urbanSTL

Trent--



First of all, I would've told that dumb lady straight up that I live in the "dirty nasty city" and would never live anywhere else.



Secondly, I think there's a big difference between the stuck mindset of the past generations and the collective identity of the city. Highway 40 is a symbol and a name that represents our local identity. Changing it to remain "up to date" seems not only futile and more appropriate for Houston or something. St Louis loves Highway 40. It's part of us! It's not the rebuilding that we're opposed to, it's trying to brand it as something foreign to the city that seems too forced and unnatural. We can embrace the NEW Highway 40, but it will never be I-64 according to me.



What I hate most is that St. Louis often tries to follow the lead of other cities instead of doing our own thing.

Why is Hwy 40 part of us? Its just a name on a hwy. It matters almost zero what it is called. If MoDOT sees some need to change to make their maps consistant- fine. Locals around here will call it hwy 40 for a generation more.

My overall point is that at times we may be held back as a city by our "set ways" but in some regards STLs traditions and customs are the city's greatest attributes. St. Louis will always be St. Louis, for better or worse!

I like all of the history in St. Louis and how a lot of it is still embraced. It sure as hell beats living in Alabama but the question "where did you go to high school" does get on my freakin' nerves.

I'm guessing the name Hwy 40 sticks because it dead ends in Missouri amd does not just past through like Illinois. I don't mind the name 40. But I will call it 64/40 at times too. I say Lindbegh not Hwy. 67 or Natural Bridge Road not State Hwy. B. The local name is labeled on maps and especially along the roadway more than the State hwy. or interstate name is. I guess that's another problem, signage. Remove the signs that say 40 and keep just the I-64 signs and in time the people will just say 64. Also, the 40 signs should be sold to the public as memorbilia like Route 66.

Highway 40 isn't going to be dissolved like Highway 66 was, so there will be no need to take down the signs. Highway 40 still stretches from near Salt Lake City to Baltimore, mostly separate from the interstates. It just so happens that Hwy 40 and I-70 are also the same road from Wentzville to just past Columbia in Missouri. (but since that was upgraded to I-70 many years ago, it's simply known as I-70) Currently, the designation of I-64 ends just West of Hwy. K in O'Fallon, but many sections West of that are being upgraded to interstate standards right now. That same stretch of road is also Hwy 61, and will continue to be signed 40 and 61 even after it becomes I-64. Calling it I-64 will certainly simplify things once the last section is complete.

Holy cow! What a bunch of wind about what to call a highway!



Anyway, here's my 2 cents (talk about things changing, I just noticed that my keyboard doesn't have the symbol for "cents". Too low rent, I guess):



I have always called it Highway 40, and still do, out of habit. But WayoftheArch and Xing bring up a very good point. Out-of-towners look for the Interstate signs. I find myself giving directions to tourists quite often lately (a good sign, I must say), and I am getting used to saying "Highway 64". I think its only a matter of time before we all get used to the new name.



By the way, call me stupid if you will, but can someone tell me what IMO means? To me its just pizza.

IMO= In My Opinion, also IMHO= In My Humble Opinion

Of course! Shoulda figured.



Thanks

I don't call it 40 for one simple reason, because I can not stand "Farty". St. Louis tradition or not, I simply can not stand that.

I'm not trying to convince anyone to see things the way I see them. I'm just one person, and I have my opinions (for you framer, IMO). Frankly, I see things differently because I have different experiences. I, like MattSTL, don't like to hear people say Farty.



Many of my extended family is from S. STL City, so they are hardcore Farty people. And another factor is that I majored in English in college. So you'll probably notice that the majority of my posts are usually grammatically correct. I get easily annoyed by the many abuses of the English language committed by many Americans. Stuff like Supposubly instead of Supposedly. Or Nucular instead of Nuclear. The only reason I've ever found the N. STL accent funny is because I used to play basketball with a guy who instead of Beer, he'd say Burr. And when I tried to get him to pronouce it Beer, it sounded so funny coming out of his mouth it made me crack up.



Just like I think a New York accent, or a Boston accent isn't cute or funny, I simply think it's abrasive and offensive to the ears. South City, or the tradional so-called Saint Louis accent is just bad english.



I prefer to call it 64, when people say 40, I know what they mean. But I'll still call it 64. Somehow, I think we can still learn to live with each other.

Can't we all just get along?

Ironically, one of the biggest hurdle to the name-change is in regional traffic reports. Right now, it's just too convenient. When you say 40, you mean Missouri, and with 64, it's Illinois. Likewise, it's 55 or 70 in Missouri, but 55/70 in Illinois (at least for where the traffic reports are). For the same reason, the bridges are called their names, not their route numbers.

southslider wrote:Ironically, one of the biggest hurdle to the name-change is in regional traffic reports. Right now, it's just too convenient. When you say 40, you mean Missouri, and with 64, it's Illinois. Likewise, it's 55 or 70 in Missouri, but 55/70 in Illinois (at least for where the traffic reports are). For the same reason, the bridges are called their names, not their route numbers.

Interesting point. it begs the question- who standardizes these reports? or did some of the bigger outlets (kmox, ksdk etc) just use the common terms and everyone else followed suit?



also, how useful are these reports for anyone? I've never commuted like that before. Aren't all the backups in all the same places almost every day? Do you change your route b/c of the traffic report? Can you even change your route- there are very few places that give you the option. If you live in Imperial you have to take 55 north regardless of traffic right?

Myself, I don't really listen to the traffic reports either, because they do always list the same spots. I mean really is there any morning rush without congestion in these places:



40 WB Hampton to Hanley

40 EB over the Daniel Boone, Mason to 270, and Lindbergh to Hanley

70 Cave Springs to Blanchette Bridge

64 and 55/70 from 203 to the PSB

270 NB 44 to Dougherty Ferry

270 both ways in North County between Lindbergh and Hanley



Traffic reporters really should just jump to the chase, and say beyond the usual spots, here are current accidents, etc.

I personally find it useful to use the traffic reports to locate any accidents, and plan alternate routes. But usually, even the accidents (unless major) don't affect the traffic that much.



That being said, I still like the idea of using the names for the expressways...Daniel Boone, Truman, etc.

Final funding approved for Highway 40 project

By Elisa Crouch

Of the Post-Dispatch

07/27/2005



East-West Gateway Council of Governments put the final funding in place today for the overhaul of Interstate 64 (Highway 40) between Sarah Street in St. Louis to Spoede Road in St. Louis County.



The regional planning agency approved $329 million in federal money for rebuilding the highway. At earliest, construction would start in early 2007. The Highway 40 work was among more than 175 other construction projects worth $1.1 billion that East-West Gateway approved. The money will be spent through 2009.



Other projects include:



-- Building a new ramp from northbound I-270 to westbound Page Avenue, or Highway 364.



-- Improving the interchange at Interstate 44 in Pacific.



-- Upgrading the rest of Highway 40/61 to interstate standards in St. Charles County

Is this enough?

loftlover wrote:Is this enough?

$329 million won't cover it, that is the amount of money committed so far. This is why MoDOT is using the GARVEEs(Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles) approach. They'll use the GARVEEs(when authorized by the Highway Commission) to make up the difference up to $500 million.



These bonds are leveraged against future federal highway appropriations to Missouri. They'll be paid back over the next 15 years or so. Sort of a buy now, pay later from what I understand.

Residents along Highway 40 brace for expansion

By Shane Graber

Of the Post-Dispatch

08/06/2005



[snip]

The transportation department is preparing land acquisition letters that will go out in the next week or two to about 35 Richmond Heights homeowners on Hanley Downs, Harter Avenue and Everett Avenue. The letters will say that these homes will be bought by the state to make way for an improved Highway 40 (Interstate 64). About 150,000 vehicles use this stretch of interstate every day. It is the most heavily traveled east-west corridor in the region.



And that's just the beginning. In the next year, the state might buy as many as 200 homes and 40 businesses near the corridor. The state estimates it will have to spend about $117 million in property and relocation costs.



The project is the largest highway construction undertaking in MoDOT's history, I-64 project manager Lesley Solinger Hoffarth said. Its estimated cost is between $552 million and $787 million.



The state will reconstruct 12 miles of highway, interchanges and bridges from west of Spoede Road to east of Boyle Avenue, and on Interstate 170 from Brentwood Boulevard to Eager Road. An additional lane in each direction will be added between Spoede and Interstate 170.



[snip]



Many of the homes are in Richmond Heights Councilman Paul Lore's district. He said Highway 40 expansion cut the town in two several decades ago.



"Richmond Heights took it in the teeth 50 years ago, and they're taking it in the teeth again now," he said.



The councilman believes the highway plan might create additional bottlenecks. He said there shouldn't be as many entry points into Richmond Heights from the interstate.



"We still haven't conceded points on this with MoDOT," he said. "They've ignored a lot of our requests."



[snip]



No matter how many homes have to go, the loss affects the city's tax roll - and more.



"When we lose revenue in Richmond Heights, that affects the services we can provide," Hamilton said. "And you're also losing a neighbor. And that's an effect that we can't put a dollar amount on."

Good to see the next phase of MODOT's plan to anlienate the voters is in full swing. At this rate they will never get another dime.

I live about 100 feet from the site of the new Page Extension, or 364 in O'Fallon, MO. So far, they have built an outer road parallel to Route N, an overcrowded shoulder-less road. The new road, which has relieved traffic from Route N has 3 lanes (one inner turn lane), but has 13-foot-wide shoulders, if they ever need to add two additional lanes. The road is called South Outer 364 (though it's known as "The new road" by the locals). It now has a lot of cars anytime of the day, but it has no traffic lights, and is the main route for thousand's of homes, so it has gotten very dangerous at times. I hope the age Extension will relieve the traffic in all of southern O'Fallon.



I have also put some pictures of the I-64 project, since I noticed no one else has.



I'm not sure if anyone posted this, but there is an official website for this project at http://www.TheNewI64.org