In the poll last week readers were supportive of Metro’s decision to buy used articulated buses and have them completely reconditioned. Starting in June five will replace five of the twelve regular 40 foot buses on the #70 (Grand) MetroBus route, by the end of summer all 12 will be these 60 foot articulated buses. These offer more seats, more standing room, and two exit doors.
The first of 15 articulated buses, basically a 30ft bus with a 30ft trailer.
Here are the poll results:
Q: Metro’s 60ft articulated buses are completely rebuilt 2004 New Flyer models from Ottawa, costing $430k/ea vs $825k/ea new, reaction?
Excellent, very green & frugal decision. 43 [55.13%]
June can’t come soon enough! 12 [15.38%]
Other: 7 [8.97%]
Cool, Canadian hand-me-downs
Focus on revenue making deals to increase discretionary funds for the city
Should have scheduled 2x as many busses on the route
Can’t imagine how it can make our turns.
Streetcar would be ideal
Depends on whether it’s a complete rebuild or just cosmetics
Try it out
Really, Canadian hand-me-downs? 5 [6.41%]
Rebuilt or new, too big to run on Grand 4 [5.13%]
Unsure/No Answer 4 [5.13%]
St. Louis will need to do a better job clearing snow along the route. 3 [3.85%]
Let me address some of the “other” responses. Metro got a federal grant to buy buses, running 24 rather than 12 on the route would double the operating costs (labor, fuel, maintenance) which isn’t something the grant covered. If Missouri had higher fuel taxes with part going toward transit agencies then increasing the frequency might be an option. The articulated buses are actually easier to turn than the regular 40 foot buses. Why? These are 30 foot buses with a 30 foot trailer. Drivers will get new training but I don’t think we’ll see any major issues since the #70 route is mostly a straight line up and down Grand. That said, in snow they might experience issues. I love streetcars but Grand doesn’t have the density at the ends to justify the capital expense.
I agree with the readers — this was an excellent decision and June can’t come soon enough.
Now I’d like to highlight a couple of other recent procurement decisions that appear to also be wise choices. Wheels & side glass.
Our buses have had painted steel wheels for years, but they are labor intensive to maintainThe newest order of 40ft Gillig buses and the 15 rebuilt articulated buses all have aluminum wheels. More expensive upfront but cheaper in the long run because of reduced maintenance costs.Our buses have always had exposed metal frames, the articulated buses still do because they are rebuilt. New 2014 Gillig buses have flush side glass which looks so much nicer.Aesthetics aside, a flush glass window can quickly be replaced by one person. The exposed frame glass we have had requires two people, costing more.
It looks like Metro is making very wise decisions, always looking to reduce maintenance costs. These efforts have been noticed by the industry:
The results of the program have been significant. In 2002, Metro’s bus group achieved 10,124 miles between breakdowns compared with 21,827 miles between breakdowns in 2009 – a 115-percent improvement. (Source: Top-Notch Vehicle Maintenance Programs Help Transit Agencies Excel)
So thank you to the staff at Metro for sweating the details on maintenance schedules, fretting over specifications for purchasing buses.
A proposed 6-story apartment building with a ground-floor Trader Joe’s grocery store will be announced today for the northeast corner of Grand & Lindell, temporarily the site of the Ellen Clark Sculpture Park.
This sculpture park was just a way to hold the land until the right project came along
The announcement will be made today at 4pm; speakers will include William R. Kauffman, J.D., Interim President of Saint Louis University, incoming President Fred P. Pestello, Trader Joe’s VP of real estate Brandt Sharrock, Vince Schoemehl of Grand Center, and Steve Smith of the Lawrence Group, the architects & developers of the project.
Artist rendering of proposed mixed-use building
Excellent public transit is said to be a factor for this project moving forward now, citing the busiest MetoBus line on Grand, the #70, and the proposed St. Louis Streetcar on Lindell. Other factors include the new Whole Foods going into the ground floor of an apartment building at Euclid and Pine. Like that building, this new building will have underground parking, including some for Trader Joe’s customers.
