St. Louis Rapid Transit Connector Study: First Round of Open House Meetings Scheduled March 28, April 2, and April 5

The following is a press release:

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Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) announced the first round of public open houses focusing on a new St. Louis Rapid Transit Connector Study scheduled for March 28, April 2 and April 5. The study is another step toward fulfilling Metro’s long-term goal of offering efficient, competitive and attractive transit services to more residents and more places in the St. Louis region.

The study, led by the Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) and the Transportation Corridor Improvement Group, will identify two transit investment projects to move forward in pursuit of federal funding. It is anticipated at least one project will be implemented as a result of this effort.

The St. Louis Rapid Transit Connector Study is a direct result of Moving Transit Forward, the long-range transit plan that highlighted the potential of using the region’s existing network of highways and major streets to provide higher-speed, limited-stop transit services. The general transportation corridors identified by the public as significant opportunities for high-performance transit are Interstates 70, 44, 64, and 55, major streets near those highways, and Grand Boulevard in St. Louis.

“By improving the connections between people and jobs, education, and other opportunities, we can maximize the potential not only of our transportation network, but of our residents and businesses as well,” said Jessica Mefford-Miller, Metro Chief of Planning and System Development.

The study takes a data-driven approach to identify and evaluate potential projects. Final recommendations will be shaped by several objectives, including improved access to transportation that supports economic growth; expansion of access to opportunities; enhanced employer access to a broader and more diverse labor pool; reduction of traffic congestion and air pollution; and financial feasibility.

The partners leading the St. Louis Rapid Transit Connector Study will answer questions and encourage discussion at the three upcoming public meetings. The meetings will be conducted in open-house style, with the attendees invited to participate in interactive activities designed to gather community input on project goals and transit performance criteria. Residents will also learn about the range of possible options for expanding cost-effective rapid transit service in St. Louis.

The same information will be presented at each of the public open houses.

· Thursday, March 28 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. A formal presentation will be made at 5:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. Located at the JC Penney Conference Center at the UMSL Campus. The meeting will be in the 1st Floor Lobby of the building located at 1 University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63121.

· Tuesday, April 2 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. A formal presentation will be made at 5:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. Located at the World Trade Center on the 10th Floor. The building is located at 121 S. Meramec Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105.

· Friday, April 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A formal presentation will be made at noon. Located at St. Louis City Hall on the 2nd Floor Hall and in the Kennedy Room. City Hall is located at 1200 Market Street St. Louis, MO 63103.

More information and futures updates on the St. Louis Rapid Connector Study can be found at www.movingtransitforward.org/stlrapidtransit.

About the Transportation Corridor Improvement Group

The St. Louis Rapid Transit Connector Study is being conducted by the Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) in partnership with the Transportation Corridor Improvement Group, a partnership between East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGCOG), St. Louis County, the City of St. Louis, and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

Staying Informed And Engaged In 2013

Continuing the theme from Saturday (Political Engagement & Social Media) I want to talk more about engagement. Many people are working hard to make a difference in St. Louis, each doing their best. Some are involved in more than one effort.

Some seemed upset that last week’s City Affair panel discussion on political engagement wasn’t mentioned in the places they check, so they didn’t know about the event in advance. To help out here is how you can contact some local mainstream media:

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• KMOX
• Fox2
• KMOV (4)
• KSDK (5)
• KPLR (11)
• KDNL (30)

This may come as a complete shock, but the people who work hard to put together events like City Affair, Pecha-Kucha STL, etc. don’t actually get to dictate what ends up on mainstream media. Media outlets have consultants, market research and assignment editors that decide what to tell you about.

Here at UrbanReviewSTL.com I’m the only one responsible for what is, and isn’t, presented here. I generally don’t blog about an event before it happens, I like to attend, take a pic or two, then maybe post something about it afterwards. That’s what I did on Saturday.  That said, I do share additional information via the UrbanReviewSTL Facebook page and Twitter account. When event organizers send me ads for upcoming events I run those for free. For example: Wall Ball 2013, an fundraiser for Saint Louis City Open Studio  and Gallery.

ABOVE: Top search results for City Affair Political Engagement with the Facebook event at the top of the list followed by nextSTL calendar , the City Affair Tumblr blog and a repost of my saturday post. Click image to view the nextSTL.com calendar.

