Citizens for Modern Transit Begins Push for Transit Tax
If you haven't seen it, watch the video below. This type of commonsense, proactive message was utterly absent the last time St. Louis County voters were asked to approved a transit tax to maintain and expand our Metro rail and bus service. I've been told that that "campaign" are purposefully low-key. It's wonderful to see those who support increased transit options in the St. Louis area speaking up and putting together a quality message.
Gentrification: "... welcome by some and feared and loathed by others, and even dreaded and welcomed at the same time by the same people." Lance Freeman's pursuit of this duality makes the book strong-he's willing to admit that gentrification is both a pleasure and a problem, rather than setting up camp on one side.
great to see this! i kind-of wish it were longer though - feels a bit brief. perhaps there'll be a sequel?
Love Al Hrabosky's thought provoking comment at the end. Seriously though, I think lowkey efforts like this work well with a lot of people. I still think passage is going to be tough though. Unless the economy really improved by the election, they are going to have a hard time with passing any new taxes.
Mike Shannon says "it brings twenty percent of the fans to our games." With trains filled to capacity in both directions, and departures every ten minutes (rush hour schedule is every fifteen), it would take more than four hours to deliver that many people to the stadium - and another four hours to get them home. Try a little critical thinking, folks!
Nick - I'd like to see your math.
I have:
2009 average attendance = 41,000
20% of 41,000 = 8,200
MetroLink 2-car train capacity = 356 x 2 (for one train in each direction) = 712 (and there are likely quite a few more than that, but this is official stated capacity)
8,200 passengers / 712 passengers per train = 11.5 trains needed
2 trains every 15min = 86.25 minutes to transport 8,200 passengers.
Again, I'm sure that there are more people on those trains than the stated capacity. Even so, I calculate 1hr 26min. And this would be 57.5 minutes with the old 10min schedule. With fans leaving the stadium across a time period of 30 minutes or more, depending on the score/weather/etc. it's seems easy enough to transport that many passengers. Plus, quite a few go downtown early to eat, or stay downtown afterward, further spreading out demand.
You tell me, what am I missing?
MetroLink in truth is MetroStink. As a user of mass transit in other cities for over 20 years, LouLocals are clueless on what makes for successful alternatives. The Lou Metro is all about supporting greater use of private motorized vehicles as it continues to utilize precious revenues to build parking lots, many which provide FREE spaces. In addition, Metro has burdened its balance sheet by building an Extension to nowhere and thus the reliability of bus routes is always in questioned... the trust is broken.
Of course the suburban drunks should support Metro & BPV, little difference as both are built on fantasies. Support true independence, disarm Metro & MoDoT otherwise everyone will want and need MOre subsidies.