Comments on: The Highest Bidder http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/ A Conversation About Transit Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:21:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Todd H http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Todd H Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:42:19 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-48 This is true, Jennifer...and in addition to scheduling enhancements that need to be made here and there, the actual physical location of a sign along the route sometimes has to change as well. For example, a business owner may request altering the stop location to accommodate changes to the streetscape or another stop may need to be adjusted to ensure that Metro is meeting ADA accessibility requirements. This is true, Jennifer…and in addition to scheduling enhancements that need to be made here and there, the actual physical location of a sign along the route sometimes has to change as well. For example, a business owner may request altering the stop location to accommodate changes to the streetscape or another stop may need to be adjusted to ensure that Metro is meeting ADA accessibility requirements.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Jennifer Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:02:22 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-47 Interesting thought. I've talked to a couple of people in our Planning Department this morning and it seems to come down to two things: Cost, and responsiveness. Apparently we tweak our schedules and routes to fit the ever- changing needs of our customers; so it would cost a lot to constantly replace signs once they were in place. And the initial cost for covering the 10,000 signs already in our system would be very high as well, not to mention the cost of maintaining them. There is also the feeling that technology will soon render this need obsolete; and in the meantime, the Planning people are working on putting ID numbers on each sign so that people can get stop-specific information online. This is an interesting enough topic that I plan to follow up with a whole additional post sometime this week. Interesting thought. I’ve talked to a couple of people in our Planning Department this morning and it seems to come down to two things: Cost, and responsiveness. Apparently we tweak our schedules and routes to fit the ever- changing needs of our customers; so it would cost a lot to constantly replace signs once they were in place. And the initial cost for covering the 10,000 signs already in our system would be very high as well, not to mention the cost of maintaining them. There is also the feeling that technology will soon render this need obsolete; and in the meantime, the Planning people are working on putting ID numbers on each sign so that people can get stop-specific information online. This is an interesting enough topic that I plan to follow up with a whole additional post sometime this week.

]]> By: 63101 http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-43 63101 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:32:07 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-43 I have thought for quite some time that there should be public/private partnerships, and I think the first might be in sponsoring bus stop signs with higher information content. Bus stop signs in this city are truly atrocious. They provide no more information than simply a route number, and some don't even include that. All a bus stop sign here tells you is that at some point today a bus will pass by that sign, and maybe not even that if that line does not have weekend service. It would be great if a business along that route could "sponsor" bus stop signs with more information. Chicago's CTA bus stop signs show a small map of the route, and show how often the bus runs. I would envision something like that, as well as the sponsoring firm's name/logo and address. I have thought for quite some time that there should be public/private partnerships, and I think the first might be in sponsoring bus stop signs with higher information content.

Bus stop signs in this city are truly atrocious. They provide no more information than simply a route number, and some don’t even include that. All a bus stop sign here tells you is that at some point today a bus will pass by that sign, and maybe not even that if that line does not have weekend service.

It would be great if a business along that route could “sponsor” bus stop signs with more information. Chicago’s CTA bus stop signs show a small map of the route, and show how often the bus runs. I would envision something like that, as well as the sponsoring firm’s name/logo and address.

]]> By: Steve http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Steve Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:16:02 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-34 Yes. Do it. Why wouldn't you seek to bring in more revenue? It's not as if the people of St. Louis have said they will pay for mass transit. I would also support retail at stations. I have noticed that the billboards at Metro stations are often empty. If you can't sell those I don't know how you're going to sell an entire station, but as I said, why not try? Yes. Do it. Why wouldn’t you seek to bring in more revenue? It’s not as if the people of St. Louis have said they will pay for mass transit. I would also support retail at stations. I have noticed that the billboards at Metro stations are often empty. If you can’t sell those I don’t know how you’re going to sell an entire station, but as I said, why not try?

