Comments on: Why We Invest in Public Art in Transit

By: A Grand New MetroLink Station: Scott Avenue Transit Plaza Project | NextStop STL

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:00:10 +0000

[...] Metro is working with an artist, Barbara Grygutis, who has helped make the design of the plaza more “organic” and welcoming, with touches like enhancing the fence to a decorative iron fence and using different colored paving stones, including some clear blue stones that will be lit from below with LED lights. Ms. Grygutis will also create a lit art piece in her unique style that will help enhance the area. Check out her website for some images of her previous work. Ms. Grygutis’s work on the project is funded from the 1% public art and enhancement funds as required by federal guidelines. [...]

By: RTBones

RTBones — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:48:55 +0000

Why not install a small elevator, and a flight of steps?

By: Courtney

Courtney — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:08:45 +0000

The main problem is the retaining wall. We have to keep that intact to basically help the station keep its shape, not crumble down. Since the retaining wall already existed, they didn’t want to rebuilt it or create an expensive bridge. But, hopefully we can work together to do something to improve the streetscape. I have often walked that way to get to Trader Joes from the Brentwood Station, and also feel that sidewalks would be a vast improvement in safety and walking comfort.

By: David Shane

David Shane — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:04:23 +0000

Thanks for the reply (to my tweet) Courtney. Obviously this isn’t what I wanted to hear, but it’s useful information nonetheless. I actually did send an email to Dierbergs a while back, but I have never contacted Brentwood.

I don’t have the station precisely memorized in my head, but I wonder if it would be possible to put a (non-ADA!) set of stairs in place that would take you right to the storefront sidewalks. They might be a little steep, but not too steep, since (as I tweeted) some people already scale that ground and jump the fence instead of going walking. (Adding sidewalks to the road would be a great improvement, but as the poster above points out you would still have to walk way south, just to turn around and walk way north, to reach your destination.) But that would cost money if nothing else, I know. ‘Tis an imperfect world.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:26:21 +0000

For questions about the Brentwood station, which also came in on Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/STLMetro – asking about the ADA-accessible exit closer to Dierbergs. That particular station already had a retaining wall ready to go, thanks to the parking lot for the plaza. But to make an ADA-accessible exit, you should have no more than a 2% slope. So to keep the retaining wall intact, a long exit ramp was built. The question was also about the street behind Dierbergs where the ramp exits into, which according to the Twitter follower, has no sidewalks. The City of Brentwood is the owner of this street, and therefore its streetscape amenities. However, our engineering department said it would be willing to partner with the City of Brentwood to apply for grants or other funding to get sidewalks installed. Please contact the City of Brentwood to tell them you would like to see sidewalks for that street, and let us know what you hear!

By: Daron

Daron — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:48:09 +0000

Can I get any traction on arbitrary station themes?
http://stlelsewhere.blogspot.com/2009/12/arts-in-transit-fukuokas-nonsense.html

I’ll second the concrete ashcans moniker, but I’m hopeful about the future.

By: Henry

Henry — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:31:53 +0000

I had wondered about the “Mime” sculpture when it appeared at the Richmond Heights station. It is an interesting piece and makes a nice landmark for the station, especially in the little roundabout in the street. I never knew before if the city of Richmond Heights or Metro had paid for it, but if Metro was required by the FTA to spend money on art, that actually makes me feel better about its installation. The artsintransit.org site even helped explain to me the “art” displays at Big Bend and Skinker stations. I had never realized the display in Skinker was art, and I wondered about the permament “Christmas light” display at Big Bend. My favorite is the “Maplewood” display on the overpass over Manchester. I had always assumed the city of Maplewood was responsible for that, but I was wrong!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:00:10 +0000

nA — Grand Station is getting a makeover with the reconstruction of Grand Blvd. above. There may be a new artist’s sketch available soon of the plans for Grand that will really improve that station and the connecting bus shelter. There will also be significant improvements on Grand bridge that will help out the MetroBus #70 passengers! The demolition and reconstruction begins later this year. It will take awhile for the city to get all the work done as it is a complex bridge. From the early reports I have heard — it will be a much better structure that is more appealing to all of Metro customers when finished.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:53:18 +0000

Generally, yes. There are some sidewalks that we do work to not because we own them, but because they need it. But we can’t take on every project. There must be a partnership with the streets department of the owning municipality or county entity.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:15:33 +0000

courtney,

aren’t curbs and sidewalks the responsibility of the city? and newspaper boxes the responsibility of whomever owns them?

anyway, arts in transit is fantastic and i’m a big fan of hive in particular.