Not on Facebook or Twitter? Sorry, I can’t call or mail you a postcard to tell you about everything going on in the city you might find of interest. Those who spend hours putting together interesting events also don’t have the time to call you. Another way to stay informed is to stop into places where much activity originates, such as St. Louis Curio Shoppe and STL-Style, both on Cherokee St. RSS is the best way to stay current with many blogs/websites, see What is RSS? to help you get started.

The biggest problem with many of these events is you’d think by those attending the city was 98% white middle class. Last week I told a couple of other gay friends how well represented gay men were at the event, females comprised at least half the crowd, that’s good. But racial minorities were very few, not remotely close to our demographics, not good at all.

Not sure why these events are overwhelmingly white.  According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project blacks use Twitter at twice the rate of whites, hispanics have a slight lead over whites too:

Several demographic groups stand out as having high rates of Twitter usage relative to their peers:

• African-Americans — Black internet users continue to use Twitter at high rates. More than one quarter of online African-Americans (28%) use Twitter, with 13% doing so on a typical day.
• Young adults — One quarter (26%) of internet users ages 18-29 use Twitter, nearly double the rate for those ages 30-49. Among the youngest internet users (those ages 18-24), fully 31% are Twitter users.
• Urban and suburban residents — Residents of urban and suburban areas are significantly more likely to use Twitter than their rural counterparts.

I suppose the fact the last tweet from the City Affair Twitter account (@CityAffair) was on October 7, 2011. Looks like they need to review this wikiHow on How to Link Tumblr to Twitter. But even once tweeting again I realize the composition of those in attendance isn’t going to change without more effort.

But it’s 2013, don’t check your postal mailbox for a newsletter.

– Steve Patterson

PrideFest 2013 Move Downtown Controversial

Peoples often dislike when an event that’s been held in a location for a long time moves to a different location, a recent example is the Annie Malone May Day Parade:

The parade moved downtown in 2006 in hopes of increasing community-wide participation, but has struggled to maintain the level of support it once enjoyed when the parade was held in north St. Louis. (KMOX)

I never saw the parade in north St. Louis but I have seen it a few times downtown, so more of the St. Louis community has participated.

A marching band heads east on Market Street during the 2010 Annie Malone parade on May 16, 2010.

Now we have a very similar controversy about the 2013 PrideFest parade, the annual LGBT event:

Pride St. Louis, Inc. is making some exciting changes in its 34th year. This year, the festival will be held in the heart of downtown St. Louis, at Soldiers Memorial. That means tourists and visitors will be able to enjoy the festival as well as taking in the amenities and iconic scenery of the Gateway City. (Vital Voice)

But not everyone in the LGBT community supports the change of venue from South Grand and Tower Grove Park. A Facebook page called Keep Pride in Tower Grove was started  and a rally will be held today at 5pm and then at 7pm try to convince the Pride board to reconsider the change (event).

ABOVE: From the 2011 PrideFest parade on south Grand

When I moved to St. Louis in 1990 as a 23 year-old gay man the CWE was the center of the LGBT community. In 1998 the community was in uproar when the parade was moved from its longtime home of Euclid/Forest Park to South Grand/Tower Grove Park. The event has an interesting history.

History does repeat itself.

– Steve Patterson

Rethinking Our Streets: The Value of Flexible Street Design with John Norquist

Tonight should be an interesting event:

CNU President/CEO John Norquist

The event will be held on Thursday, November 29, 2012 starting with a 6 PM reception followed by a 6:30 PM lecture and discussion. Event will be held at Steinberg Hall Auditorium at Washington University at Forsyth Blvd and N Skinker Blvd, St. Louis, MO. The nearest Metrolink Station is Skinker.

 Space is limited. Please click here to RSVP.

Streets can be our greatest asset for building and connecting community. On Thursday, November 29, 2012, John Norquist will discuss how flexible street design can build economic value and enhance quality of life. Norquist will talk about the value of designing streets for people and the implications in the case of I-70 and the proposed South County Connector. He will also discuss CNU and ITE’s Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares manual and how to apply sustainable transportation policies in St. Louis. (CNU)

Other mentions of the event said it wasn’t necessary to RSVP. This CNU event is locally supported by City to River and Trailnet.