It’ll be so nice having a Trader Joe’s so close to downtown!
A year’s worth of hard work by numerous volunteers paid off Saturday afternoon as 6th ward residents checked out 13 projects submitted by fellow 6th ward residents, and refined into legitimate projects by volunteers, also from the 6th ward.
6th ward residents checked out the Participatory Budgeting project expo on Saturday afternoon.
This reminded me of competing in science fairs in middle & high school, standing next to our project board as each judge stopped by, asking tough questions. Zach Chasnoff & Michelle Whithaus have logged hundreds of hours bringing Participatory Budgeting to St. Louis, big thanks to both of them. Also to 6th ward alderman Christine Ingrassia for being open minded enough to begin her first term in office with this project.
Of the 27 other aldermen, only Scott Ogilvie representing the 24th ward came out to see the projects and process, he remains on the fence. If you think your alderman should adopt Participatory budgeting I urge you to contact them by phone or email (list or find your alderman). Don’t live in the city but like the idea of voting on projects in your community? Contact the elected officials where you live!
$100,000 of 6th ward funds have been set aside to build the winning projects, residents will select their top three. Votes will be tabulated and winning projects announced. Here is a list of the projects:
Neighborhood signs, $28,000
New landscaping & planters, $90,000
Trash cans, $15,000
Eads Park Improvements, $20,000
Fox Park Restroom Renovation, $30,000
Perk Up Buder Park, $15,000
Decorative Bike Racks, $17,000
Crosswalk Light Jefferson and Park, $25,000
Bike Lanes, $30,000
Median at Jefferson and Park, $80,000
Traffic Calming on Compton, $50,000
Street Lighting, $50,000
Security Cameras, $30,000
I don’t have the final descriptions of the above, I’ll update this post once I receive the text that’ll appear on the ballots. UPDATE 3/31 @ 9:50AM: SEE SAMPLE BALLOT HERE!
Voting starts tomorrow and continues everyday for over a week:
Please vote in the poll, located in the right sidebar
Officially, Ballpark Village (BPV) doesn’t have a dress code, but venues within BPV do. When announced last week it caused a uproar, and was revised to allow team jerseys even on non-game days. The poll this week wants to know your thoughts, here is the relevant information pulled from stlballparkvillage.com on Friday March 28, 2014:
Ballpark Village:
No backpacks, loitering; no weapons; no panhandling; no solicitation; no disorderly conduct; no bicycles or skateboards; no professional photography cameras.
7 days per week anyone under the age of 18 is allowed admittance into Ballpark Village but must be accompanied by a legal guardian. After 9pm all guests must be 21 years old or older to gain admittance into Ballpark Village and its venues.
