee the practicality of extending the line through the median of Highway 40.

southslider · PostNov 22, 2006#2052006-11-22T16:26+00:00

^Okay, I concede the public will never understand why MetroLink will not head west of Clayton via Highway 40. However, for those willing to consider more than public perception, the simplest explanation is that the majority of traffic on 40 is NOT heading to destinations immediately along 40. Just as MetroLink is not immediately along 40 east of 170 in order to get closer to Clayton, WashU, Barnes and Downtown destinations, any line west of 170 should ideally serve added destinations. Indeed, where the original line comes close to 40, like Grand, it is often an unpleasant walk to nearby destinations, like Grand Center and SLU.

Unfortunately, destinations like St. John's Mercy or even Chesterfield Mall or not very walkable from 40. It's important to remember that transit patrons need to walk at least one end of their trip, even if driving to a park-and-ride station at another. As such, stations need to be within walkable blocks, if not immediately adjacent to, major destinations in order to generate healthy ridership.

Of course, you could always build a line solely of park-and-ride stations. However, like the St. Clair extension, you then generally only see full trains at rush hour or during special events. It's much better for ridership, and thereby a transit provider's bottom-line, to have balanced flows of ridership in both directions. For example, Westport was found to be the best combined reverse-commuter destination and park-and-ride station at I-270, as well as lined with areas of U-City, Olivette, Overland, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights, all much denser than Ladue and Frontenac. Finally, such an extension west of Clayton to Westport still offers an opportunity to head further west to St. Charles and/or Chesterfield, if those areas ever become more supportive of transit.

But back on topic, if MODOT doesn't find money for Metro during the 40 reconstruction, then their own funding for regional roadway ITS projects could be at risk. With our region's threatened air quality, Metro will be able to compete very well for some of the same limited funding sources as MODOT.

smsplanstu · PostNov 23, 2006#2062006-11-23T05:35+00:00

One problem, a line between Westport and Clayton, although more desirable, creates difficult headways at Forest Park through East St. Louis as opposed this:

One line between Westport and downtown

One separate line between Westport and Clayton that does not go to Downtown St. Louis or a streetcar or another Metro line could go north-south as a northern extension of Shrewsberry towards North Hanley and Florissant and Westport people to Clayton could transfer onto that line.

All of this reminds me of the need to add density to Mid-County or University City, Clayton, Richmond Heights, Brentwood, Maplewood, Olivette through townhomes, condos, apartments, attached housing in order to justify some ridership.

Alex Ihnen · PostNov 27, 2006#2072006-11-27T02:07+00:00

"The reality is, we're a highway department," Mr. Rahn said, insisting that state law restricts the use of most transportation dollars to highways.

You sonovabit*h!

May I then suggest MODOH - Missouri Department of Highways?

debaliviere · PostNov 27, 2006#2082006-11-27T15:12+00:00

Ihnen wrote:
"The reality is, we're a highway department," Mr. Rahn said, insisting that state law restricts the use of most transportation dollars to highways.

You sonovabit*h!

May I then suggest MODOH - Missouri Department of Highways?

Or MO-D'OH!

thewayofthearch · PostNov 27, 2006#2092006-11-27T17:36+00:00

JMedwick wrote:I hope that link and flythrough is not indicative of the design of the new highway. When other states, such as New Jersey, are building modern highways with more decrorative features and asthetics in mind, only MODOT and its fleet of enginers would be able to overlook such details and design a highway devoid of any asthetic value...Congradulations Missouri, a state who belives that your enginers should be designing the future vision of Missour...

I have given JMed a lot of grief over his lambasting of MODOT since joining this board. However now I am a convert. Rahn is an idiot. Between not subsidizing Metro and his bungling of the New Bridge, along with the blatant misrepresentaion of this particular project, I now find MODOT just above the Mets on the Scum list. Maybe lower, because at lest the Mets are over paid and TRY HARD.

Another article about the Big Misrepresentation:

Spotlight focuses on public works chief

By Clay Barbour

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

11/27/2006

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley joked Friday afternoon with Gary Earls at the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission meeting and press conference.

(J.B. Forbes/P-D)

CLAYTON — When Gary Earls does his job right, he is practically invisible.

As the St. Louis County director of public works, Earls must anticipate problems and address them — ideally before they get out of hand and come to the public's attention.

Though important, the gig is just mundane enough to keep him out of the public eye most of the time.

But in the months ahead, Earls may become a household name as the region braces for the beginning of the project to rebuild Highway 40 (Interstate 64). Advertisement

This month, officials announced details of the project. A team led by a California construction company, and including two St. Louis-area firms, will rebuild 12 miles of the roadway.

The $535 million project is expected to start early next year and conclude in December 2009.

Earls will act as the main liaison between the project and the county. He also will lead a roundtable of city administrators who plan to meet monthly to discuss potential traffic disruptions and how to address them.

This means Earls could be a frequent presence on TV and in the paper. But if he's bothered by the spotlight, he doesn't show it.

If anything, he seems almost too calm. It's a character trait that comes from a lifetime of holding high-profile jobs under pressure.

