Bus Stop Evaluation Program: #30 Soulard

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Courtney

The MetroBus stop evaluation program continues with the #30 Soulard MetroBus route.

Please note: This route is not being eliminated, but your feedback on specific stops is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Below is the new list of proposed bus stops under consideration for removal from the following route:

#30 Soulard

These stops are being proposed for elimination as part of Metro’s Bus Stop Evaluation Program to make the system more efficient, faster and allow for more improvements to existing bus stops.

Please submit your comments for the #30 Soulard before Monday, January 9, 2012.

Please submit your comments for the #40 Broadway and the #34 Earth City before Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Please submit your comments for the #98 Chesterfield Hanley and the #174X Halls Ferry Express before Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Please submit your comments for the #35 Rock Road and the #58X Twin Oaks Express by Monday, December 26, 2011.

NS – Nearside of the street-before you cross the street
FS – Farside of the street-after you cross the street
MB – Midblock after the street midway down

Posted in Moving Transit Forward | Tagged , , | 37 Comments

RIDER ALERT: Single Track MetroLink Operations Scheduled Sunday Evening

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Courtney

MetroLink will operate on a single track Sunday, December 18, 2011, beginning at 8 p.m. to accommodate construction at the East Riverfront MetroLink Station. Blue Line customers should add an extra 10 minutes to their commutes Sunday night.

SERVICE DETAILS
Starting at 8 p.m. until the end of service – December 18, Red Line trains will operate on a single track at the East Riverfront MetroLink Station. Customers will see signs at the platform entrances to let them know which platform is in use.

Blue Line trains will operate only from the Shrewsbury MetroLink Station to the Civic Center MetroLink Station. In Missouri, eastbound Blue Line passengers will need to transfer to a Red Line train at the Civic Center MetroLink Station to continue eastbound. Westbound Blue Line passengers in Illinois will need to catch a Red Line train to travel between the Fairview Heights and Civic Center MetroLink Stations and get on a Blue Line train at the Civic Center MetroLink Station. Blue Line passengers should allow an extra 10 minutes for their commutes Sunday night. Red Line customers should not experience any construction-related delays.

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Rhythm & Rails Concert Series with FB Brass Band and Folk School of St. Louis: Station Schedule

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Courtney

Last year, Metro was fortunate enough to host the first-ever 88.1 KDHX Presents Rhythm & Rails On-Board Concert Series with local musical groups Rough Shop and Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three. The sounds of guitars, banjos, upright basses and holiday songs filled one MetroLink car as the musicians and their riding audience crossed over the Mississippi River, through the tunnels under downtown St. Louis, and over the elevated tracks in the waning winter light. From what we could see, it was an amazing time had by all (especially families!) for only the cost of a MetroLink ticket or pass.

Photo from last year's Rhythm & Rails Concert Series with Pokey La Farge and the South City Three

This year, we are very happy to welcome the FB Brass Band and the Folk School Syncopators to bring holiday cheers and the sounds of the St. Louis music scene to the Holiday Magic Train. FB Brass Band is a staple of St. Louis blues and funk, named the Best Jam/Funk Band in St. Louis 2011 by The Riverfront Times, and well-known for a hand-clapping, foot stomping good time wherever they play.

FB Brass Band (Photo: Bob Bennett)

Founded in 2001, the Folk School of St. Louis is dedicated to renewing and expanding traditional music and the folk arts in St. Louis. Instructors and students from the Folk School are among the most celebrated musicians in St. Louis, and play instruments that reflect the rich history of traditional music. For their Sunday Rhythm & Rails performance, a select group of instructors and students called the Syncopators will perform a selection of traditional holiday music.

