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St. Clair County MetroLink Bike Trail System Plan

Metro and our partners at the St. Clair County Transit District are working to extend the bike trail network serving St. Clair County, Illinois, providing additional multi-modal options. Thanks to funding from St. Clair County Transit District and federal funds, a new leg of the bike trail will be constructed to extend the trail that currently goes from SWIC to the Belleville MetroLink Station. The new segment will extend to Swansea, and there is a proposed future extension that would take the bike trail all the way to Memorial Hospital Station. At the same time, the Village of Swansea is adding its own northern extension route that will connect up at the MetroLink station.

This project will not only create a grade-separated bike trail that parallels MetroLink, but will also fix some slope stability and drainage problems to protect the MetroLink alignment from creek scouring and erosion. It will also provide a safe egress for train evacuation if there were ever an emergency on MetroLink. And finally, having the trail in place will make it easier for Metro’s maintenance vehicles to reach the tracks if there is a need for maintenance.

The Notice to Proceed on this project was issued in June 2010, and it will be completed within one year.

.Most of us have been there.  We’re sitting on MetroLink and the fare inspector is making her way down the aisle.  Quick, where did we put our Metro pass?  We ruffle through our backpack, empty our pockets, and apologize profusely until we produce the pass or ticket triumphantly from its deep hiding place.  That moment, common to many Metro riders, was the inspiration for the new art sculpture installed at the St. Charles Rock Road MetroLink Station, Honey, Where’s My Metro Pass?, by local artists Nick Lang and Thad Duhigg.  Lang and Duhigg, both of the Department of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University and Edwardsville, worked with student apprentices from St. Louis ArtWorks to create the concept for the piece. Today, the artists, students and staff from ArtWorks, Metro employees and supporters gathered at the Rock Road Station to dedicate the sculpture, which is fabricated in bronze, steel and aluminum.

From left to right: Arts in Transit Director David Allen, artist Nick Lang, St. Louis ArtWorks apprentice Aaron Hamilton, artist Thad Duhigg, and Metro Board Commissioner Kevin Cahill

ArtWorks student apprentice Aaron Hamilton, who is completing his fourth year as a summer apprentice, joined in the celebration. During a 2007 summer art class led by Lang and teaching artist Allen Kmetz at ArtWorks, the students provided concepts, designs and models that helped inspire the sculpture.  The students began studying MetroLink passengers to look for common objects that could be used to represent their commuting experience.  The apprentices then created artistic models to illustrate them.  Honey, Where’s My Metro Pass? includes a set of keys and keychain, coin change, a stick of lip balm and a crumpled receipt.  As part of the St. Louis ArtWorks program the apprentices earn minimum wage while working five days a week on art projects that will be sold or shown publicly.  This sculpture, a collaboration between local artists, youth, and the arts community, will now be available for all transit riders in St. Louis.

Aaron Hamilton, one of the apprentices in a 2007 St. Louis ArtWorks class that provided concepts, designs and models that helped inspire the sculpture.

The sculpture is part of Metro’s Arts in Transit program that seeks to enhance communities and the transit experience through public art that appears throughout the design and environment of the transit system.  What’s your favorite piece of public art on the Metro system?

Artist Nick Lang's daughter enjoying her father's work.

UPDATE: As of Tuesday morning, Google Transit directions are available at www.google.com/transit or www.metrostlouis.org.

The first phase in Metro’s Restoration 2010 began today with additional or new service being offered on MetroLink and Missouri MetroBus (see a previous post for complete listing of route and schedule changes). Phase 1 focuses on increasing rush-hour MetroLink train frequency by 25 percent and restoring, expanding or restructuring 20 bus routes. Bus route changes include the return of the Forest Park Shuttle and changes in the #99 Downtown Trolley to serve more locations, including City Museum.

The increased rush-hour frequency on MetroLink means trains every 12 minutes on the Red Line and Blue Line and every 6 minutes between the Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Fairview Heights MetroLink Stations.

The second phase of Restoration is scheduled for August 30, 2010.