"Duke" Earls

Earls was born in Rogers, Ark., about 15 miles from the Missouri border.

"I like to joke that I went to high school in far south St. Louis," he said. "Far, far south St. Louis."

In high school, Earls worked as a bag boy and stocker at the area grocery, which happened to sit right next to the very first Wal-Mart in America.

He attended the University of Arkansas on an ROTC scholarship and earned an engineering degree. After college, Earls served in the Air Force in a 27-year career that took him all over the world and gave him the nickname "Duke."

Almost everywhere he went, Earls worked in public works. This usually meant he was in charge of keeping air bases — basically small cities — up and running.

"We didn't drop the bombs, we made sure there was a place to store the bombs and load the bombs and a place to come back to after dropping the bombs," he said.

Earls retired from the Air Force in 1997 and took an engineering job in California. That brought him to St. Louis.

He was in the process of moving again when his wife put her foot down.

"She had moved with me 17 times, and she made it clear that it was time to settle down," he said.

In 1999, St. Louis County hired Earls as its public works director, a job that had become notorious for its high turnover rate. In the six years prior to Earls' taking the job, there had been seven directors.

"Some people might have been alarmed by that," he said. "Honestly, I thought of it as a challenge."

Since taking the job, Earls has gained a reputation for calm leadership under pressure. This was evident in 2005 as he led the county's efforts to help Hurricane Katrina survivors.

Along with his normal job, Earls oversaw efforts to collect food and clothes and set up a recovery center at the former Gumbo jail in Chesterfield.

His steady hand was also a force this summer, during the county's recovery efforts after the windstorms that devastated the area. More than 700,000 people in the region lost power in the storms, but St. Louis County was able to deal with problems relatively quickly.

St. Louis County Councilman Skip Mange, R-Town & Country, said, "Gary is just a tremendously well-organized guy who has a ton of experience and is a good manager of people. He has this ability to quickly figure out what needs to get done and then get it done."

Earls says one thing that helps him is he always tries to keep in mind that no matter how hectic things get, it doesn't compare to some of his experiences setting up and running bases in wartime.

"And I try to keep in mind that even though Charlie (Dooley) is the only one who gets elected, this job is political too," Earls said. "It's about keeping things running smoothly and keeping people happy."

absolut355 · PostNov 28, 2006#2102006-11-28T08:36+00:00

I've been thinking (and this is a big IF) that if St. Louis is awarded the 2009 All Star Game that they might consider shutting down 40 from Kingshighway to 170 in 2008 instead of 2009? It would be much easier to get downtown. Plus, it wouldn't be so difficult for out of towners to get to downtown, much less to Busch. Granted, it is just one night too.

Just a thought!

brickandmortar · PostNov 28, 2006#2112006-11-28T14:58+00:00

I don't think this would be much of an issue as most out-of-towners will be taking 70 or MetroLink from the airport downtown if they aren't staying downtown already. Besides the All-Star game is a two day event, the biggest impacts will be felt by baseball fans during regular season Cards games.

jmedwick · PostNov 28, 2006#2122006-11-28T16:10+00:00

Anyone know what happened to the animation on the New I-64 website? They use to show designs of what the "details" on the roadway would look like, but it appears they have now all been taken down.

tbspqr · PostNov 28, 2006#2132006-11-28T16:38+00:00

If there is an all-star game I would hope for tens of thousands of visitors -- and some of the largest hotels in the region (outside of downtown) are in west county / westport area... I would prefer to get the All Star game in 2010 - we can show off the stadium, the BV and the new highway.... not to mention the new casino, possible lumier (sp?) development, beginings of the pond south of 40 etc etc... 2009 some of those will be started - but 2010 - we will look like a new city with 20 - 25,000 residence downtown (i pray)

moorlander · PostNov 28, 2006#2142006-11-28T17:40+00:00

^maybe it would be best to just wait until say 2012 or so and make sure everything is ready... maybe we could get those north south metro lines up by then.... ? or at least the dt loop

tbspqr · PostNov 28, 2006#2152006-11-28T17:59+00:00

thats fine as long as they aren't at grade --- but thats a subject best for another rant....

one key to remember is that if we wait TOO long... the stadium wont be "new" anymore... 2010 - its only 4 years old... not brand new but still "new"-- but its already starting to loose that "new feeling" by 2010 and by 2012 it probably will not be considered "new" anymore... and despite what this forum wants.. the MAIN reason to hold the all star game here is the new stadium... all the things i just mentioned that show off STL as a destination etc are just secondary considerations.

southslider · PostNov 28, 2006#2162006-11-28T20:04+00:00

It's silly to wait for everything to be built, when the building should never end, if not expand. A city with visible construction underway all over town can make quite the impression, as it encourages you to come back again to see change.

absolut355 · PostNov 28, 2006#2172006-11-28T20:08+00:00

brickandmortar wrote: Besides the All-Star game is a two day event, the biggest impacts will be felt by baseball fans during regular season Cards games.

I forgot about the Home Run Derby, so you're right brick. If Selig sticks to his schedule, the earliest Busch could have it is in 2009...then an AL team, and then 2011 for an NL team. The BOB in Phoenix (I won't call it Chase lol) has never had it, and its been open since 1998. That would make it 11 years if it gets it in 2009. Anyways, BPV, Pinnacle, and hopefully the BD would be complete by 2011.