To see either show, use this schedule to catch the Holiday Magic Train featuring Rhythm & Rails performances:

Check out the FB Brass Band in downtown St. Louis this summer, covering Michael Jackson’s “I Want You Back”:

Here the Folk School of St. Louis’ Student Showcase at the Atomic Cowboy in 2011:

 

 

Posted in Transit in the Community | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

New Steel Structures Come into View near MetroLink Station at Grand and Scott

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Courtney

If you’ve looked out the window from your MetroLink train as you pass the closed Grand Station, you may have noticed the landscape is changing and some new structures are coming into view. Recently, Metro contractors used a crane to lift and position the steel elevator towers on their pads. The construction activity is one of the first visible signs of the new Scott Avenue Transit Center to be built near the Grand MetroLink Station. It is also a symbol of the progress contractors for the City of St. Louis are making on the new Grand Boulevard Bridge. The bridge’s construction schedule is dependent on the winter  and weather in general, but is scheduled to partially reopen in 2012.

Check out photos of the Grand MetroLink Station elevator towers below:

Click here to view the slideshow in another window.

 

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MetroLink Single Track Thursday and Friday to Accommodate Grand Bridge Construction

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Courtney

The contractor for the construction of the Grand Boulevard Bridge needs to perform work over the MetroLink alignment near the Grand Station later this week. In order to perform this work, MetroLink will single track at the Grand MetroLink Station this Thursday and Friday night beginning at 8 p.m. until the end of service. Here’s what riders can expect:

Blue Line trains will only operate from Forest Park Station to Shrewsbury Station.

Westbound Blue Line passengers traveling between the Fairview Heights Station and the Central West End Station should board a Red Line train to Forest Park Station to catch a Blue Line train.

Eastbound Blue Line passengers traveling between Central West End Station and the Fairview Heights Station should board a Red Line train at Forest Park Station to continue eastbound.

Beginning at 7:21 p.m., westbound Red Line departure times from Shiloh-Scott have been delayed 5 minutes from the posted schedule times.  So, if a train was normally scheduled to depart Shiloh-Scott at 7:21 p.m., it will now depart Shiloh-Scott at 7:26 p.m.

Blue Line passengers traveling east of the Forest Park MetroLink Station should plan for 15 to 20 minute delays during the single track operations. Delays of 5-10 minutes expected on the Red Line.

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Bus Stop Evaluation Program: #40 Broadway and #34 Earth City

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Courtney

The MetroBus stop evaluation program continues with the #40 Broadway and the #34 Earth City MetroBus routes.

Please note: These routes are not being eliminated, but your feedback on specific stops is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Below is the new list of proposed bus stops under consideration for removal from the following routes:

#40 Broadway

#34 Earth City

These stops are being proposed for elimination as part of Metro’s Bus Stop Evaluation Program to make the system more efficient, faster and allow for more improvements to existing bus stops.

Please submit your comments for the #40 Broadway and the #34 Earth City before Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Please submit your comments for the #98 Chesterfield Hanley and the #174X Halls Ferry Express before Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Please submit your comments for the #35 Rock Road and the #58X Twin Oaks Express by Monday, December 26, 2011.

NS – Nearside of the street-before you cross the street
FS – Farside of the street-after you cross the street
MB – Midblock after the street midway down

#40 Broadway Bus Stop Evaluation Program

#34 Earth City Bus Stop Evaluation Program

Posted in Moving Transit Forward | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Rhythm and Rails: MetroLink On-Board Holiday Concerts

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Patti

Ten Toes group from Citizens for Modern Transit on the Holiday Magic TrainThe Holiday Magic Train will be filled with the sounds of the season later this month as part of the Rhythm & Rails on-board holiday concert series presented again this year by 88.1 KDHX.

On Saturday, December 17, the FB Brass Band will perform on the Holiday Magic Train on the Red Line from 1:21 p.m. to 3:22 p.m.

On Sunday, December 18, the Folk School of St. Louis Syncopators will perform on the Holiday Magic Train on the Blue Line from 2:31 p.m. to 4:32 p.m.

Both concerts start on the Holiday Magic Train westbound at the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station. Performers will play for two hours on the train before it returns to the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station. Check next week for a schedule for each station!

