Comments for NextStop STL http://www.nextstopstl.org A Conversation About Transit Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:06:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Mobile Farmers Market Coming to Four Metro Locations by Courtney http://www.nextstopstl.org/5330/mobile-farmers-market-coming-to-four-metro-locations/comment-page-1/#comment-6223 Courtney Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:06:32 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5330#comment-6223 Thanks Anjana! The timing of the mobile markets were decided around several factors, 1) the availability of the truck and staff, 2) density of ridership at these times, and 3) how to balance between the four transit centers. Ridership for several of these stations actually peaks between 3-5, when many students and workers with 7am-3pm or 8am-4pm shifts get off work, but we still had to balance availability of the truck and variability of times as well. In the stations more adjacent to surrounding neighborhoods, Farm to Family Naturally intends to work with local associations and businesses to improve market advertising and use. Thanks Anjana! The timing of the mobile markets were decided around several factors, 1) the availability of the truck and staff, 2) density of ridership at these times, and 3) how to balance between the four transit centers. Ridership for several of these stations actually peaks between 3-5, when many students and workers with 7am-3pm or 8am-4pm shifts get off work, but we still had to balance availability of the truck and variability of times as well. In the stations more adjacent to surrounding neighborhoods, Farm to Family Naturally intends to work with local associations and businesses to improve market advertising and use.

]]> Comment on Mobile Farmers Market Coming to Four Metro Locations by Anjana http://www.nextstopstl.org/5330/mobile-farmers-market-coming-to-four-metro-locations/comment-page-1/#comment-6222 Anjana Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:36:48 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5330#comment-6222 Very excited about this program, although the timings are not ideal for people with regular day jobs - starts at 9am after the work day begins, ends at noon or at 4pm, except for the two Tuesdays when it ends at 5:30pm. Those leaving work at 5pm will barely get there in time, assuming the Mobile market hasn't closed up and gone home. Regardless, I have sent it to my neighbors and transit-oriented friends at SLU, UMSL, Wash U and BJC. Very excited about this program, although the timings are not ideal for people with regular day jobs – starts at 9am after the work day begins, ends at noon or at 4pm, except for the two Tuesdays when it ends at 5:30pm. Those leaving work at 5pm will barely get there in time, assuming the Mobile market hasn’t closed up and gone home.

Regardless, I have sent it to my neighbors and transit-oriented friends at SLU, UMSL, Wash U and BJC.

]]> Comment on Mobile Farmers Market Coming to Four Metro Locations by Robert http://www.nextstopstl.org/5330/mobile-farmers-market-coming-to-four-metro-locations/comment-page-1/#comment-6184 Robert Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:07:47 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5330#comment-6184 i love this idea thanks to everyone who made this possible i love this idea thanks to everyone who made this possible

]]> Comment on U.S. House of Representatives Considers Elimination of Dedicated Federal Funding for Public Transit: What It Means for St. Louis and What You Can Do by Robert http://www.nextstopstl.org/5309/u-s-house-of-representatives-considers-elimination-of-dedicated-federal-funding-for-public-transit-what-it-means-for-st-louis-and-what-you-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-6183 Robert Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:03:52 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5309#comment-6183 thanks for the update/response Courtney thanks for the update/response Courtney

]]> Comment on Mobile Farmers Market Coming to Four Metro Locations by Courtney http://www.nextstopstl.org/5330/mobile-farmers-market-coming-to-four-metro-locations/comment-page-1/#comment-6175 Courtney Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:41:33 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5330#comment-6175 Agreed, Mike, it is a wonderful opportunity to make use of our property and help benefit the surrounding community in addition to providing a service for Metro customers. We are very excited about this partnership! Agreed, Mike, it is a wonderful opportunity to make use of our property and help benefit the surrounding community in addition to providing a service for Metro customers. We are very excited about this partnership!

]]> Comment on Mobile Farmers Market Coming to Four Metro Locations by mike http://www.nextstopstl.org/5330/mobile-farmers-market-coming-to-four-metro-locations/comment-page-1/#comment-6173 mike Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:20:01 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5330#comment-6173 I posted a previous comment suggesting something along that line, of establishing a connection between Metro's major transportation facilities and the community by opening more vendor-type establishments. Not only will the community benefit under this program, but commuters who pass thru these transit centers, who do not live in the community, would benefit from the convenience by having the option of stopping off and picking up some items from these vendors during their commute. Also, it's makes Metro look good in providing this type of PR gesture. I posted a previous comment suggesting something along that line, of establishing a connection between Metro’s major transportation facilities and the community by opening more vendor-type establishments. Not only will the community benefit under this program, but commuters who pass thru these transit centers, who do not live in the community, would benefit from the convenience by having the option of stopping off and picking up some items from these vendors during their commute. Also, it’s makes Metro look good in providing this type of PR gesture.

]]> Comment on U.S. House of Representatives Considers Elimination of Dedicated Federal Funding for Public Transit: What It Means for St. Louis and What You Can Do by mike http://www.nextstopstl.org/5309/u-s-house-of-representatives-considers-elimination-of-dedicated-federal-funding-for-public-transit-what-it-means-for-st-louis-and-what-you-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-6172 mike Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:00:09 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5309#comment-6172 Courtney, I just received/read your last post after my last comment was being processed and sent. I agree with your concept of what's necessary for Metro to grow and operate at a level to provide an efficient and viable means of public transit for our region. I very seldom use Metro but I see a lot of people who struggle to use, it especially the most vulnerable ones. I'm just one of many who are frustrated with the system where promises are being made and not lived up to, giving people who rely on these promises a since of false hope; I apologize for my frustrations. Courtney,

I just received/read your last post after my last comment was being processed and sent. I agree with your concept of what’s necessary for Metro to grow and operate at a level to provide an efficient and viable means of public transit for our region. I very seldom use Metro but I see a lot of people who struggle to use, it especially the most vulnerable ones. I’m just one of many who are frustrated with the system where promises are being made and not lived up to, giving people who rely on these promises a since of false hope; I apologize for my frustrations.

]]> Comment on Take the MetroBus Shuttle for Mardi Gras 2012 in Soulard by Courtney http://www.nextstopstl.org/5302/take-the-metrobus-shuttle-for-mardi-gras-2012-in-soulard/comment-page-1/#comment-6171 Courtney Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:45:55 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5302#comment-6171 There are several service alerts due to construction, event reroutes, etc. You can find all of the planned service interruptions here: http://metrostlouis.org/PlanYourTrip/RiderAlerts.aspx There are several service alerts due to construction, event reroutes, etc. You can find all of the planned service interruptions here: http://metrostlouis.org/PlanYourTrip/RiderAlerts.aspx

]]> Comment on U.S. House of Representatives Considers Elimination of Dedicated Federal Funding for Public Transit: What It Means for St. Louis and What You Can Do by mike http://www.nextstopstl.org/5309/u-s-house-of-representatives-considers-elimination-of-dedicated-federal-funding-for-public-transit-what-it-means-for-st-louis-and-what-you-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-6170 mike Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:38:37 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5309#comment-6170 Service has NOT been fully restored across the board to areas which had previously been served by Metrobus service. The most obvious location is the core area of downtown (east of Tucker Blvd). Instead of a one-step journey for those who used to travel solely by bus into that area, it's now become a two-step journey where passengers have to inconveniently get off their buses at the Civic Center Station and transfer to other modes of transportation, to complete their journey into the downtown core area, which has added extra time to their travel. There are a few other areas that didn't get their service restored, even after the voters passed the tax measure. I'm sorry but I can't buy your claim of bus service being restored across the board. Questions: 1). Are the 30 new buses being used to expand its current fleet to enhance bus service, or are they being used to replace part of an aging fleet? 2). Will MetroLink service headways ever be restored back to the level that existed prior to the service cuts, if the Fed's proposed changes in transit funding doesn't kick in? Service has NOT been fully restored across the board to areas which had previously been served by Metrobus service. The most obvious location is the core area of downtown (east of Tucker Blvd). Instead of a one-step journey for those who used to travel solely by bus into that area, it’s now become a two-step journey where passengers have to inconveniently get off their buses at the Civic Center Station and transfer to other modes of transportation, to complete their journey into the downtown core area, which has added extra time to their travel. There are a few other areas that didn’t get their service restored, even after the voters passed the tax measure. I’m sorry but I can’t buy your claim of bus service being restored across the board.

Questions:

1). Are the 30 new buses being used to expand its current fleet to enhance bus service, or are they being used to replace part of an aging fleet?

2). Will MetroLink service headways ever be restored back to the level that existed prior to the service cuts, if the Fed’s proposed changes in transit funding doesn’t kick in?

]]> Comment on U.S. House of Representatives Considers Elimination of Dedicated Federal Funding for Public Transit: What It Means for St. Louis and What You Can Do by Courtney http://www.nextstopstl.org/5309/u-s-house-of-representatives-considers-elimination-of-dedicated-federal-funding-for-public-transit-what-it-means-for-st-louis-and-what-you-can-do/comment-page-1/#comment-6169 Courtney Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:01:31 +0000 http://www.nextstopstl.org/?p=5309#comment-6169 Mike, you and I have had many, many conversations on this blog regarding our viewpoints, and I realize that I speak from a more optimistic vantage point than you often do, but I think that we should seek common ground, not consensus. It is a very, very important point for everyone to understand: Metro cannot grow by itself. Public transit expansion would reflect the regional priorities of everyone, from transportation funding and planning at a local level, to state investment, to federal infrastructural priorities. The long-range plan is a guideline, not a promise. It was a guideline for what is possible, but like major investment in this region, the region, as a whole, must make the final say and they determine the resource allocated to every form of transportation, including transit. But thank you for your thoughts and concerns, and certainly your passionate interest in transit in St. Louis. Interested parties like yourself keep the conversation on transit in our region moving and dynamic as we all work to create a St. Louis for the present and future. Mike, you and I have had many, many conversations on this blog regarding our viewpoints, and I realize that I speak from a more optimistic vantage point than you often do, but I think that we should seek common ground, not consensus. It is a very, very important point for everyone to understand: Metro cannot grow by itself. Public transit expansion would reflect the regional priorities of everyone, from transportation funding and planning at a local level, to state investment, to federal infrastructural priorities. The long-range plan is a guideline, not a promise. It was a guideline for what is possible, but like major investment in this region, the region, as a whole, must make the final say and they determine the resource allocated to every form of transportation, including transit.

But thank you for your thoughts and concerns, and certainly your passionate interest in transit in St. Louis. Interested parties like yourself keep the conversation on transit in our region moving and dynamic as we all work to create a St. Louis for the present and future.

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