I might just be reading to much into it. The All Star Game would be nice to have in STL anytime, but I would like to see some of these projects completed (esp. BPV) before we host it.

thewayofthearch · PostNov 28, 2006#2182006-11-28T20:08+00:00

southslider wrote:It's silly to wait for everything to be built, when the building should never end, if not expand. A city with visible construction underway all over town can make quite the impression, as it encourages you to come back again to see change.

This is exactly what I was thinking-this is snowballing, there will never be a convenient stoppage to show it off. Use the momentum now, visible progress to spur others to action/investment/development.

We need to be a perpetual motion machine (city)!

PostNov 28, 2006#2192006-11-28T20:11+00:00

absolut355 wrote:

I might just be reading to much into it. The All Star Game would be nice to have in STL anytime, but I would like to see some of these projects completed (esp. BPV) before we host it.

This is why we're to get it in 2009. It was supposed to be 2006, the inaugural year, but the cards & city wanted BPV to be done.

the towers might still be underconstruction, but I'd imagine the majoprity of it will be completed by gametime 2009.

MattnSTL · PostNov 28, 2006#2202006-11-28T20:39+00:00

I'd rather have a bunch of tower cranes in the background than wait till 2012.

tbspqr · PostNov 29, 2006#2212006-11-29T00:04+00:00

TheWayoftheArch wrote:
southslider wrote:It's silly to wait for everything to be built, when the building should never end, if not expand. A city with visible construction underway all over town can make quite the impression, as it encourages you to come back again to see change.

This is exactly what I was thinking-this is snowballing, there will never be a convenient stoppage to show it off. Use the momentum now, visible progress to spur others to action/investment/development.

We need to be a perpetual motion machine (city)!

I doubt any real investor is going to start to invest becuase they saw cranes in the background of the all star game ... the real benefit isn't with the investors but people looking to move to a vibrant community -- "hey maybe it isn't the most dangerous city in america" typa thing... and more like "this is a F***ing awesome place to be / live (also invest for the smaller shop people)

Alex Ihnen · PostNov 29, 2006#2222006-11-29T02:53+00:00

Having been in Seattle this summer I can say that having half a dozen cranes in the downtown sky does create an exciting atmosphere - almost better than having buildings done. To me it said that it was a city on the move, exciting things were happening, it's somewhere I'd like to move. I like the idea that a city if never done. If it looks like it's sitting still, that's not good.

jmedwick · PostNov 29, 2006#2232006-11-29T20:34+00:00

For those who want to try and get some straight answers out of Rhan, this might be an itneresting talk.

Downtown St. Louis Partnership

2007 Issues & Answers Lunchtime Series

Co-sponsored with BOMA

A Transportation Discussion

re: 64/40 Project

featuring

Pete Rahn, Director (MoDOT)

January 12, 2007

11:30- Noon Networking

Noon- 1:30 Program

To attend contact :

(314) 436-6500, ext. 225

jburgnone@downtownstl.org

Link

threeonefour · PostNov 30, 2006#2242006-11-30T06:37+00:00

southslider wrote:It's silly to wait for everything to be built, when the building should never end, if not expand. A city with visible construction underway all over town can make quite the impression, as it encourages you to come back again to see change.

That's my take on this debate. Either way, Saint Louis will be seen as a place that's moving forward. Why wait?

PostDec 10, 2006#2252006-12-10T07:50+00:00

RBB wrote:You know, while I'm keenly aware of the need for a new bridge and a wider I-64 (it's still Hwy 40 ), It's a shame that that the McKnight overpass needs to be demolished. IMO that bridge, albeit a lowly overpass, is an underappreciated work of art. I love the art deco design, especially the center columns that taper down to a U-shaped metal "foot" that rests on a pedestal, meaning the bridge columns contact with the ground totals just a couple of square feet.

Here's a picture of the overpass from 1940, taken from one of the www.thenewI64.org PDF presentations, and a crude rendering of a cross-section of the center support columns' base:

I'm going to miss that one, the ornamental signs in the median designating the Clayton/Warson roads underpass, and the overall parkway/motorway feel to the highway between I-170 and Spoede Road that will undoubtedly be ruined once two extra lanes and sound walls are ramrodded through the area. I'm sure a nod to aesthetics won't make it past the drawing boards at MO D'OH! I'd suggest to the bean counters planting more trees in lieu of sound walls (they don't do that much good anyway), but the Concrete Cartel won't let that happen, I'm sure.

I went shopping at Brentwood Square and the Galleria early Friday afternoon, and the traffic was horrible even for that area. Later that day, there was apparently an accident at 40 and Skinker Boulevard, and traffic on Skinker was backed up to Delmar Boulevard. I shudder to think of the cluster**** this project will create through the Central Corridor, and I'm going to miss my leisurely cruises down the undiscovered "new" Forest Park Parkway. This project is going to give a whole new meaning to the cliche "taking one for the team".

New I-64 Completed/Opened 12/07/2009

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