Photo from last year's Rhythm & Rails Concert Series with Pokey La Farge and the South City Three

The Red Line goes to Lambert International Airport before heading back to Fairview Heights and the Blue Line travels to Shrewsbury before returning to Fairview Heights. Metro customers can board at any MetroLink Station along the way with a validated ticket and enjoy the concert.

Back by popular demand, the Holiday Magic Train is a joint venture between the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) and Metro Transit. This is the second year the train has been put into service to bring holiday cheer to thousands of area commuters. The colorfully decorated Holiday Magic Train is a winter wonderland of blue and silver ornaments and white snowflake ornaments with garland. Customers tell us that being on the Holiday Magic Train adds some merriment, joy and holiday spirit to their commutes.

The Holiday Magic Train is in service through December 31. Customers will find it on the Red Line on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and the Blue Line on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Holiday Magic Train operates from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and it will be on the Blue Line on December 10 and December 24 and on the Red Line on December 17 and December 31. On Sunday, December 18, it will be on the Blue Line and on the Red Line on December 25, operating from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Monday December 26, MetroLink will operate on a holiday schedule, and the Holiday Train will operate from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Get ready for a rockin’ and folkin’ good time on the Holiday Magic Train!

Click here to see the slideshow.

See slideshow from Holiday Magic Train event at Shrewsbury MetroLink Station on December 2 with Metro President & CEO John Nations, CVC President Kitty Ratcliffe, and Holiday Magic mascot, Snowflake.

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Bus Stop Evaluation Program: #98 Chesterfield Hanley and #174X Halls Ferry Express

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Patti

The MetroBus stop evaluation program continues with the #98 Chesterfield Hanley and the #174X Halls Ferry Express.

Please note: These routes are not being eliminated, but your feedback on specific stops is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Below is the new list of proposed bus stops under consideration for removal from the following routes:

 #98 Chesterfield Hanley

 #174X Halls Ferry Express

 These stops are being proposed for elimination as part of Metro’s Bus Stop Evaluation Program to make the system more efficient, faster and allow for more improvements to existing bus stops.

Please submit your comments for the #98 Chesterfield Hanley and the #174X Halls Ferry Express before Monday, January 2, 2012.

Please submit your comments for the #35 Rock Road and the #58X Twin Oaks Express by Monday, December 26, 2011.

Please submit your comments for the #57X Clayton Road and #97 Delmar by Monday, December 5, 2011.

NS – Nearside of the street-before you cross the street
FS – Farside of the street-after you cross the street
MB – Midblock after the street midway down

Route #98 South  McKelvey Rd at Redcoat Drive   Position: FS

Route #98 South  Marine Rd at Glenmeade Drive Position:  FS

Route #98 North  McKelvey Rd at Parkway Acres Ct Position: FS

Route 174X North  Riverview Blvd at Harney Ave  Position: FS

Route 174X North  Riverview Blvd at Eaton Lane  Position:NS

Route 174X North  Halls Ferry Rd at 9730 Halls Ferry Position: MB

Route 174X North  Halls Ferry Rd at Kappel Drive  Position: NS

Route 174X South  Halls Ferry Rd at 11671 Halls Ferry Rd Position: NS

Route 174X South  Riverview Blvd at Eaton Lane Position: NS

Route 174X South  Riverview Blvd at N Pointe Blvd  Position: NS

Route 174X South  Bircher Blvd at I-70 Overpass  Position: FS

Route 174X South   Bircher Blvd at Union Blvd      Position: FS   

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Quarterly Service Changes Start Today

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Courtney

Here’s what you need to know regarding this quarter’s service changes effective today, November 28, 2011, and subsequently January 2012. NOTE:  Information with maps and schedules is on Metro’s website.  Customers should use TripFinder (on the website) because it will take a few days for Google Maps to update information.  Customers can also check with customer service during business hours 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mon-Friday.

