Citizens For Modern Transit’s Tom Shrout Has Retired
Earlier in the week Tom Shrout retired after 22 years as the head of the transit advocacy organization Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT). I always knew Tom had done a lot to get MetroLink light rail going but I learned in greater detail from the CMT board members (past & present) who spoke. Tom is a true transit user and advocate.
The follow are comments CMT’s Grace Corbin made at the annual meeting on 9/17/2010:
“For the last 22 years, Executive Director Tom Shrout has served at the helm of CMT – helping to make great strides in public transit for the region. When Tom took over the organization in 1988, the public transit system in St. Louis was very different. St. Louis had no light rail, no car sharing, low transit ridership, no real Amtrak station, and not much belief in the need for a good transit system for the region. Through his quiet steadfast leadership at the helm, the membership of CMT has helped to build the political and public will to change the landscape of public transit.
During his tenure, the region has seen the opening of not one but three light rail lines – spanning more than 40 miles, between 2 states and a river. There have been significant increases in bus and train ridership gaining national recognition. A car sharing program, WeCAR by Enterprise was inaugurated. With the passage of Prop. A., now there is the commitment on the part of the region to ensure a good public transit system to build livable communities with light rail. All the while, Tom led by example, taking MetroLink to work everyday, going to a one-car family, zipping around in WeCar. . . Tom believed that if we built transit, people would ride it and they did in droves.
Tom had the foresight for CMT to bank more than 8 miles of right-of-way for future expansion. This proved critical for the Cross county line. It was through his foresight and guidance, the CMT Board took a major financial risk this year to subsidize the educational campaign – “Some of us Ride it, All of us Need it” even though many said the campaign was naïve. The campaign was a huge success with people quoting it on the streets, in speeches, Facebook and everywhere we turned. Prop. A passed with 63 percent of the votes – all with Tom leading the public education charge.
Time and time again, Tom has proven that public transit, and in particular light rail is the way to build livable, sustainable communities – truly living and leading the mission of CMT.”
Fortunately Tom, and his wife Debbie, will continue living in the Central West End and Tom will sit on the CMT board. CMT has established the Tom Shrout Endowment Fund for educational purposes to move transit forward in the region. The goal is to raise $22,000.
Thank you Tom Shrout, you’ve made a lasting contribution to our region, each time I swipe my monthly pass on the bus or board a light rail train I will think of you!
– Steve Patterson
Without effective advocates like Tom, iniatives like supporting and expanding transit, that don't have broad public support, languish in the dreaming and talking stages. Hopefully, his successor will be equally as effective, and other good ideas to improve our city and region will find their advocates, as well.
People like Tom are unique. They're able to be both a consistent voice for the vision and work effectively behind the scenes building the consensus needed to make it reality. They're able to put together a viable financing plan, drawing on both diverse resources and managing expectations. We can all learn from Tom's legacy, that good ideas are worth working and fighting for, that concrete results speak for themselves!
Congratulations on a job well done, Tom. You are truly an asset to our city. See you around the neighborhood!
Mr. Shrout, you are one of those now-rare individuals who gives public service and good citizenship a good name. Congratulations and may you and your lovely wife enjoy your well-deserved retirement.