County Res.: From what I have read, Metro has no control over where MetroLink expansions go, BUT Westport????? How does going to Westport get more cars off the road and people on mass transit? A line that would cover West County, ie. Ballwin, Ellisville, Chesterfield, Town & Country, AND Maryland Heights would make more sense the just covering Maryland Heights. What is the problem that everyone has with running near Highway-40?

If you want to go to Westport, extend the Airport out to Earth City. It won't get you to Westport, but it makes more sense the going down Page Ave.

The displays on the buses I spoke of before. How do they help, ie. what are they used for?

Todd Plesko: Westport and Maryland Heights have a large number of jobs that are not presently served with a high a high speed service. The 94 Page and 33 Dorsett Lackland both care many reverse flow bus patrons. At Westport we are very close to St. Charles for park riders and we can much more quickly serve bus patrons with shuttles to Earth City and Riverport rather than North Hanley. We believe that the Westport line offers strong commuter demand and strong all day reverse flow demand. With the connection to the Shrewsbury (and if it is ultimately extended to South County, you have provided a fairly quick transit alternative to I-270 and I-170. If you look at the residential development around the possible stations of this alignment, we believe it will be very successful.

The displays (if you are speaking of MDT's) have the drivers schedule, allows digital communication of detours. It constrols the automatic announcements.

Lawrence M.: Given the current price and volatility of diesel fuel, has consideration been given to moving the bus fleet to compressed natural gas or LPG? As automobile drivers seek to find alternatives to driving to lessen the effects of imported oil pricing they look to mass transit. If Metro's bus system is also dependent on this same fuel, then either the system will come under increased financial pressure due to increased diesel prices, or the benefits to the riders will be offset by increased costs for the fuel since they will have to be passed on to the ridership in the form of fare increases. While the price of natural gas has risen as well, the rise has not been as sharp, the availability of it is better, there is ample US supply, and it is not as sensitive to the whims of international relations or consumption as crude oil-based products. If a change to LNG/LPG is being considered, would the migration occur naturally as the fleet is turned over or is a retrofit plan possible? Thank you.

Todd Plesko: Lawrence: We currently have 49 CNG buses. One garage operates with 20 % bio diesel and Illinois operates with a less percentage of Bio-diesel. We are researching all of the technology. There is an interesting new bus that gets 7 miles per gallon. Its a plug in hybrid that gets about double the mileage of traditional bus hybrids. These decisions are 15 year decisions and the market is going to change quickly in the near future. We will be evaluating all options.

County Res.: Thank you for your responses. While waiting I did some searching on the web and learned the your state, Missouri, does little to no funding of Public Transportation. Why is that? Wouldn't it be better to put funding at the state level rather then the local level like other states do? My guess is that it would take a lot of the local politics out, making it easier for agencies like Metro to do a better job.

How will things change in Illinois if the tax does not pass? Where do we get our funding from, Illionis, St. Louis City, and St. Louis County? If so, how does Metro keep all three happy, local politics and all?

Todd Plesko: County Res: Metro operates under a contract in Illinois with St. Clair County Transit District. This district receives funding from its own 3/4 cent sales tax and major funding from the State of Illinois. Illinois has historically provided substantial funding to transit. In Fy09, Illinois will probably provide about $21 million to SCCTD. In the same year, Metro will receive about $1.2 million from Missouri. Expanding funding in Missouri is a major objective of all the Missouri transit systems. However, in the past, when initiatives have been proposed, they have not been successful. Perhaps with the impact of higher fuel costs, this may change.

If the Missouri referendum fails, Illinois bus service will not be affected. But Illinois Train service will be negatively affected because the trains operate as a system. You can't cut service in Missouri without similarly reducing service in Illinois.

Ashley L.: Hi Todd. I'm a bike commuter too, and I love MetroLink. On a day like today, I like to get off at the Central West End Station and ride my bike around the park before I get home. Anyway, if we pass the tax and MetroLink gets to expand, how will the new routes get chosen? Who decides where they are going to go? Thanks!

Todd Plesko: Ashley: Metrolink Corridors are identified through the planning efforts of East West Gateway. Once an alignment is idenified and funding is provided, Metro will construct the line and operate. Metro has input into the East West Gateway planning process. The E/W Gateways board is comprised of the key elected officials of the bi-State region as well as representation from the State and various federal agencies.

JMedwick: As a follow up to the Missouri state funding questions:

Given the move to build a light rail line in KC and the growth of Springfield into a more urbanized area, have the representatives of the state's three largest metro areas (or at least the heads of the three transit systems) discussed methods for working together to increase the likelihood of state funding for transit?

Todd Plesko: Yes. We are working together. However, we will be more powerful if other counties like St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson can be brought into the fold of counties who provide some public transit. We are working on that as well, but the time frame will not be quick.