December 28, 2011 | 27 Comments

January 9, 2012 Service Update Coming to #8 Bates Morganford, #80 Park Shaw and #180 Russell Shuttle

In response to customer feedback, Metro is modifying the quarterly service changes implemented on November 28. Customers can expect a return to pre-November changes for the #8 and #80, with expanded service.

The primary issue Metro is responding to regards a loss of service along Russell Boulevard between Grand Boulevard and Gravois Avenue and the re-direction of the #8 Bates Morganford to the Central West End station.

The following changes will provide continuous service in the McKinley Heights neighborhood along Russell Boulevard, including direct access to the Civic Center MetroLink Station. Effective on January 9, 2012:

#80 Park Shaw will provide a new direct connection from the Shaw Neighborhood to the Central West End MetroLink Station, while preserving access along that route to the Civic Center MetroLink Station. Service will operate every 40 minutes during rush hour and hourly during non-rush hour. Preview: Schedules, Map and Turning Directions.

#8 Bates Morganford will return to its routing prior to November 28, 2011, providing direct access from the Morganford corridor to Downtown St. Louis via the Civic Center MetroLink Station. Service will operate every 40 minutes during rush hour and hourly during non-rush hour. Preview: Schedules, Map and Turning Directions.

Service to The Hill neighborhood will operate as an hourly shuttle serving Shaw Boulevard, Macklind Avenue and Southwest/Vandeventer.

Metro will continue to monitor service performance and customer feedback, and will respond by providing the most effective service plan within our financial resources.

 

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Author:Courtney

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  • Cheryl

    The map and turning directions links for the #80 are not working.

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      Thanks for letting me know. It is fixed now.

  • Robin Gray

    I still think it’s a crock of you-know-what that the weekday schedule has four times where the bus has a 10 minute wait time then a 40 minute wait time directly following at the Central West End station, and it doesn’t happen this way on the weekend schedule. This affects two rush hours times, one in the morning and one in the evening. No one in your organization can give a straight answer as to the reason for this time delay. I’ve written John Nations to see if he will give me an answer as to the oddity in this schedule that affects weekday travelers only trying to go home (and/or get to work). A still very disgruntled customer………

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      My only answer Robin is that while it may not be a good connection with your particular train, there would be several trains coming from either direction into the Central West End that would connect well with the bus during that 40-minute lag time. From what the planning department was able to tell me, it’s just a very unfortunate timing issue for your particular connection. I’m very sorry to hear this!

  • Robin Gray

    But why doesn’t it happen with the weekend schedule, only with the weekday one. Weekends run consistently the same all day.

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      I’m guessing it is because extra service goes to St. Louis Community College at Forest Park during the week, as there are a lot of customers riding to that destination, but the ridership density drops off after that area.

  • Robin Gray

    Yes, I’m sure there are a lot of students travelling to class at 5:18 am. Perhaps the other times you could use this reasoning, but seriously…….

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      I don’t know about that particular time profile, but staff and personnel travel along the route as well as students. I know Jessica has written to you about the issue, and I’m very, sincerely sorry that the time connection does not work for your particular connection during this time.

  • Mark

    Thank you! I take the #8 to get to the Metrolink, to grocery shop on Morganford, and to visit friends on South Broadway, and South Grand. Restoring this route makes a HUGE difference.

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      Glad to hear it Mark!

  • Wendy M

    I’m so glad that the #8 Morganford-Bates bus is returning back to it’s original route. Now I can get back and forth to work in half the time that I’m now commuting in. Because now Metro wants to eliminate the two bus stops @ the corner of Arsenal & Bent on the #30 Soulard route (the bus stops where I board and alight off when going and coming from work). Those are two stops that DOES NOT need to be removed because 1. there’s a community center on Juniata and Bent that serves the elderly who may not use the community center’s transportation and have to walk down the street where the stops are and 2. if it’s because of not enough people using those stops or due to timing, they need to remove some of the other stops where NO ONE boards/alights off the bus. Them two stops needs to remain where they are because to have to go from Morganford to Oak Hill walking down Arsenal, that a long way. The streets between Arsenal & Grand to Arsenal & Morganford are very long. More people uses those two stops than the stops @ Arsenal & Roger, Arsenal & Gustine, Arsenal & Spring, Arsenal & Portis, Arsenal & Lackland and some other stops along Arsenal. All I know is, those two bus stops @ Arsenal & Bent needs to remain right where they are.

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      Thanks for your comments Wendy, regarding the stops at Arsenal and Bent. I will let our planning department know and will get back to you.

  • PHILLIP CRAIG

    I HAVE A QUESTION WHY DOES ROUTES 8&80 RUNS EVERY 40 MINUTES INSTEAD OF 30 MINUTES BECAUSE IT SEEMS ALMOST EVERY ROUTES ARE 40 MINUTES OF 30 MINUTES JUST CURIOUS

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      Philip, that was the amount of service that was decided would be available given our current resources and anticipated need for service and coverage across the whole system.

  • Julie

    What about 33? You guys still haven’t fixed the problem with the 7:20 bus and the 6:26 bus. The bus going to Rock Road station should be arriving at 7:25 rather than getting to Woodson and Lackland at 7:20. It is impossible to catch the 7:41 train where it stands right now.

    And the 6:26 bus at Woodson and Lackland should not be coming that early. There shouldn’t be an hour difference between the 6:26 bus and the 7:20 bus.

    Please fix this scheduling error.

  • Wendy M

    Thank you!

  • Aaron

    Hooray! #80 bus connection to Central West End was much needed and long overdue since the old 59 was axed in August 2010. Faster access to MetroLink from the center of the Shaw neighborhood is a good thing.

  • Barbara

    What’s the point in posting comments; you’re going to give excuses anyway and not correct the problems along these bus routes. The #42 southbound to cwe station is horrible. (morning especially) Unable to arrive in a timely manner to connect with metro trains (east or west)

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      Do you have a particular time connection that is giving you problems Barbara? Are there particular problems along the route that you have noticed as potential reasons for problems? We certainly do want to hear what you have to say.

  • Mary C. Murphy

    First of all, thanks on getting the #8 bus to go Downtown again. But, I am curious on the change in the schedule times. It is not going back to the schedule times before November 28th, 2011? The times on the new schedule will really throw a monkeywrench on when I can get to work, and coming home afterwards. Will the schedules be changed later, possibly? Thanks.

    Mary Murphy

  • Jenn

    I am so happy this was restored!!! I watch a bunch of preschoolers on Russell and we ise the #8 for everything. I use the 8 to get groceries, to get downtown, Soulard Market, Tower Grove Park, and many other places.

    We were devastated when it was cut.

    Thanks, Metro!

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      Jenn, we are really happy to hear that, and I’m so glad that it worked out. It’s a real testament to what can happen when both sides of the coin talk to one another and work together.

  • Howie

    What about the #36 running on schedule? It is either running extremely early or extremely late (i.e. 10-20 minutes) at the Airport & Dade stop going Westbound. This makes it hard to keep appointments and such.

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      Howie, let me talk to our operations department. What times do you find it running off schedule? Weekdays or weekends?

  • STEVE

    You didn’t answer the question of why the #8 route was restored on Russell, but the original schedule was not restored!

    • http://www.nextstopstl.org/ Courtney

      The schedule was designed to work with time connections and with the available financial resources. Both the #80 and #8 changes schedules, as well as several other routes on Nov. 28.

  • Tawanda

    Thank you, thank you for restoring the #8 route. I use it EVERYDAY to get back and forth to work and I was devastated when it was discontinued. Now Metro can see how important this route is to a lot of people.