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PostSep 14, 2014#76

I think you have to give KC some credit for seeming to put in good TIGER grant apps year and year or least have a feel for what the administration is looking for that particular year and being awarded for it. The Connex program/grant seems like a pretty good idea. Need to find a link to the actually application.

Chicago's CREATE program to unclog the freight rail congestion hasn't been able to secure much federal funds as of late after a big grant in the early years. Which is gets to the bigger picture that Chicago doesn't seem to do well with TIGER grants where as multimodal centers in out state IL do well in securing them.

PostApr 07, 2015#77

Next round of TIGER grant applications due, with pre-applications due in May with final apps due in June. Not sure what will fit this time around. To me a couple of thoughts but not sure if my first thought could really be tied to a regional and or national benefit. My second thought I believe has a viable regional benefit.

1) TIGER app to supplement GRG with focus on Northside trestle with additional Central Corridor bike/pedestrian improvements or rebuilt near north riverfront trail that ties a proposed stadium with Arch/landing on one end and north trestle on the other.

2) Another thought, TIGER application for rail infrastructure between Alton and Downtown to improve rail service for freight & Lincoln Passenger service and or MoDOT/Union Pacific to put in TIGER for rail improvements between Jeff City to KC where River Runner and freights share mostly a single track rail line.

http://enr.construction.com/opinions/bl ... d=blogDest

TIGER-assisted projects are to be important regionally or nationally. The grants are expected to be just part of projects' financial packages.

This year's deadlines are tight: pre-applications are due by May 4. Final applications are due on June 5.
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PostApr 07, 2015#78

I think MoDOT is putting in for the Merchants Bridge Railroad in STL.
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PostApr 07, 2015#79

The Merchants Bridge is in the proposal phase and I believe the funding is already in place. The design/work on the approaches was just awarded and the proposals for the span are due in the next month.
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PostApr 07, 2015#80

^ all it would do is free up $10-20M from the span and TIGER would replace it...same thing happened on the Washington Bridge last year when MoDOT got TIGER for it, the bridge was already funded...helps in the scoring when there is local money already on the job.
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PostApr 07, 2015#81

dbInSouthCity wrote:^ all it would do is free up $10-20M from the span and TIGER would replace it...same thing happened on the Washington Bridge last year when MoDOT got TIGER for it, the bridge was already funded...helps in the scoring when there is local money already on the job.
That makes sense. Thanks for the information.
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PostApr 07, 2015#82

I can't recall correctly but believe Merchants bridge was part of a previous TIGER grant app or maybe a HSR grant app submitted by MoDOT. Believe MoDOT got a smaller grant for the preliminary engineering if not mistaken. It makes sense, believe rail traffic is restricted to one train crossing at restricted speed at a time while bridge was originally built as two track crossing.
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PostApr 08, 2015#83

^ That sounds like a major bottleneck as a result. I wonder is a seismic retrofit also a part of this since a number of other infrastructure assets in the area have had that. Reworking this is good on many fronts in making the bridge more sound, allow better flow, and help out on HSR development.

Have there been regional studies on the rail infrastructure in the area in terms of improving service and reducing any potential bottlenecks? Since helping freight train service in the area would improve the road traffic in the area since I noticed how much the area traffic is in part due to freight traffic going through the area.
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PostApr 08, 2015#84

^ there have been- MoDOT just completed a statewide freight study and East West Gateway just completed a region freight study and the result of that is the creation of the America's Gateway (tho i think they changed the name since Miami uses Americans Gateway), agency that will fall under Bi-State and work to improve freight movement in the region.

EWG freight study
http://www.ewgateway.org/pdffiles/libra ... nalRpt.pdf

http://metrostlouis.org/NewsProjects/Ne ... spx?ID=488
East-West Gateway Council of Governments today voted to move forward with plans to have the Bi-State Development Agency (BSDA) lead a new regional freight partnership aimed at optimizing the region’s freight transportation infrastructure. America's Gateway will capitalize on an anticipated 60 percent increase in national freight volume by the year 2040.

The creation of the new partnership is the outcome of months of planning in response to recommendations made in the 2013 Saint Louis Regional Freight Study which was commissioned by East-West Gateway. The study determined existing capabilities, gaps, and potential for growth in this sector of the region’s economy. East West Gateway then sponsored a Regional Freight Working Group, a team of regional leaders and industry experts committed to understanding the results of the study and developing a regional strategic action plan. The resulting plan calls for the establishment of a regional freight district and associated authority called America's Gateway.

