Metrolink to the airport? (St. Louis, Clayton: crime, construction, casino) - Missouri (MO) - City-Data Forum

WestCoDude · 03-16-2008, 09:48 PM

Has anyone taken Metrolink to Lambert? More importantly, has anyone parked at a Metro park and ride for any length of time and taken the train to the airport? I know that N. Hanley station has lots of parking garage spaces and then a 5 minute ride into Lambert. But....is it safe? I mean....if I leave my car parked at one of the park and rides for a week will it be there when I'm back? Would it just be wiser to pay the 10 bucks a day or whatever and park at Lambert?

I know that they have assaults and shootings at metrolink stations and given some of the people I've seen hanging around these stations--as well as the quality of the area around N. Hanely--I'm leery to leave my car for a full week. What do you think?

Brickmama · 03-17-2008, 08:07 AM

The metrolink is very safe and I have take it into Downtown hundereds of times w/o a problem. Security is staffed at each station. I am not sure where you heard about assults and shooting but they are very rare. I think your car would be safe at the N Hanley station.

breer23 · 03-17-2008, 10:14 AM

With the shutdown of 64/40, Metrolink pumped up their security force big-time. While I can't speak about the parking situation, there is a larger force present on the trains themselves - I've showed my monthly pass and seen more people escorted off of trains in the past 2 months, than in the 6 beforehand.

breer23 · 03-17-2008, 10:17 AM

Have to agree with Brickmama - I don't recall any shootings at Metrolink stops, and I think muggings/assaults have decreased in the past 2-3 months.

If you feel uncomfortable leaving your car at the Hanley Station, you could always leave it at a lot closer to where you live (unless Hanley is closest), so someone could check on it.

illini84 · 03-17-2008, 11:11 AM

I used to take it to the airport all the time, but I always parked at the Casino Queen. Their parking lot is very well lit and heavily patrolled by security (plus there is always lots of activity going on, minimizing the chance of a break-in). I never had any problems at all (other than a fist fight breaking out once on the Metro), but the ride to the airport from there takes awhile...maybe 45 minutes. Definitely worth it though.

jojojohnson76 · 03-17-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestCoDude

I know that they have assaults and shootings at metrolink stations

Yeah, those are every day occurrences. When the thugs aren't taking the trains to wreak havoc in the suburbs, they are shooting each other at Metrolink stops.

Give me some newspaper articles about those incidents you speak of.. I'm not too familiar with them, I guess.

aragx6 · 03-17-2008, 12:20 PM

One of my good friend's dad is a county cop stationed at metrolink stations and he jokes that he has one of the most boring jobs on the planet. There's never anything going on- probably because it shuts down at midnight.

WestCoDude · 03-17-2008, 02:08 PM

There were two assaults of SLU kids in one week in December at the Grand Station. And at the Wellston station a month or so ago there was a cop chase that resulted in a shooting there.

Update: Man shot near MetroLink station in Wellston | Top Stories | KMOV.com | St. Louis, MO (http://www.kmov.com/topstories/stories/kmov_localnews_080220_metroshooting.10bb87bc.html - broken link)
SLU students worry about MetroLink safety after recent crime | Traffic | KMOV.com | St. Louis, MO (http://www.kmov.com/construction/stories/kmov_localnews_071204_metrolink.6ada4703.html - broken link)

But I know that the Metrolink is safe itself. It's a little gross and a lot of the people on the trains are pretty shady. But the train itself is safe. I get that. It's my car, not me, that I'm most concerned about. Since STL is car-jack central, I'm a little weary about that.....

I've taken Metrolink numerous times and never felt unsafe. I don't expect to get shot or assaulted. But many stations are in terrible areas and given the sort of people who usually take Metrolink, I sure as heck don't want them anywhere near my car in the middle of the night when I'm hundreds of miles away. Apparently Clayton station has a garage run by St. Louis County and is patrolled because it shares a garage with county government. That might be a good bet.....

jojojohnson76 · 03-17-2008, 02:31 PM

It's a city, crime happens. Chances are that shooting would have happened with or without a Metro station there.

From the second article you posted;

Quote:

Metro points out that there have only been five cases, and that it is important to realize that there are 8,400 riders at that stop at that station every weekday.

Sorry, but I'm not in fear of being "assaulted" consider 8,400 riders x 5 days x 52 weeks and 5 reported crimes doesn't exactly send chills up my spine.

I live in Illinois and take the train downtown frequently. Over 100 times, easily. That means I take 4-5 stop in big scary East St. Louis. And look, here I am, posting on an Internet forum. I have survived all of my past trips so far. I would not, however, recommend parking in East St. Louis.

aragx6 · 03-17-2008, 02:36 PM

If you're concerned the parking garage at the Clayton station sounds like an OK bet, but is it any cheaper than parking at one of the 2 million parking lots near the airport and taking their shuttle?