As of the writing of this post, Google Transit is not working properly after restoration changes took effect.  Please plan your trip using TripFinder (also linked from www.metrostlouis.org).  We will post an update on the blog, main website, Facebook and Twitter when Google Transit information is updated and available.

As we’ve mentioned several times on Nextstop, Metro will be enacting the first phase of Restoration 2010 service changes on June 28.  For thousands of Metro customers their usual trip times and connections will change next Monday.  If you have a smart phone with a transit planning app or regularly use Google Transit, this may be an easy transition, but many of our customers do not have regular access to the internet or do not use it as a trip planning tool.  When more people have access to service change information, it increases the likelihood they can adjust their routines and avoid missed connections.

Getting the word out to customers can be a challenge for public transit agencies.  We have our spaces in buses for schedules and rider alerts in buses, word of mouth from bus operators, and automated alerts at MetroLink stations.  We also have online communication means through the website, blog, Facebook, Twitter and e-newsletter.  Hopefully, local media will also pick up on the story and remind readers of the upcoming changes.  With a diverse group of people using transit, you need multiple methods of communication.

What do you think are some creative and effective ways to reach customers?  How would you let riders know about service changes?  Where would you post information?  Where do you go to find out about schedule changes?  Who are some effective community partners that could help us push information out, not only for the June 28 changes but also the more extensive service changes coming on August 30?

Creative suggestions are highly welcome.  Hopefully we can use your input to let as many people as possible know about the increases in service coming next Monday and the rest of the year.

Metro Restoration 2010 Timetables and Route Maps are now available online. All of these changes will begin on Monday, June 28. Please take some time to look at the various changes and see how your commute could be affected. Both Google Transit and TripFinder will be updated so you can plan your trip online or via Google Maps app for your smart phone.

MetroLink Service Changes

Weekday rush hour service enhanced, with trains every 12 minutes on the Red Line and the Blue Line, and every 6 minutes from Forest Park to Fairview Heights.

MetroBus Service Changes

#3 Forest Park Shuttle – Service began on Saturday May 29, 2010. During operating hours of the #3 Forest Park Shuttle.  The #90 Hampton will not operate in the park.

#4 Natural Bridge – To provide a safe transfer at the Civic Center Station between buses and MetroLink the route will be changed to boarding location southbound on 14th Street @ Spruce. Eastbound trips from east on Market, right on 14th end of route at Civic Center Station. Westbound from Civic Center Station, continue south on 14th, right on Chouteau, right on 18th, left on Market via regular route.

#11 Chippewa – Service improvements Monday through Friday

#17 Oakville Laclede Station – Route changed to serve WAC on Green Park Industrial Dr. and time adjustments.

#32 Wellston ML King – Trip added leaving DePaul Hospital at 11:28PM Weekdays.

#34 Earth City – AM & PM rush hour service restored

#41 Lee – To provide a safe transfer at the Civic Center Station between buses and MetroLink the route will be changed to boarding location southbound on 14th Street & Spruce. Eastbound trips continue south on 14th end of route at Civic Center Station. Westbound from Civic Center Station, continue south on 14th, right on Chouteau, right on 18th, right on Market, left on 14th via regular route.

#48 South Lindbergh – Service provided between Ballas Transit Center and Veterans’ Hospital via South County Mall.

#49 North Lindbergh – Service provided between Ballas Transit Center and North Hanley MetroLink Station

#58 Clayton Ballas – Will operate between Clayton MetroLink Station and Ballas Transit Center. (See #158 Ballas – West County for service to the hospitals and Delmar Gardens Chesterfield and West).

#64 Lucas Hunt – Rush hour service restored.

#70 Grand – Service improvements Monday through Sunday.

#90 Hampton – The #90 Hampton will not enter Forest Park Monday through Sunday between the hours of 9am and 7pm due to traffic. Passengers proceeding into Forest Park will need to transfer to the #3 Forest Park Shuttle at the Forest Park Station. Twenty minute rush hour service provided weekdays and additional service provided between Hampton Loop and Catalan Loop seven days a week.

#95 Kingshighway – Service improvements Monday through Friday.

