Deal keeps buses rolling to west St. Louis County
When Chesterfield Mayor John Nations learned that Metro’s bus service cutbacks would cut off workers from hospitals, nursing homes and retail centers in the valley, he considered it a “call to action.”
During the past few weeks, he’s been talking to Metro officials, neighboring communities and local businesses to build support.
Today, Nations and Metro officials announced a tentative agreement to restore some bus service along the Highway 40 corridor to far west St. Louis County. Buses were scheduled to stop rolling west of Interstate 270 as part of Monday’s sweeping service cutbacks.
“Public transportation is a vital element of creating sustainable economic development,” Nations told reporters after today’s Metro board meeting. “It is enough of a priority for my community that the city of Chesterfield will make the commitment to fund the local share in order to keep the bus service out the I-64 corridor all the way to Spirit of St. Louis Airport.”
The new 98 Clayton-Chesterfield bus would be funded with federal grant money and $173,000 pledged by Chesterfield and some local businesses. Details are still being hammered out, but Metro announced today that the new bus line will begin service on Monday.
Funding would be available to operate the route through the end of the year.
“This does not replace the service that is being discontinued,” Ray Friem, Metro’s chief operating officer of transit services, said in a news release. “It’s a scaled down alternative to what had been offered to one of the fastest-growing corridors in our region.”
The new route will begin at the Clayton MetroLink station, go west to the Ballas transfer center, then go to St. Luke’s Hospital, nursing homes along Highway 40, the Chesterfield Mall, Spirit of St. Louis Airport, and Chesterfield Commons. Maps and schedules for the new route can be found at http://www.metrostlouis.org/InsideMetro/NewsRoom/newsDetails.asp?recNum=18
Nations said the group originally was looking at a broader route throughout west St. Louis County, but the partnership couldn’t be developed in time.
Metro President and CEO Bob Baer said others are concerned about the effects of transit cuts on businesses and workers. An emerging coalition of downtown St. Louis employers - including sports teams - have expressed similar concerns, Baer said.
“Public transportation is a vital element of creating sustainable economic development.” -Nations. I think it’s high-time that Mayor Slay own “sustainable economic development.” Sustainable economic development embraces urban core revitalization, including mass transit that uses less oil and fuel, such as electric streetcars. There is absolutely nothing economically sustainable about the urban sprawl occurring in Chesterfield Valley, and Nations is fully aware of that, that is why he is hijacking “sustainable economic development” when he knows full well that Chesterfield Valley would be the perfect case-study of unsustainable economic development.
Mayor Nations’ time is better spent organizing a secession drive from St. Louis County. That will allow both the 636 and 314 to move forward.
The new “Ronald Reagan County” can opt out of Zoo-Museum and JCD in order to keep property taxes as looooooow as possible. Meanwhile, the rump St. Louis County can pass Prop M. And eventually re-merge with the city.
Do what’s right, Mr. Mayor. Start the wheels rolling now. And I don’t mean bus wheels.
sorry it’s not related but didnt know whereelse to post; I’m sort of new; Forest Park Blvd. a parking lot sunday: 30 minutes Kingshighway to Skinker heading wast, and even eastbound cars were turning around in middle of road.
Fixing a traffic light maybe important if couldnt wait until other than middle of sunday, but traffic department should all be furloughed! one lane closed, light on blink, you do math. I called police and they said no one contacted them. I dont know what the answer should have been, but bumper to bumper for 30 minutes not it; not an auto accident; they had notice; not on a sunday afternoon when Forest Park Blvd already overburdened. Traffic Commissioner should be fired! or whatever mensa member made that decision. I could tell you how I really feel if you ask!!!
Metrolink cuts a disgrace, too.
So sad that Mayor nations fell for it and gave Bi-State some of Chesterfield’s muninicipal funds. The fact is that bus #98 is not needed, and best proof of that - and empty bus seen every time during the morning commute. Another lie is a cry about nursing homes along Outer 40 being jeopardized by possible understaffing. They all have their transportation departments, little shuttles that they own. It won’t take them much effort to make a few runs to Ballas Station and help their stranded workers.