Your Perfect Transit System For St. Louis

[la_cavalière]

Citizens for Modern Transit

Citizens for Modern Transit or CMT, leads advocacy efforts to expand light rail as the critical component of an integrated, affordable and convenient public transportation system that will enable economic growth to improve quality of life in the St. Louis region.

Citizens for Modern Transit working to expand metrolink St Louis

[DinsdalePirahna]

I line running to the outer 'burbs would be nice. If a smaller city like pittsburgh (with its hilly terrain) can pull it off there is not reason St. Louis can't do it. Pittsburgh also has dedicated express busways.

The coolest transit system I ever saw is in Morgantown, WV. Their PRT was developed over 30 years ago, in a supposed backwater state.

I also like Montreal's System, which runs on what looks like regular tires (Sort of like the Mammoth Car on Speed Racer).

[skipcromer]

Ok, again I am really looking for very specific ideas as far as additional lines or things of the sort. This is all fantasy basically, tell me exactly which way you would have the line run, what street, what type of line, etc.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

Is there any organization similar to this CfPT for St Louis? Wonder how positive that could be, esp. if get the various colleges/universities and other important entities involved, supporting such? IMHO, there needs to be a strong groundswell public voice, with strong leadership and vision to help improve the system - the city's leaders, from what I've seen/read from afar don't seem to be making much progress in this endeavor... The culture mindset needs to change too - for example, enough of this city vs. county BS, get the entire region, all sides of the rivers, united, together, and get this done.

Me, I'd love to see more bike friendly paths, trolly system, and light rail. This is a great city, and can be improved so much more, w/ a safe, efficient, and cost-effective transport system, getting people where they want & need to go.

Bike paths and lanes would are much needed in the city. You are correct that the mindset needs to change. That said, if the county isnt down then the city needs to do what it can to improve all things transit within.

[DinsdalePirahna]

I'm totally in with Bikeways. The weather isn't too bad here (except for last weeks rain). I would cycle if it were more convenience.

Allow mini trucks (like the Daewoo and Suburu microvans - just so I can lagally drive something cool like this) and golf carts on secondary surface streets.

The Obama Administration Classified vehicles such as the Aptera as cars. Now it s time for DOTs to do the same thing.

Use the right of way for the 70 and 64/40 to build a high speed transit for the outer burbs. A ring and hub system like the Washington DC Metro may work pretty well around here.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

I'm totally in with Bikeways. The weather isn't too bad here (except for last weeks rain). I would cycle if it were more convenience.

Allow mini trucks (like the Daewoo and Suburu microvans - just so I can lagally drive something cool like this) and golf carts on secondary surface streets.

The Obama Administration Classified vehicles such as the Aptera as cars. Now it s time for DOTs to do the same thing.

Use the right of way for the 70 and 64/40 to build a high speed transit for the outer burbs. A ring and hub system like the Washington DC Metro may work pretty well around here.

Im unfamiliar with DC's Metro system (have only read about it a bit.) I do know it is fairly expansive and covers a great deal of area.

That said, I was wondering if for the outer burbs a couple of commuter rail lines would make more sense. Obviously nothing compared to METRA in Chicago or anything like that, but a couple of lines. Maybe one originating in Lake St. Louis, cutting through O'fallon and St Charles, then cutting south a bit through Maryland Heights before making its way into downtown.

To add on what you were saying about 64, have a line start out around Spirit of St. Louis Airport and basically head straight along the highway into downtown.

[DinsdalePirahna]

There is a lot of opportunity here for Saint Louis to be on the cutting edge and too REALLY put itself on the map. Bold Thinking and Investments in the future will pay many dividends.

[Fishtacos]

Metrolink itself was and is a good thing. Other than the lunatic fringe concered about suburban safety, most people believe in the concept. The management of Metrolink has been uh er uh terrible. How about actually making people pay for fares? Having a strong security presence on certain routes at certain times of the day, financial management, etc...

Would like to see it in South City, near SC and far, especially in the more popular areas of the city. Some burbs have already voted no to to expansion, I.e...St.Charles voted it down twice.

D.C. Metro is arguably second best outside of NY. No area will have the comprehensiveness of a system as NYC. D.C.'S metro serves up to 30 minutes or so out, minus the horrendous traffic of course. Fairfax County, Alexandria, College Park, Potomac, etc..amongst the final stops surrounding the city into VA and MD. No stop in Georgetown but you can take the bus from Foggy Bottom stop. It's clean, safe, and extremely popular. It has airport stops, a stop at the new ball park in SE etc......It's a much better version of the EL in Chicago.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by Fishtacos

Metrolink itself was and is a good thing. Other than the lunatic fringe concered about suburban safety, most people believe in the concept.

Selling fear to the undereducated works to forward agendas.

Originally Posted by Fishtacos

D.C. Metro is arguably second best outside of NY. No area will have the comprehensiveness of a system as NYC. D.C.'S metro serves up to 30 minutes or so out, minus the horrendous traffic of course. Fairfax County, Alexandria, College Park, Potomac, etc..amongst the final stops surrounding the city into VA and MD. No stop in Georgetown but you can take the bus from Foggy Bottom stop. It's clean, safe, and extremely popular. It has airport stops, a stop at the new ball park in SE etc......It's a much better version of the EL in Chicago.

I think that the DC system is actually better than NYCs. Clean, fast efficient and pretty much gets you anywhere you need to go. I like the Hub and spoke design of the system.

New York is just pure mass, some making disjointed systems work together. Chaos theory working to the point of being fairly efficient.

I also like Bay Area's BART system.

There are so many good working models. This area should be able to find a comparble system that works best with our demographics and geography.

[OA 5599]

DC's system is indeed much cleaner than NYC's. Then again, the DC system was built in the 1970's, while much of New York's system is a century or more old. I spotted by far the largest rat of my life at a random subway stop in Manhattan. St. Louis of course does not need a system anywhere near as comprehensive as New York, simply because we have a much, much smaller population and lower density.

The nicest system I've used worldwide goes to Barcelona. Fast, modern, clean, and comfortable air-conditioned cars and a great ring-and-spoke system that allows you to get most anywhere in the city without walking. As for the mention of London's Underground system...sure, it gets you everywhere, but it is extremely congested, and very hot. It would probably be illegal and inhumane to transport farm animals in the same conditions I experienced while riding the Underground.

I'd personally like to see a expanded system in St. Louis with lines running outward towards most general areas of the metro (West County, South County, St. Charles County), and a ring somewhere around the city-county boundary connecting it all together.