One Year Anniversary of the Downtown Trolley
Tomorrow marks one year since the debut of the #99 Downtown Trolley, replacing the former #99 Downtown Circulator. I’ve ridden the trolley many times in the last year and ridership has steadily increased. Â Even though the wrap is over an otherwise conventional bus, it and other aspects do the trick.
The wrap, signs, and posted route map give tourists comfort. I often see tourists looking at the map posted at stops. Â I ask if they need help, which occasionally they do. Big crowds often get on/off at City Museum.
The one flaw with the trolley is it doesn’t run on Sunday. Visitors here for a weekend or perhaps arriving early for a convention don’t have the trolley to help them get around downtown to spend money. In cold, rainy, or hot & humid weather the trolley is a critical part of the downtown transportation system.
The trolley is also important to locals. Most MetroBus lines entering downtown stop at the Civic Center MetroBud Transfer Center, adjacent to the MetroLink station, at 14th & Spruce. Workers trying to get to work on Sunday must now walk rather than use the trolley the rest of the way.
Metro, the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis and the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission need to find a way to also operate the trolley on Sundays.
– Steve Patterson
Two points. What’s the split between commuters and tourists? And why should the entities you mentioned be expected to provide even more funding, especialy for commuters?
The scheduling of commuter bus routes generally reflect worker demand, with more service Monday-Friday. How many workers would utilize Sunday service, or would it be running mostly empty?
In reality, if “the trolley is a critical part of the downtown transportation system”, it really should be free. That would increase ridership, which, in turn, would justify better service, seven days a week.
Two points. What’s the split between commuters and tourists? And why should the entities you mentioned be expected to provide even more funding, especialy for commuters?
The scheduling of commuter bus routes generally reflect worker demand, with more service Monday-Friday. How many workers would utilize Sunday service, or would it be running mostly empty?
In reality, if “the trolley is a critical part of the downtown transportation system”, it really should be free. That would increase ridership, which, in turn, would justify better service, seven days a week.
As a regular bus rider downtown I’d say 90% are not Monday-Friday office workers. The bulk have important service sector jobs that don’t end at 5pm on Friday afternoon. Sunday service would help these local transit riders get to their jobs on Sunday as well as provide transportation for weekend tourists.
Steve,
I would say that their is two sources that require some political will as usuall and organization on part of the divergent downtown interests, busines and residential.
First source, pull out a part of varied entertainment tax/sports events taxes that are currently in place. I don’t know if this even possible considering that the tax on blues tax is funding the opera house improvements. Or a small raise in such tax, lets say 1/10 cent.
Second source and more in line what your discussing is a Downtown TDD, Transportation Development District, to provide such a service free of charge. Heck, every box store west of the Mississippi now has one and I would say that people on a whole from Brentwood to Columbia are clueless on the fact. Would it be the best use? How big and what to incorporate? How much would it generate and could you target other projects?
Not sure if downtown stakeholders up for a TDD. However, I do see it as a way to leverage some improvements downtown if residential and business growth can be sustained.
Especially if the TDD took a wholistic view of improving transportation – free circulator + synchronized traffic signals + better sidewalks / pedestrian experience = salable package / something for everybody. One of the great things about Denver is its Free MallRide (http://www.rtd-denver.com/FREEMallRide.shtml), a short BRT line that really does do a good job of connecting downtown for the same groups we’re trying to connect here.
As a regular bus rider downtown I’d say 90% are not Monday-Friday office workers. The bulk have important service sector jobs that don’t end at 5pm on Friday afternoon. Sunday service would help these local transit riders get to their jobs on Sunday as well as provide transportation for weekend tourists.
Steve,
I would say that their is two sources that require some political will as usuall and organization on part of the divergent downtown interests, busines and residential.
First source, pull out a part of varied entertainment tax/sports events taxes that are currently in place. I don’t know if this even possible considering that the tax on blues tax is funding the opera house improvements. Or a small raise in such tax, lets say 1/10 cent.Â
Second source and more in line what your discussing is a Downtown TDD, Transportation Development District, to provide such a service free of charge. Heck, every box store west of the Mississippi now has one and I would say that people on a whole from Brentwood to Columbia are clueless on the fact. Would it be the best use? How big and what to incorporate? How much would it generate and could you target other projects?Â
Not sure if downtown stakeholders up for a TDD. However, I do see it as a way to leverage some improvements downtown if residential and business growth can be sustained.Â
Especially if the TDD took a wholistic view of improving transportation – free circulator + synchronized traffic signals + better sidewalks / pedestrian experience = salable package / something for everybody. One of the great things about Denver is its Free MallRide (http://www.rtd-denver.com/FREEMallRide.shtml), a short BRT line that really does do a good job of connecting downtown for the same groups we’re trying to connect here.