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by newlylocal from st. louis

Last Post 127 days, 15 hours Ago


Mass Transit /Missed Opportunities
Apr 24, 2008 | 10:34 PM
Category: Traffic
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One of the first things I noticed when I returned to St. Louis, was the absence of buses. I grew up riding buses here. Having lived in Chicago for over 10 years, public transportation was my choice of transportation. If you make m.t. available and reliable people will flock to it.
If you run buses 10-15 mins. apart during rush hour. If someone misses a bus another one will be there. Make hubs accessible to more options for connections, not just to metrolink but to other popular bus routes. You should be able to move a lot quicker through St. Louis.The amazing thing to me is, they haven't exploited their most effective marketing no-brainer, GAS PRICES. Who wouldn't give up a car if they couldn't get to work within 20 mins. The gear up costs would pay for themselves many times over. I don't expect everyone to take m.t., but its getting to expensive to drive for many. The city officials should be demanding this, gas prices aren't coming back down. There is no "bus riding" stigma in places where it works.
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Member Comments Total Comments: 11
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Chickenkiller read my blog
Apr 24, 2008 | 11:50 PM

The reason you don't see more busses here is due to the ineptness and arrogance of those who are supposed to be managing this public trust. They make decisions that drive away riders, and then want to have tax increases and raise fares when ridership decreases on account of it.

To top that off they had an executive director who called the population of this SMSA a bunch of hayseeds when he was called out for ineptly mismanaging the expansion of Metrolink.
bubba-right-wing read my blog view my photos
Apr 25, 2008 | 7:37 AM

To Chicken Right as rain and you just ran out of time and room to continue your essay. Metro Stink just lost millions in court and cost overruns. We use our tax dollars for ballparks and wait and see what goes into that hole next to Busch. Saint Louis is on the move and so will I in 4 years. Texas or maybe Tenn.
newlylocal read my blog
Apr 25, 2008 | 9:24 AM

Thanks Chickenkiller, I not familiar with the history of mismanagement. There is such an untapped potential here. I kind of kept up on MetroLink when I was away. It didn't make much sense in the planning stage. How hard is it to find someone with foresight and a more ambitious approach. The Mayor, and the Governor should be all over this. The political advantage of revitalizing Public transportation would be great.
PSylvester20 read my blog
Apr 25, 2008 | 5:27 PM

I like riding metrolink to avoid the whole parking fiasco downtown. Other than that, I get very little use out of it. The trains go to very few places that I need to go. They run too far apart. And, they shut down too early.
papill0n134 read my blog view my photos
Apr 26, 2008 | 12:14 PM

Chickenkiller, you're right on with your comments.
Metrolink needs to run to St. Charles County!
Very little public transportation in St. Charles County, just insane.
gone2thedogs read my blog view my photos
Apr 28, 2008 | 9:20 AM

I agree st Charles Co needs public transportation.
When I moved here almost 4 years ago I thought it very odd this being a big metro area and all. In Los Angeles the are busses and trains everywhere, and even when I lived in a small town in Oregon there was transportation. I dont kinow how those with no cars get around in this county
miamiman read my blog
Apr 28, 2008 | 12:25 PM

in south florida there is a light rail that runs from west palm beach to miami international airport and it goes through three counties.
memobo read my blog
Apr 28, 2008 | 4:59 PM

I spent about 5 years living in Europe and found a wealth of mass transit, busses and trains. I used them almost daily. For the 1st time in my life I didn't own a vehicle and didn't miss it.
I've visited Chicago a few times and found the mass transit a wonderful way of getting around the city.
My father is a retired truck driver and I do understand that America is a very large place and not at all like Europe. However, I have to agree that St. Louis is missing a BIG opportunity with mass transit.
I also believe that the U.S. would benefit from expanded mass transit options. How many old train routes are we no longer using, and how many current train routes are only being used for cargo?
Unfortunately we are a NOW society and that means the airlines seem to be our only option, and their prices are getting pretty outlandish too.
Jimmy-42 read my blog
Apr 29, 2008 | 9:18 AM

In my opinion, the real missed opportunity was to not put light rail, or even plan for it, along the I-255 route on the east side. I-255 passes through almost all the major population areas on the east side.

Doing a similar thing with the I-270 route on the west side would also be helpful, but, I-255 is a relatively recent addition, whereas, I-270 was there long before anyone thought about light rail.

The problem with busses is that if I have to work late (I work downtown), I might miss the last bus back home. The bus ride also takes about 4 times longer than if I drive.
downtowner read my blog
Apr 29, 2008 | 11:54 PM

Just bad planning in the late 40 [48]to [56] of three public Entities, in changing street Cars over to Buses only ,in transportation, running interstate hiway straight thru heart of downtown, not planning for parking downtown ,built low income projects instead. Should have done what France did by putting low income Projects out side of Intercity. That way cost would have been cheaper. Slums would have been abandoned. Then they could have taking time in rehabilitate old neighborhoods. The Experts kill the roots of the City .This is what created so call white flght .Why is it the so call Expert, alway blame their misstates on someone else.. Building into the City not out. Cost would have been a lot cheaper,no new School,Hiways,Bridges,Subdivison to build
downtowner read my blog
Apr 30, 2008 | 12:18 AM

That would have kept the population in a more compact area, transportation cost would be more economical. Saint Louis in 1956 had 856000 people the 8th largest city..IT was really a wonderful city..
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newlylocal

1 year back in st. louis, different perspective. Enjoy writing, reading. Great relationship, and a house full of dogs and cats.

Member Since: 4/24/2008


 

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