April 6, 2012 | 10 Comments

#90 Hampton Reroute and Forest Park Shuttle Service This Weekend Due to Forest Park Congestion

Apparently, traffic in Forest Park is a zoo already!  So this weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday only, the #90 Hampton will run its summer reroute schedule through Forest Park. Please see the attached reroute map.

MetroBus shuttle service will serve passengers starting at Forest Park – DeBaliviere MetroLink Station and throughout the park on the #3 Forest Park Trolley route and schedule.  The actual Forest Park Trolley’s designated wrapped buses will roll out on April 16th. Look for the MetroBus with “SHUTTLE” in the overhead sign to use the #3 route.

#90 Hampton (2).Doc Reroute 2012 Summer

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Author:Courtney

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  • RTBones

    So, the wrapped parking lot shuttle BUS is making a return. Sorry to hear that.

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

      Yes, it’s very popular, especially with tourists and families with children. This year however, I believe we wrapped newer low-floor buses for the trolley.

  • mike

    Good afternoon Courtney and RTBones.

    Why do they need to be wrapped? They look more like circus wagons than they do as functional segment of a major transit system. There may be potentally more riders that choose not to use these trolleys, just as with the case of the #99 downtown trolley, because they appear to them as a joke. Also, there are others, besides tourists and families, that Metro has to cater to.

    I feel that Metro could become more appealing to riders across the board, if they took their transit operations more seriously. It’s all involves Metro employing the type of mindset that is pratical and putting into action, if they want obtain the results they’re looking for, that is and I take it, permanently increasing the level of ridership.

  • RTBones

    Very popular? With the greatest respect, I find that very difficult to believe (other than perhaps with children – who don’t have to pay for this beast because their parents do), and would be interested to know by what metric they are considered, “very popular.” Given that home is near Forest Park for me, I see these buses relatively regularly when they are running, and RARELY see anyone on them. In fact, most people I know think they are hideous. While a branded service may be appropriate for Forest Park, I think you lose more riders than you gain by not taking transit seriously and providing service that is less whimsical.

    Also – its a bus, not a trolley. But you knew that already.

  • RTBones

    @Mike – if I remember correctly, Metro was given some money to wrap and run the buses.

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

      Correct, it is a partnership with Forest Park Forever, including the wrapping.

  • mike

    Eso lo dice todo (that says it all). Money talks!

  • RTBones

    Courtney -

    Why is it that this service gets new low-floored buses? Surely there are other routes in the system that are more deserving than this one? I know its a judgement call, but why would you waste wrapping newer buses for this route?

  • mike

    RTBones,

    Interesting question!

    I’m guessing using the low-floors may have been part of an agreement with FPF?Courtney can give you the inside track on their decision.

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

      The new low floor buses (35 ft) are smaller and are a good fit for neighborhood routes with tight turns and/or moderate passenger loads. The Forest Park Trolley has similar needs. Also, the FP Trolley has a script, per the service agreement, which is helped by the AVL system in the buses. Since we are receiving 43 news buses this year, many of the older buses are retiring or being put into contingency fleet.