I first heard John Norquist speak in 2006, he’d only recently completed four terms as the mayor of Milwaukee (1988-2004) at that point. I was fortunate enough to sit next to him on a bus trip to New Town that day. I heard him again later that year at the 2006 Rail-Volution conference in Chicago, there he argued with architect Jan Gehl about pedestrian malls in North America.

– Steve Patterson

Balloon Glow Tonight, Race Tomorrow

Tonight (9/14) hundreds (thousands?) will converge on Central Field in Forest Park for the annual Balloon Glow, a tradition the night before the Great Forest Park Balloon Race.

ABOVE: The 2011 Balloon Glow

The Balloon Glow starts at 7pm and ends around 8:30pm:

The Balloon Glow offers spectators a breathtaking view of inflated balloons lighted by their burners. Get up close and walk around the balloons. Refreshments and Food are available. The event will conclude with the PNC Bank fireworks finale display beginning at approximately 9pm.

ABOVE: Up close last year.

If you plan to attend I suggest you think about your route into the park because driving up to the event isn’t an option (a disabled drop-off location exists).  Last year I took the #10 MetroBus to the Central West End MetroBus Transit Center and crossed over kingshighway into the park. Many bus routes also end up at this transit center (adjacent to the CWE MetroLink station).

ABOVE: Families making their way to Central Field along the paths last year. Click image for event map.

The “hare” balloon launches at 4:30pm on Saturday.

- Steve Patterson

Happy Labor Day!

Going to watch the Labor Day parade today? The last day of bike racing in the Gateway Cup? Gotta work?

ABOVE: Labor Day Parade in downtown St. Louis 2009

Whatever you do today, have a great Labor Day!

– Steve Patterson

Gateway Cup Bicycle Racing Weekend Starts Tonight

Tonight is the start of the 21st annual Gateway Cup bicycle races, four different events today through Monday.

Friday night is always the Tour de Lafayette, a great evening event.

ABOVE: Male riders before their race at the Tour de Lafayette, 2006

ABOVE: Females riders before their race, Tour de Lafayette 2006

Locations for  the other days have varied, but all are daytime events.

• Saturday is the Tour de Francis Park in St. Louis Hills.
• Sunday is the Giro della Montagna on The Hill.  Afterwards is the Giro Pasta Dinner “Sunday, September 2nd 4:00-8:00pm: St Louis Bocce Club 2210 Marconi @ Bischoff on race course. Menu includes all the Pasta you can eat, plus 2 meatballs, salad, Italian Bread, and dessert. $7 adults/$4 children. Tickets available at the door.”
• Monday is Benton Park Classic in…Benton Park, the neighborhood, not the actual park.

Please consider biking or taking public transit if you plan to watch these events, parking is limited. Some bus routes will be rerouted due to the races to plan accordingly. The races happen rain or shine.

– Steve Patterson

A Great Saturday

Saturday a week ago was a great day from morning until evening. In the morning I collected food for the hungry and in the evening watched a bike ride from a local business.

ABOVE: Quite a bit of food collected in just two hours! This food went to the pantry at The Bridge.

I met many kind and generous strangers that morning. It’s so nice to see people willing to help others in need.

Later I met a friend at The Map Room on the corner of Lemp & Withnell (map). They’d moved the tables and chairs from the patio to the sidewalk so we could watch the World Naked Bike Ride St. Louis roll by.

ABOVE: Spectators outside The Map Room waiting for the World Naked Bike Ride St. Louis to roll by.

ABOVE: Yes, that’s a scantily clad woman on a high bike

ABOVE: Most riders had just enough clothing to cover their privates

ABOVE: Organizers estimated the ride had 1,000 participants.

From the press release after the event:

The ride took place Saturday, July 28, taking a 10 mile loop through St. Louis’ busiest business districts, including South Grand, Cherokee, Soulard, Downtown, and Washington Avenue, Locust Business District, and Grand Center before ending in the Grove. Several businesses along the route took it upon their own to stage watching parties to support the riders. The ride drew crowds of all ages throughout the route cheering and supporting the ride. “Everywhere we went, we were greeted with smiles, laughter, cheers, high-fives, and at times stripping from onlookers who wanted to join in,” Stephanie Co says. “It’s an incredibly fun event, whether you’re riding or watching.”

