Are they going to be installing turnstiles like there have been rumblings about initiating a study? Might as well just build them here and see how they work instead of wasting a year or more on a study. We know that they're a good idea, it's just about putting them in.
How do we know turnstiles are a good idea? (serious question)
- Systems with them still have crime.
- Systems with them still have fare evasion.
- Will likely cost more than the money than they save from reduced fare evasion.
- Hundreds of systems around the world are successfully operating without them.
How about just hiring more security to check tickets on all trains? More security means less ticket evasion and you get the benefit of extra security on the train. You cannot get that with a turnstile. Extra bonus of more people with jobs.mill204 wrote: ↑Jul 06, 2017How do we know turnstiles are a good idea? (serious question)
- Systems with them still have crime.
- Systems with them still have fare evasion.
- Will likely cost more than the money than they save from reduced fare evasion.
- Hundreds of systems around the world are successfully operating without them.
There should already be armed security on board and platforms. I'm saying vertical turnstiles where you can't hop over them.dmelsh wrote: ↑Jul 06, 2017How about just hiring more security to check tickets on all trains? More security means less ticket evasion and you get the benefit of extra security on the train. You cannot get that with a turnstile. Extra bonus of more people with jobs.mill204 wrote: ↑Jul 06, 2017How do we know turnstiles are a good idea? (serious question)
- Systems with them still have crime.
- Systems with them still have fare evasion.
- Will likely cost more than the money than they save from reduced fare evasion.
- Hundreds of systems around the world are successfully operating without them.
At some point they need to go all in, in my opinion. I don't think Metro even makes money off of fares as it is, right?
Even systems with full height barriers have fare evasion. I've had my ticket checked in Paris multiple time while transferring between lines.
MetroLinks's farebox recovery ratio is presently ~25%; used to be ~30%. Virtually no public transportation systems in the world make a profit from fares.
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Yep. The first contractor has been awarded. They will be in charge of the first phase of the project, which includes facility work such as electrical, plumbing, structure, sidewalks and benches. This contract is the first of five that will be awarded to address the construction project.
So no.Matthew Hibbard wrote: ↑Jul 25, 2017Yep. The first contractor has been awarded. They will be in charge of the first phase of the project, which includes facility work such as electrical, plumbing, structure, sidewalks and benches. This contract is the first of five that will be awarded to address the construction project.
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Umm...ok.aprice wrote: ↑Jul 25, 2017So no.Matthew Hibbard wrote: ↑Jul 25, 2017Yep. The first contractor has been awarded. They will be in charge of the first phase of the project, which includes facility work such as electrical, plumbing, structure, sidewalks and benches. This contract is the first of five that will be awarded to address the construction project.
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is that little brick building near the crossing going to be incorporated into this project somehow? in the video there was a bunch of equipment and people gathered around it. it's such a cool little structure. i hope it gets re-purposed in some fashion.
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No. They're just removing the third track that runs close to it.
They're also tearing out a lot of weeds, trees, etc all around the area. You can now see an old train turntable south of the metro tracks, east of Sarah.
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That's an old Wabash turntable. They had a roundhouse and engine servicing facility there, a small yard and team tracks to the north, and a station at Vandeventer. The brick building is an old tower that presumably controlled the interlocking in and out of all of that. If you're curious about the history I can look into it through the WRHS. I'd love to see that building preserved, but I'm not quite sure how to do it.
That building is on my list of purchases when I became an eccentric millionaire.
Coffee/wine bar in the tower, home of the 'Cortex Model Railroad Club' in the bottom.
Coffee/wine bar in the tower, home of the 'Cortex Model Railroad Club' in the bottom.
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You should start an "...when I become an eccentric billionaire..." thread.shadrach wrote: That building is on my list of purchases when I became an eccentric millionaire.
Coffee/wine bar in the tower, home of the 'Cortex Model Railroad Club' in the bottom.
I don't know if the tower is enough square footage for a coffee shop/wine bar plus ADA restriction could become a pain. I'd recommend flipping it and giving the model train society the tower and putting your coffee shop on the ground floor. Maybe I under estimate the popularity of model trains tough...?
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Hey all! Okay, so some bad news. The brick building, formally an old railroad yard tower, is now used by Metro for storage. However, with the build out of the Cortex MetroLink Station and the expanded greenway, it will soon be demolished.
urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Aug 03, 2017is that little brick building near the crossing going to be incorporated into this project somehow? in the video there was a bunch of equipment and people gathered around it. it's such a cool little structure. i hope it gets re-purposed in some fashion.
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Why not keep it? Try something creative?Matthew Hibbard wrote: ↑Aug 04, 2017Hey all! Okay, so some bad news. The brick building, formally an old railroad yard tower, is now used by Metro for storage. However, with the build out of the Cortex MetroLink Station and the expanded greenway, it will soon be demolished.
urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Aug 03, 2017is that little brick building near the crossing going to be incorporated into this project somehow? in the video there was a bunch of equipment and people gathered around it. it's such a cool little structure. i hope it gets re-purposed in some fashion.
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yeah, why? it's a small building--it couldn't be that expensive to maintain. it would make a great spot for a cafe or something. god, i wish this town had more foresight/vision regarding its built environment.Matthew Hibbard wrote: ↑Aug 04, 2017Hey all! Okay, so some bad news. The brick building, formally an old railroad yard tower, is now used by Metro for storage. However, with the build out of the Cortex MetroLink Station and the expanded greenway, it will soon be demolished.
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This is the type of building that makes a place interesting. When we tear them down, STL becomes a lot less interesting.urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Aug 04, 2017yeah, why? it's a small building--it couldn't be that expensive to maintain. it would make a great spot for a cafe or something. god, i wish this town had more foresight/vision regarding its built environment.Matthew Hibbard wrote: ↑Aug 04, 2017Hey all! Okay, so some bad news. The brick building, formally an old railroad yard tower, is now used by Metro for storage. However, with the build out of the Cortex MetroLink Station and the expanded greenway, it will soon be demolished.
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debaliviere wrote:This is the type of building that makes a place interesting. When we tear them down, STL becomes a lot less interesting.urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Aug 04, 2017yeah, why? it's a small building--it couldn't be that expensive to maintain. it would make a great spot for a cafe or something. god, i wish this town had more foresight/vision regarding its built environment.Matthew Hibbard wrote: ↑Aug 04, 2017Hey all! Okay, so some bad news. The brick building, formally an old railroad yard tower, is now used by Metro for storage. However, with the build out of the Cortex MetroLink Station and the expanded greenway, it will soon be demolished.
Couldn't agree more
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If anybody has Metrolink's ear and could talk to them about selling or donating I'd be happy to bring this to the attention of the WRHS. The historical society needs a good fund raising candidate, and this seems like a solid one. We lost WABIC tower in Decatur a couple of years back. WRHS was closely involved in fund raising for the 573 restoration, so this may not be as off the wall as it sounds. And the annual meeting is . . . next month, I believe.