Ballpark Village does not have a dress code; however, please note that individual venues within Ballpark Village including Fox Sports Midwest Live! may utilize a dress code. Visit the individual venues’ website pages to familiarize yourself with their dress code policies. – See more at: http://www.stlballparkvillage.com/faqs#sthash.l2DNcs06.dpuf
Budweiser Brew House:
The following is not permitted under our dress code after 9pm: Main Level: sleeveless shirts on men, profanity on clothing, exposed undergarments on men, sweat pants, full sweat suits, excessively long shirts (when standing upright with arms at your side, the bottom of your shirt can not extend below the tip of your fingers), athletic shorts, excessively sagging pants or shorts, and bandanas. Second Level: the above list of prohibited articles of clothing and, in addition: jerseys (sleeved jerseys are permitted in conjunction with a Cardinals game or any other major St. Louis sporting event) and hats. Management reserves the right to deny entry or remove any individual who does not comply with the above dress code or the code of conduct. For any questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a manager. – See more at: http://www.stlballparkvillage.com/dining/dine/budweiser-brew-house#sthash.uFmvm3kE.dpuf
Cardinals Nation:
Cardinals Nation Guest Code of Conduct
The St. Louis Cardinals are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and family friendly experience when fans visit Cardinals Nation. We expect fans who visit Cardinals Nation to observe the Ground Rules for Fans that we have in place at Busch Stadium. Our attire is baseball casual. No obscene or indecent clothing will be permited. – See more at: http://www.stlballparkvillage.com/dining/dine/cardinals-nation#sthash.D9GAnKr1.dpuf
Fox Sports Live Midwest:
The following is not permitted under our dress code after 9pm: sleeveless shirts on men, profanity on clothing, exposed undergarments on men, sweat pants, full sweat suits, excessively long shirts (when standing upright with arms at your side, the bottom of your shirt can not extendbelow the tip of your fingers), athletic shorts, excessively sagging pants or shorts, and bandanas. Management reserves the right to deny entry or remove any individual who does not comply with the above dress code or the code of conduct. For any questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a manager. – See more at: http://www.stlballparkvillage.com/dining/dine/fox-sports-midwest-live-#sthash.JU1HQKVT.dpuf
PBR St. Louis:
The following is not permitted under our dress code after 9pm: sleeveless shirts on men, profanity on clothing, exposed undergarments on men, sweat pants, full sweat suits, excessively long shirts (when standing upright with arms at your side, the bottom of your shirt can not extend below the tip of your fingers), jerseys (sleeved jerseys are permitted in conjunction with a cardinals game or any other major St. Louis sporting event), athletic shorts, excessively sagging pants or shorts, and bandanas. Management reserves the right to deny entry or remove any individual who does not comply with the above dress code or the code of conduct. For any questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a manager. – See more at: http://www.stlballparkvillage.com/dining/drink/pbr-st-louis#sthash.iCXUdBPH.dpuf
The Barn at PBR:
The following is not permitted under our dress code after 9pm: sleeveless shirts on men, profanity on clothing, exposed undergarments on men, sweat pants, full sweat suits, excessively long shirts (when standing upright with arms at your side, the bottom of your shirt can not extend below the tip of your fingers), jerseys (sleeved jerseys are permitted in conjunction with a cardinals game or any other major St. Louis sporting event), athletic shorts, excessively sagging pants or shorts, and bandanas. Management reserves the right to deny entry or remove any individual who does not comply with the above dress code or the code of conduct. For any questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a manager. – See more at: http://www.stlballparkvillage.com/dining/drink/the-barn-at-pbr#sthash.0DnS9ngX.dpuf
The Lounge:
The following is not permitted under our dress code after 9pm: sleeveless shirts on men, profanity on clothing, exposed undergarments on men, sweat pants, full sweat suits, excessively long shirts (when standing upright with arms at your side, the bottom of your shirt can not extend below the tip of your fingers), athletic shorts, excessively sagging pants or shorts, and bandanas. Management reserves the right to deny entry or remove any individual who does not comply with the above dress code or the code of conduct. For any questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a manager. – See more at: http://www.stlballparkvillage.com/dining/drink/the-lounge#sthash.N37rQy16.dpuf
The Skybox:
The following is not permitted under our dress code after 9pm: sleeveless shirts on men, profanity on clothing, exposed undergarments on men, sweat pants, full sweat suits, excessively long shirts (when standing upright with arms at your side, the bottom of your shirt can not extend below the tip of your fingers), athletic shorts, excessively sagging pants or shorts, and bandanas. Management reserves the right to deny entry or remove any individual who does not comply with the above dress code or the code of conduct. For any questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a manager. – See more at: http://www.stlballparkvillage.com/dining/drink/the-skybox#sthash.CvrSZ0p0.dpuf
The following BPV venues do not list any dress code:
Earlier in the week I posted about the next steps for Participatory Budgeting in the 6th Ward. This is a reminder a “project expo” will be held from 3pm-5pm tomorrow, Saturday March 29, 2014. The expo will be held at the Moulin event space, 2017 Chouteau.
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