#97 Delmar – To provide a safe transfer at the Civic Center Station between buses and MetroLink the route will be changed to boarding location southbound on 14th Street @ Spruce. Eastbound trips continue south on 14th end of route at Civic Center Station. Westbound from Civic Center Station, continue south on 14th, right on Chouteau, right on 18th, right on Market, left on 14th via regular route.

#99 Downtown Trolley – To provide better coverage in downtown St. Louis this route will provide service on Market Street and on Washington to the City Museum. Northbound from Civic Center, right on 14th, right on Market, left on 4th Street, left on Washington, right on 16th, end of route at 16th and Delmar. Southbound right on Delmar, right on 14th, left on Washington, right on Broadway, right on Market, left on 14th end of line at Civic Center Station.

#158 Ballas – West County – New route providing service from Ballas Transit Center to St. John’s Hospital, Maryville Center and Maryville University, St. Luke’s Hospital, Delmar Gardens Chesterfield & West, and Cedars at JCA. This route will be timed with the #58 Clayton Ballas and #258 Clayton Chesterfield at the Ballas Transit Center.

#210 Fenton Gravois Bluffs – Service area expanded to provide service via Friendship Village South, Wal-Mart and Allied College on Gravois Bluffs Blvd.

#36X Bissell Hills Express – Line number changed from #240X Bissell Hills Express. Schedule remains the same.

#258 Clayton Chesterfield – Westbound trips extended to exit Spirit Airport Blvd.

We look forward to being out there and bringing better service to St. Louis. Another round of restoration service changes will come on August 30.

Straphangers Wanted.

Seen these guys around lately?  Maybe not.  Actually, they’ve been installed in a MetroLink train for year now.  These cloth or vinyl hanging straps are one of the most ubiquitous symbols of  public transit, dating back to the 1800’s and steam locomotives.  Of course, they serve a utilitarian purpose; they give you something to hold onto when the train is crowded, if you are shorter than the bar, you have a bike to hold onto, or you are just prone to falling over (check!).

The initiative to install hanging straps came from our Light Rail Vehicle Engineer Steve Reyland.  Not surprisingly, when I asked Steve why he pushed for this project, he answered, “I rode the train when it was crowded!”  Metro is currently testing two types of straps: cloth and vinyl.  The vinyl ones are a little more expensive, but are easier to wipe down and keep clean.

The hanging straps are currently only in one train car while operations and maintenance gives them a trial run.  So far, Reyland says, the feedback has been positive.  We’ve seen several instances of people taking photos and posting them on Twitter.

When I went to take a picture of the straps, the gentlemen standing next to me asked what I was doing.  When I explained, he said, “Every train has to have these!”  I agreed with him – I’m a fan of the straps.

What do you think?  How do you like the hanging straps?

Thanks to ARRA, Metro has just started working on improvements to the North Hanley MetroLink Station. Nothing fancy, but these improvements will help the station accommodate higher frequencies of bus service, improve traffic flow, segregate bus traffic from customer vehicles, and provide a smoother ride for customers.

Of course, all time schedules are based on cooperative weather!

What Changes Will Be Made?

• Reconstructing the bus road & loop to a heavier-duty and more durable concrete;
• Constructing a new bus berth to accommodate more bus service to the station (currently 180 buses/day here);
• Removing asphalt and resurfacing the entire customer parking lot (except the newest section that was just added last year and is still in good shape);
• Repairing sidewalks, replacing curbs, storm sewer work, striping and other miscellaneous work.

How Does This Impact Me?

• Due to the bus road construction, riders are currently catching the bus at temporary stops. When the bus road is completed mid-May, the temporary stops go away and you will be back in the bus berths.
• These temporary stops mean that there are fewer parking spaces available in the lot due to the construction. Also, some of the disabled access spots had to be removed, so we’ve added more of them in the parking garage to accommodate our patrons. Those spots will come back (and the temporary ones added in the parking garage will go away) when the bus road construction is complete and the temporary bus stops are gone.
• Beginning mid-May, the parking lot will be resurfaced in four (4) phases. This is being done so that no more than 20% of the parking area is impacted at any one time.
• You will still be able to park at North Hanley during this resurfacing project! Our Project Manager tells me this lot isn’t reaching capacity except on baseball game days, so regular commuters should have no trouble finding a parking spot even during construction.