A broad consensus of freight experts suggests that the actions to be undertaken by America’s Gateway will boost St. Louis’ competitive position among its peers in becoming not only a premier multimodal freight center in the Midwest region through job and economic growth, but also a freight center with global reach ready to compete in international markets.

“America's Gateway will close gaps in freight planning capabilities, providing the St. Louis region with an entity that can plan effectively for freight-related infrastructure improvements, act decisively on behalf of the entire region, and speak with one voice to both internal and external stakeholders,” said Ed Hillhouse, Executive Director of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments. “With its interstate compact powers, regional development authority and strong leadership, the Bi-State Development Agency is the ideal organization to take this initiative forward.”

"The Bi-State Development Agency was selected because of its unique position as an implementation arm for regional projects," Hillhouse added. "Bi-State Development has led economic development and implementation for 60 years and we are excited they will lead this initiative."

“We have been a part of the regional team working diligently on this initiative over the past months and are pleased to have been selected to lead the newly established partnership,” said John Nations, President and CEO of the Bi-State Development Agency. “This initiative is all about helping the Greater St. Louis region renew its ‘Gateway’ status, and we are eager to get to work on moving forward. America's Gateway is in keeping with our vision to promote economic development for the region.”

AMERICA'S GATEWAY BACKGROUND

After examining various models of organizations leading freight economic development efforts in other parts of the country, the working group determined that a unique hybrid model would best support the partnership’s mission of driving regional economic growth by coordinating public and private efforts; optimizing the regional multimodal portfolio; and marketing Greater St. Louis’ multimodal opportunities. The plan calls for a public-private partnership to be established within the Bi-State Development Agency as a new operating enterprise. With oversight from the BSDA Board and its president and CEO, the partnership will be responsible for the following functions:
• Proactive needs analysis
• Planning, programming, and coordinating freight-related infrastructure improvements
• Marketing the region's freight assets and opportunities
• Regional freight-related advocacy with both the public and private sector
• Operational oversight on freight-related projects

An executive advisory board representing regional stakeholders will be responsible for bringing action items to the Bi-State Development Agency Board, and will also serve as the Regional Freight Advisory Committee. An "Alliance" program will gain participation and insight from private stakeholders with an interest in regional freight-related economic development.

Initial organizational steps will be taken immediately, including the hiring of staff that will mature the concepts presented in the initial plan. The first position that will be filled is that of Executive Director of America’s Gateway. Other early operational activities will include formulating of the official by-laws for the organization, completing the membership of America’s Gateway’s Board, organizing the Alliance and transitioning the members of the Regional Freight District Working Group.

Partners involved in the Regional Freight Working Group include East-West Gateway, St. Louis Development Corporation, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Clair County, St. Charles County, Madison County, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Missouri Department of Transportation, St. Louis Regional Chamber, Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois, and Terminal Railroad.

“The low cost of living, strategic position along the Mississippi River, low highway congestion, considerable space for land development and a reasonable business tax environment all make St. Louis attractive as a manufacturing and distribution center,” Nations said. “Enhancing the capacity and capabilities of our regional freight system will support the growth of this sector of our economy and we look forward to working with the various partners involved to drive that growth.”

The new enterprise will involve participation from both Missouri and Illinois; from organizations both public and private, with an increasingly higher amount of private participation as it goes forward. It will involve public and private infrastructure which will encompass roads, rivers, rails, airports and pipelines.
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PostMay 08, 2015#85

Not sure if anyone has heard of potential TIGER grant submissions from the region for the upcoming round. Saw this from Milwaukee...



http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/ne ... t-for.html

Work will begin on the first phase of their downtown street car next spring and they are seeking TIGER for help with a $30 million spur to the lakefront.
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PostMay 08, 2015#86

I'm pretty sure we won't hear a peep out of any local or regional proposals. What I think would be a good proposal for St. Louis but have a tough time seeing getting bumped up in front of line. I believe their is suppose to be a strong national and or regional component to it in addition to having funding.