]]> By: Jarrett at HumanTransit.org http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Jarrett at HumanTransit.org Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:17:06 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-33 Sorry, that last link should be: http://www.humantransit.org/2009/06/next-stop-citibank-station.html Sorry, that last link should be:

http://www.humantransit.org/2009/06/next-stop-citibank-station.html

]]> By: Jarrett at HumanTransit.org http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Jarrett at HumanTransit.org Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:15:58 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-32 I expanded on my comment at this post on my blog: http://www.humantransit.org/2009/06/next-stop-citibank-station.html#more Cheers, Jarrett I expanded on my comment at this post on my blog:

http://www.humantransit.org/2009/06/next-stop-citibank-station.html#more

Cheers, Jarrett

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Jennifer Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:03:44 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-31 I agree, Jimmy, the names would have to signify landmarks or some geographical location that everyone recognizes. I don't think the "Greg's Tacos" station would work, but people would probably recognize that the "Anheuser Busch" bus route (the "InBev Express"?) took them to the brewery. But as Jarrett points out, corporations change names and St. Louis landmarks evolve, and we want transit to be forever. I agree, Jimmy, the names would have to signify landmarks or some geographical location that everyone recognizes. I don’t think the “Greg’s Tacos” station would work, but people would probably recognize that the “Anheuser Busch” bus route (the “InBev Express”?) took them to the brewery. But as Jarrett points out, corporations change names and St. Louis landmarks evolve, and we want transit to be forever.

]]> By: Jarrett at HumanTransit.org http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Jarrett at HumanTransit.org Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:55:05 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-30 The purpose of station names is to tell people where they are and help them navigate the system. Their secondary function is to create a sense of identity between a station and the community around it. Both functions are disrupted if stations are named for any other purpose. The additional problem with corporate naming is that corporations are constantly failing or merging, causing continuous changes in the name. This is just not acceptable when we're trying to present a transit system as stable and reliable. The purpose of station names is to tell people where they are and help them navigate the system. Their secondary function is to create a sense of identity between a station and the community around it. Both functions are disrupted if stations are named for any other purpose.

The additional problem with corporate naming is that corporations are constantly failing or merging, causing continuous changes in the name. This is just not acceptable when we’re trying to present a transit system as stable and reliable.

]]> By: Jimmy Z http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Jimmy Z Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:14:59 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-29 If you can find someone or some entity willing to pay, go for it. The only two reasons not to are a) not enough cash, and b) if the name doesn't explain where you are. Out in Denver, the Nine Mile and Cold Spring Park-N-Rides continually confused people, since they were named using local historical references that few contemporary people know or understand. Here, if Barnes or the Galleria want to pay to claim the name of their respective stations, most riders would grasp it. But to rename the Shrewsbury station for, say, Shop-n-Save, no way! If you can find someone or some entity willing to pay, go for it. The only two reasons not to are a) not enough cash, and b) if the name doesn’t explain where you are. Out in Denver, the Nine Mile and Cold Spring Park-N-Rides continually confused people, since they were named using local historical references that few contemporary people know or understand. Here, if Barnes or the Galleria want to pay to claim the name of their respective stations, most riders would grasp it. But to rename the Shrewsbury station for, say, Shop-n-Save, no way!

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.nextstopstl.org/403/the-highest-bidder/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Jennifer Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:53:59 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=403#comment-26 Good points, Jimmy, about the economy and the commercial reasons for wanting sports stadia vs. public transit stations. Just want to point out that Metro isn't (by law) involved in any sort of campaign for tax money, just fyi. Still, I do think it's in the interest of the agency to consider alternative sources of funding - that's why transit systems make deals with ad agencies for the erection of bus shelters, for instance: Ad agencies pay for the bus shelter construction in exchange for placing ads on the structure. That serves Metro's customers without any output of money by Metro. Good business sense. I'm interested in the question from a more philosophical standpoint, however: Should we support the commercialization of what is essentially a public property? Whether it's practical or not is a separate question. Good points, Jimmy, about the economy and the commercial reasons for wanting sports stadia vs. public transit stations. Just want to point out that Metro isn’t (by law) involved in any sort of campaign for tax money, just fyi. Still, I do think it’s in the interest of the agency to consider alternative sources of funding – that’s why transit systems make deals with ad agencies for the erection of bus shelters, for instance: Ad agencies pay for the bus shelter construction in exchange for placing ads on the structure. That serves Metro’s customers without any output of money by Metro. Good business sense.

I’m interested in the question from a more philosophical standpoint, however: Should we support the commercialization of what is essentially a public property? Whether it’s practical or not is a separate question.

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