When Will This Project End?

The contractor has until the end of November to complete this project. We’re phasing it out over a longer period of time to ensure that the parking lot and bus loop remain as useable as possible and the work only minimally impacts our customers.

If you have any comments or questions, let us know!

Starting this week, members of the Metro planning department will be out in the community giving presentations on the proposed changes in transit service for Restoration 2010. The proposed changes are based on route performance and ridership information, but they are open for public comment and suggestion. We want to know what you think about these changes: How will it affect your ride? Does it serve the needs of the community as effectively as possible? Will this enable you or someone you know be able to access jobs, education or medical services? Does it encourage you to explore or access another part of the region?

Please take some time to review the proposed changes, either at one of our public meetings, or here on Nextstop over the next week. Then please leave a comment for our planning department. You can leave your thoughts on Twitter using the #restoration2010 hashtag, or comment on Metro’s Facebook page. You can also email us at restoration2010@metrostlouis.org or leave a message at (314) 982-1400 ext. 3433.

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MetroLink

Rush hour frequency will be improved from 15 minutes to 12 minutes. That means a train every 6 minutes for stations between Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Fairview Heights stations.

Drum roll please….here is the list of proposed transit service changes through the rest of 2010. The changes will come in three phases while we hire and train operator and procure more buses. Also, it allows for time for public comment and outreach.  Metro will be conducting public meetings and asking for feedback through May 10.

Next week, look for a post further examining the transit planning process during Restoration 2010, and how the events of the few years (service reductions, restorations, bus stop assessments, etc.) have allowed our planning department to better understand the transit market needs of the region. The transit service Metro will provide by the end of 2010 will look markedly different from that delivered in March 2009.  But its very important we receive input on the proposed changes and the needs of the community.

Please consider leaving us comments or attend one of the upcoming public meetings to let us know what you think.

(Scroll through the end of the presentation to see the proposed changes for specific routes.)

Metro Transit Restoration 2010 Presented 04 16 10

Starting last Wednesday morning, just hours after St. Louis County voters approved Proposition A, we started receiving calls about service restoration. Not surprisingly, many people who have lost service, sometimes even entire bus routes, are very interested in how Metro intends to keep up our promise to restore service.

So we need your input. Starting on Friday, Metro’s planning department will be unveiling a schedule of proposed service enhancements.  We need your input to help determine the social, environmental and economic impact of the proposed changes. Every proposed change will be documented on the website for our long-range plan, Moving Transit Forward, and on Nextstop so you can continue the discussion.

In the meantime, you can tell us what you’d like to happen. Email comments/suggestions to: restoration2010@metrostlouis.org or leave a message at (314) 982-1400 ext. 3433.

The deadline for comments is close of business, Monday, May 10, 2010.

Metro will also host a series of informational public meetings to introduce proposed changes and solicit feedback. Please consider attending one of the following meetings:

April 27, 2010, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Mehlville High School, Library
3200 Lemay Ferry Road
St Louis, MO 63125
MetroBus Access: 73

April 28, 2010, 3pm – 6pm
Riverview Transit Center
9000 Riverview
St. Louis, MO 63147
MetroBus Access: 16, 27, 36, 40, 41, 61, 90, 240X

May 4, 2010, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, Multi Purpose Room
3400 Pershall Road
St. Louis, MO 63135
MetroBus Access: 36, 74

May 5, 2010, 3pm – 6pm
Ballas Transit Center
790 S. New Ballas Road
St. Louis, MO 63141
MetroBus Access: 49, 58, 98, 58X, 258

May 7, 2010, 12pm – 1:30pm
St. Louis City Hall, Kennedy Room
1200 North Tucker
St. Louis, MO 63102
Metro Access: 4, 10, 11, 13, 30, 32, 40, 40X, 41, 57, 58X, 59, 73,
74, 94, 97, 99, 174X, 240X, 410X, Civic Center MetroLink

Service restoration will begin June 2010.