1) St. Louis corridor street and access improvements project. Specifically funding to rebuild 22nd street interchange and rebuilding Forest Parkway & Grand Ave to a at grade crossing with a smattering of money toward sidewalk, bike path enhancements. You could see an argument that a rebuilt interchange and avenue would facilitate transportation to and from a new NGA facility as well as mirror the work being done to the Arch Grounds. In this case, improvements to the West end of Gateway Mall. Matching funding sources from MoDOT, City, GRG and maybe CORTEX (thinking FP/Grand improvements).

Going back to dblnsouthcity post. I can see EWG, MoDOT and ILDOT as well as Terminal Railroand Association (TRRA) making a run at some TIGER grant money for rebuilding Merchant rail bridge. Argument being that St. Louis is an alternate to Chicago as a freight gateway between the East and West and that adding capacity can be done at a fraction of cost. Either that or MoDOT/UP teaming up for the single track rail line between KC and Jeff City.

I can also see one of the multiple river ports in the region eyeing TIGER grants applications. Can't recall the specific river port that did a dry run of containers on a barge, but can see a TIGER grant app going in for a container crane and facility upgrades as part of a ship to barge transport of containers up the Mississippi.
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PostMay 18, 2015#87

^ I think anything to support higher speed rail or Saint Louis Streetcar would be great as well as Metrolink TOD, maybe for the Forest Park Station.

As for Grand & FPP, that would be pretty solid as well and I think that could be tied into the GRG trail being built and supported by the Cortex TIGER grant. I have mixed feelings at this time about 22nd St. Interchange.... if there were a definite tenant who had interest in the area that would be one thing, but I'm not sure we need to focus on that part of downtown for the time being when we have so much work left to do further east.

The other thought that comes to mind is perhaps there is something in the works for the Near North Riverfront that could be of benefit with or without the stadium.... connections with Old North and the Trestle, etc.
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PostMay 18, 2015#88

^ Roger, I think the STL Streetcar is non-starter because of no matching funds whatsoever to speak of unless you are aware of any. But I do like your pointed question to Scott about Metro Prop A funds that were suppose to free up funds on a previously approved sales tax. I assume those funds are tied up in legality of the wording of ballot but that is where leadership reaches out and tries to change things.

I think your getting into the chicken and egg routine of going nowhere if you look at West Downtown and the need for a tenant or building before your willing to demolish a failed attempt of adding a depressed parkway decades ago. I think removing the old I64/21st parkway interchange for a solid at grade boulevard all the way to proposed NGA site should be the number one priority for the city. I believe the city could muster funds as well as the fact that I believe MoDOT had funds set aside to actually demo a freeway, a short section would have to admit but something of benefit to downtown.

Not directed at yourself but probably, Scott, Ward24. I also think it is telling of the long road ahead when alderman can't agree on a bond measure to improve city infrastructure that would probably go a long ways in retaining 3,000 and probably more well paying jobs in the city and yet turn around to fight Nixon/Peackock on the stadium deal in which we in itself attract up to $500 million from an ownership/NFL.
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PostMay 18, 2015#89

^ I think the streetcar is dead...not because it is not financially viable, but because it is not political viable. Most of the alderman are against any major rail expansion that is not a N-S line and I think that is totally reasonable.
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PostMay 19, 2015#90

^ Do you think that political equation would change if it were determined that funding mechanisms from property owners, etc. would pay for a good portion of the operating costs as in KC? I would hope that if Saint Louis Streetcar were a viable project but just in need of a modest federal match that it would be supported if N/S remains only a distant hope.

But politics is always an issue and part of the reason I'd like to see north and south "starter" spurs that could be lengthened with time.... maybe following the proposed N/S line up to Parnell on the north side and down to Gravois on the south side.

PostMay 19, 2015#91

Regarding the potential 22nd St. interchange project.... if there were high density potential created as a result would it make sense to add another Metrolink station to the west of Union Station?
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PostMay 19, 2015#92

Regarding the potential 22nd St. interchange project.... if there were high density potential created as a result would it make sense to add another Metrolink station to the west of Union Station?
It would take more than just this project but I'd think eventually it'd be nice to see a station at Jefferson. For this I would be happy if they just moved the current station under the shed. <dream>
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PostMay 19, 2015#93

Does anyone see City putting in a stand alone TIGER Grant app out right geared towards their proposed NGA site, essentially rebuilding city infrastructure (access) in and around as it has to be tied to transportation? The national prominence being a national security office. Matching funds coming from the city and state if a new I64/21st street interchange is incorporated. I doubt that the EGW would offer much other than letter of support considering four different sites within the region are vying for it (maybe they already told everyone that they will write a letter of support for everyone)

I would assume you would throw everything at it including any kind of federal grant if your Mayor is stating that the retaining NGA is number one priority
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PostMay 19, 2015#94

^ I wouldn't be surprised if they revised the application for the 22nd St. interchange project they submitted a few years ago... they probably need to make it more appealing and substantive than the previous one though.
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PostMay 20, 2015#95

^ It is tough see how you could make the argument that rebuilding the interchange, putting back in street grid has a national or even regional prominence to the transportation network. However, language from DOT TIGER 2015 website itself suggests you can make a strong case that this is part of an effort to improved connection to employment and community revitalization if you tie the app to jobs such as NGA and or tie west downtown to northside as well as I64 (giving it the regional basis).

http://www.dot.gov/tiger

The TIGER 2015 grant program will continue to make transformative surface transportation investments by providing significant and measurable improvements over existing conditions. The grant program will focus on capital projects that generate economic development and improve access to reliable, safe and affordable transportation for disconnected both urban and rural, while emphasizing improved connection to employment, education, services and other opportunities, workforce development, or community revitalization. - See more at: http://www.dot.gov/tiger#sthash.MSIpzoTi.dpuf
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PostMay 20, 2015#96

^ I see now that the earlier application actually zeroed in the other portion -- focusing on the Tucker/Cass/Mullanphy area -- to a much greater extent on advancing Northside Regeneration than the 22nd Street portion. The 22nd St. portion was confined pretty much to the development of the new district and didn't seem to discuss connections with P/I site, etc... So I wonder if the city (and McKee) are still thinking of improvements along Cass and surrounding area as more critical in accessing the P-I and proposed NGA sites than Jefferson/22nd St.
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PostMay 28, 2015#97

Would anyone know what and if any TIGER pre-applications where filed? They were mandatory as per website and due in no later than May 4th. Website has June 5th as deadline for full submission.
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PostMay 28, 2015#98

^ as I've said months ago Termnial Railroad for the Merchant Bridge
But you won't see anything official, usually project sponsors only acknowledge the application if they are awarded
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PostMay 30, 2015#99

^ Sadly true. And part of the reason we're falling further and further behind other regions that have a clearly articulated and more transparent vision for transformation.
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PostOct 28, 2015#100

TIGER Grant announcements are starting to come in. Looks like Mississippi bridge replacement north of St. Louis will be the somewhat local winner.

Some the others that were rail oriented include as per a progressive railroading website story. I thought the region had a legitimate grant to pick up some TIGER funds for Mississippi Rail crossing as a means to increase capacity around/bypass the Chicago congestion issue.

You also have to wonder how far some of these grants really go. The funding to improve the Southwest Chief route helps rebuild 20 miles of a 270 mile route that sees one daily Amtrak train and limited freight movement. Or the NJ rail grant towards the century old Portal bridge is to do some site and utility work for a $1 billion dollar project with no real funding in the foreseeable future.

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/f ... rds--46255

The projects and TIGER grant amounts include:
• $15.2 million for upgrades and expansion of Amtrak's Southwest Chief route in Colorado, New Mexico and Kansas.
• $20 million for the Maine Railways Project, which features new rail, ties, surfacing and upgraded road crossings and signal systems on railroad mainlines across the state of Maine.
• $18 million to Buffalo, N.Y., to rebuild the Lower Main Street segment of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's Metro Rail service.
• $16 million to New Jersey Transit toward replacement of the century-old Portal Bridge, which is currently considered a commuter-rail chokepoint in the Northeast Corridor.
• $15 million for the Tacoma, Wash., LINK Expansion to more than double the current length of downtown Tacoma's existing streetcar line. The project also will add several stations with improved bicycle and pedestrian access.
• $14.2 million for construction of the Streetcar Lakefront Line in Milwaukee.
• $10 million to build the Barnum Station, a new commuter-rail station that will serve MTA Metro-North Railroad riders in Bridgeport, Conn.
• $10 million to build a new rail yard, called Glacier Rail Park, and construct a pedestrian trail in Kalispell, Mont.
• $6 million for two rail projects in South Dakota: one to fund a new track siding near Philip; and the other for track upgrades near Huron.
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