Effective November 28, 2011

#1 Gold – From the start of service to 7:00 p.m. on Weekdays, service will operate every 20 minutes instead of every 15 minutes, and all trips will operate from the Central West End Transit Center to the Clayton Transit Center.

#8 Bates Morganford – This route will no longer serve Russell Ave to the Civic Center Station. The route will include service between Central West End and Botanical Garden now operated on the #14 Botanical Garden. Service during the daytime will operate every 40 minutes.

#13 Union – Service will operate every 40 minutes instead of every 30 minutes. Preview: Schedules.

#14 Botanical Garden – This route will be discontinued in the present form. Service between Central West End and Botanical Garden will be operated on the #8 Bates Morganford, and service between Tower Grove and the Hill area will be operated on the #80 Park Shaw.

#16 City Limits – The Jamieson Bridge will re-open in late November 2011. The #16 will resume regular route. The routing will be changed to serve the Senior Apartments on Hodiamont and Etzel. Southbound trips will access the Delmar Station westbound on Des Peres.

#30 Soulard – The first northbound trip adjusted to time connect with the #70 Grand northbound at Grand & Arsenal.

#33 Dorsett Lackland – Trip time adjustments to provide better connections with the Metrolink. Preview: Schedules.

#47 North Hanley – The last northbound trip on Weekdays and Saturdays will leave 8 minutes later to connect with the Westbound MetroLink scheduled to arrive at North Hanley Station at 12:10am.

#59 Dogtown – Service will operate every 40 minutes between Central West End and Webster Groves during the day, and every 60 minutes at night. Service between Central West End and Forest Park Community college will operate every 20 minutes during weekday hours.

#64 Lucas Hunt – Trip time adjustments to provide better connections with the Metrolink.

#70 Grand – The first northbound trip adjusted to time connect with the #11 Chippewa at Grand & Chippewa and the #30 Soulard at Grand & Arsenal.

#80 Park Shaw – Route extended to provide service between Tower Grove and the Hill Area now served by the #14 Botanical Garden.

#180 Russell – This route will be operated as a van shuttle serving the McKinley Heights neighborhood along Russell Boulevard between Grand Boulevard and Gravois Avenue to the Civic Center MetroLink Station. Service will operate Monday – Friday every 40 minutes from 5:00am – 8:00am and from 3:00pm – 6:00pm. This change will be implemented on November 28, 2011. This service will be replaced by the #8 Bates Morganford in early January.

 

 

January 2012

#80 Park Shaw – This route will continue to provide service to the Civic Center Station and will be extended to also provide service to the Central West End MetroLink Station via Tower Grove Avenue. Service will operate every 40 minutes during rush hour and hourly during non-rush hour. This change will be implemented in early January 2012.

#8 Bates Morganford – This route will return to its pre-November 2011 configuration, and will return to serving Russell Boulevard to the Civic Center MetroLink Station. Service will operate every 40 minutes during rush hour and hourly during non-rush hour. This change will be implemented in early January 2012.

Posted in System Changes | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Bus Stop Evaluation Program: #35 Rock Road and #58X Twin Oaks Express

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Courtney

The bus stop evaluation program continues with the #35 Rock Road and the #58X Twin Oaks Express.

Please note: these routes are not being eliminated, but your feedback on specific stops is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Below is the new list of proposed MetroBus stops under consideration for removal from the following routes:

#35 Rock Road

#58X Twin Oaks Express

These stops are being proposed for elimination as part of Metro’s Bus Stop Evaluation Program to make the system more efficient, faster and allow for more improvements to existing bus stops.

Please submit your comments for the #35 Rock Road and the #58X Twin Oaks Express by Monday, December 26, 2011.

Please submit your comments for the #57X Clayton Road and #97 Delmar by Monday, December 5, 2011.

Please submit your comments for the #58 Clayton-Ballas by Monday, November 28, 2011.

NS – Nearside of the street-before you cross the street
FS – Farside of the street-after you cross the street
MB – Midblock after the street midway down

Posted in Moving Transit Forward | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments