urbanSTL

I adore the idea of a line going wrapping around Lafayette Square Park and then going to Soulard. Perhaps the brewery? Maybe in the future this line could be built, but it is true that the North side needs this "push" more than the South side. I hope that this line connects to the Loop trolley, too, although it would be FANTASTIC if it actually went through the streets throughout Forest Park as opposed to just looping around the History Museum. One step at a time, though.

Well, now you know why I know what I know.

What precise route would you all think this would take? I figure Lindell to Grand, at which point it will go north to Washington, although it would be great if it could go further north and south up and down Grand sometime in the future. Down Washington, it would help revive the mostly dead stretch of midtown east of Grand. Once downtown, it faces the problem of getting stuck in Washington Ave. traffic, but that's still probably the best way for it to go nonetheless. I love the idea of it going up into Old North, but Carr Square? Nah. Either way, these neighborhoods just north of downtown could really benefit from this on top of everything else that's supposed to happen there.

Lindell to Olive or Lindell to Locust both sound good. While a streetcar down Locust would be more charming, the width of Olive has more potential for designated lanes, streetcar specific infrastructure, and less congestion. If that shaves 5-8 minutes off the trip from CWE to DT, then I think Olive makes the most sense. Plus, it's just one block south of Locust, so will still increase development and desirability. The original graphics in the RFQ suggest the Lindell/Olive route:



I'd also prefer to see a small loop around the Old Post Office instead of taking it all the way to the Arch Grounds.
As for the western terminus:
-From a connectivity standpoint, the best option is to have it go down into BJC to connect with CWE Metrolink & MetroBus Station where the 1, 10, 13, 18, 42, 59, 80, 95, & 57X converge.
-From a cost standpoint, the best option is probably a small terminal at the far northeast corner of Forest Park. A contemporary take on this beauty would be nice:

I would think this is going to connect to the Loop Trolley, right? It would be goofy to have two independently running lines that never connect.

Gateway City wrote:I would think this is going to connect to the Loop Trolley, right? It would be goofy to have two independently running lines that never connect.

Don't really agree, I think it would be rather goofy to develop a streetcar line for transit to connect with what is essentially a tourist trolley. In other words, why have metrolink and the slower streetcar/trolley all the way from one end of the city to the other. I think the Loop trolley will do a lot better if it would be extended through Forest Park, stop at the zoo (parks biggest attraction by far), and maybe extend across into dogtown.

I'm more in agreement with Wabash and would much rather see it make a left at Euclid

- From a connectivity standpoint, the best option is to have it go down into BJC to connect with CWE Metrolink & MetroBus Station where the 1, 10, 13, 18, 42, 59, 80, 95, & 57X converge.

Undecided on Downtown, but warming to Wabash idea of having it make a loop around old Post Office. You got two decent developments kicking off with Roberts Tower and Arcade as well as decnet emphasis on metrolink connectivity. Otherwise, get close to the Arch Grounds, make a left over a couple blocks to the north and have a loop on Lacledes landing

I guess we will all find out March 7 what they plan to do, although those plans could always change with enough public input. Either way, I'm excited.

I got an update from the Partnership for Downtown and URS this morning. The plans still look really solid, but I would rather not say anything until the Meeting on March 7. I'll post a scan of the route(s) that day.

Are they looking to implement the same high-speed internet as the Loop Trolley?

That I can answer. No. But it could involve a comprehensive streetscaoe project along the route.

As long as the road is getting torn up anyway, they might as well just go ahead and install the high-speed internet, too. It would be a major selling point for the neighbourhoods that it runs through. Midtown and parts of North St. Louis could especially use something like that so they have more going for them, which would be great given how much they have fallen behind other parts of the City.

Gateway City wrote:Are they looking to implement the same high-speed internet as the Loop Trolley?

I would say, "too early to tell."

Open house March 7 - 7 miles of track - cost estimate sounds low

http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... mo.twitter

I think you have to do the min. of 7 miles or the investment is not worth it,

Cats out of the bag. Here's the map.



Keep in mind everything is preliminary at this point. I think the route selections are solid. Attend the meeting on March 7 for more info.

rawest1 wrote:

The idea for the project resulted from St. Louis University's decision, announced last year, to move its law school from midtown to downtown, Campbell told the Post-Dispatch editorial board. SLU's initial plan to run shuttle buses between the new law school on Tucker Boulevard and its midtown campus quickly turned to discussion of streetcars instead, she said.

Interesting!

Keep in mind that the Partnership for Downtown is in the drivers seat for this one, not SLU. SLU has given support, but it's not their project. Still, I'm glad that the new Law School helped instigate the project.

Presbyterian wrote:So do I understand that the plan is to not connect this system to the Loop trolley line?

That would be correct. This is planned as a real transit line connecting jobs and homes, as well as entertainment areas, and to spur new development along the line. Not to minimize the Loop Trolley, but it's a tourist line more than anything.

Before this gets going, we really need to think more about the high-speed internet. That internet is too huge of an opportunity for St. Louis to just pass up nonchalantly, even if securing financing for it stalls the project for a little bit. If we don't, we are going to regret it for a very long time. Also, the Loop Trolley just being a tourist toy isn't necessarily a good thing. It could be so much more than that. If it were connected to this one, it would be legit public transportation. They come so close to each other, we should just fill in that small little gap on Lindell and make them into one line.