The clothing-optional bike ride is known for its dress code of “as bare as you dare”; riders came out in a spectrum of dress and undress. The ride functions to protest oil and car dependency, raise awareness of cyclist rights and vulnerability on the road, and advocate positive body image, as well as provide some creative spark and energy into the city.

I put a couple of short clips together to demonstrate the enthusiasm of us spectators:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE6_nT3noPU

If you want to know about the 2013 ride visit the website, like the WNBRSTL Facebook page or send an email to wnbrstl@gmail.com

– Steve Patterson

World Naked Bike Ride Tonight

Tonight is the 5th World Naked Bike Ride in St. Louis:

This year’s event starts at 6 p.m. at the South Grand Boulevard parking lot and includes body-painting, live music and “costume” contests. The ride, typically 10 miles, starts at 8 p.m. (stltoday.com)

The St. Louis Facebook page is here.

Source: World Naked Bike Ride in St. Louis

What’s this all about?

World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is an international clothing-optional bike ride in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse on human-powered transport (the vast majority on bicycles, but some on skateboards and inline skates), to “deliver a vision of a cleaner, safer, body-positive world.”

The dress code motto is “bare as you dare”. Full and partial nudity is encouraged, but not mandatory, on all rides. There is no mandate to cover intimate parts; this is a distinguishing feature of WNBR against other cycling events.

Creative expression is also encouraged to generate a fun and immersive atmosphere during the ride, capture the attention and imagination of the public and media, and make the experience more personalized and fulfilling for the riders. Body art, such as body painting, are common forms of creative expression, as well as costumes, art bikes, portable sound reinforcement systems (such as public address systems, bullhorns and boomboxes) and musical instruments or other types of noisemaker. (Wikipedia)

Of course local laws require participants “cover intimate parts.”

– Steve Patterson

Weekend Events: Saturday Jubilee, Vegetapolooza, & City-Wide Open Studio

Many events taking place this weekend in and around St. Louis, here are  few I want to share with you:

Saturday July 28th – Saturday Jubilee:

More of our neighbors are experiencing something many never thought possible – hunger.

More than 120,000 individuals in our area rely on food pantries, nearly half are children. Many are seeking help for the first time.

Our local food pantries are struggling to keep up with the increased demand. Saturday Jubilee mobilizes local churches, businesses, civic groups and individuals to participate in a large scale food drive to end hunger.

On Saturday, July 30th more than 1000 volunteers organized into 88 teams will position themselves outside area grocery stores encouraging shoppers to donate non-perishable items. The donated food will be delivered to the Operation Food Search warehouses for distribution to our local food pantries.

Like last year, I’ll be at Culinaria (315 N. 9th Street) for the 9am-11am shift collecting food items to help those in need. Stop by to say hello and to drop a few items into the donation cart.

Saturday July 28th —  Vegetapolooza

On Saturday, July 28 from 9 am to Noon, the North City Farmers’ Market will host Vegetapalooza, a celebration of local produce and healthy habits in the community. Activities will include a salsa-making contest, a strangest vegetable contest, a pie walk, sustainability demos by Gateway Greening, face-painting, and local produce, meats, cheeses, and artisan vendors.

For more info click here.

Saturday & Sunday July 28th-29th — City-Wide Open Studio:

Join us for all of the events at CAM and map out your City-Wide Open Studios itinerary, or take a guided tour. Studios located south of I-44 will be open on Saturday, July 28  (includes Cherokee Street, Tower Grove, The Hill, Soulard, Southampton, Bevo Mill, Southwest Garden, Carondelet, Compton Heights, Benton Park, Fox Park, and McKinley Heights). Studios located north of I-44 will be open on Sunday, July 29  (includes Grand Center, Central West End, Downtown, Old North St. Louis, Lafayette Square, Midtown, Fountain Park, Dogtown, University City, Wydown/Skinker, and Maplewood). (see camstl.org/cwos for more info)

Meet local artists, visit their studios. This is a great annual event where you get to see creative spaces and meet those who work in them.

Have a great weekend!

– Steve Patterson