The End Of The Hodiamont Streetcar Right-of-Way

Forty-six years ago today the last streetcar in St. Louis stopped rolling down the streets. The Hodiamont was St. Louis’ last streetcar line. The Hodiamont ran in city streets from downtown to just west of Vandeventer Ave where it went into its own private right-of-way.

ABOVE: The streetcar tracks come out of the private right-of-way and head east on Enright Ave

Eventually new rubber-tire buses with air-conditioning  replaced  the older streetcars:

Only three lines were left in April 1964, when the new Bi-State agency winnowed the system to the Hodiamont line, which ran from downtown to the Wellston Loop. Along the way through north St. Louis, the Hodiamont had its own right-of-way, like a railroad. (STLtoday.com article from 2010 — recommended)

I can’t help but wonder if running a new modern streetcar through this right of way today would make sense. Or even a bus line?

— Steve Patterson

Poll: How Should The St. Louis Region Respond To The Rams?

The CVC has until June 1 to accept or reject the Rams’ proposal:

The Rams’ proposal was released against their wishes on Monday, a response to the dome improvement plan submitted by their landlord, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, in February. And the discrepancy is wide: The CVC plan called for $124 million in upgrades, 52% of which would be paid for by the Rams; the team’s plan called for a complete overhaul estimated by the city to cost more than $700 million, and it wasn’t clear how it would be funded. (USAtoday.com)

My post from Tuesday is here, it includes a link to the proposal. Who holds the cards in the negotiations?

Los Angeles is really the only viable remaining market in North America that would potentially support an NFL team and help the league generate greater revenues. If they don’t build a facility, or if they do but another franchise beats Kroenke to the punch, then Kroenke’s negotiating leverage versus the CVC will be weakened. (Forbes)

Well we’ve got great negotiators here in St. Louis! We got the Kiel Opera House 20 years ago and that vibrant Ballpark Village in 2006. Oh wait…

The poll this week asks how the St. Louis region, via the CVC, should respond. I say we wish them well wherever it is they move after the 2014 season.

– Steve Patterson

Reading: St. Louis Parks by NiNi Harris and Esley Hamilton

The St. Louis region is home to many great parks and now historians (and personal friends) NiNi Harris and Esley Hamilton have collaborated on a book about parks in St. Louis city & county, respectively. The title, appropriately enough, St. Louis Parks.

The forward is by Peter H. Raven and the 164 page book is filled with beautiful images by photographers  Mark Abeln and Steve Tiemann.

The wealth of knowledge that both Harris & Hamilton have shared is overwhelming. NiNi Harris shared this thought with me:

I love showing visitors to St. Louis around our City Parks. They are always awed by the beauty of our parks. And they are wowed by the number of parks, the variety of sizes from pocket parks to enormous Forest Park, from pedestrian parks to driving parks, from squares to linear parks. Hopefully, this book can help more people discover and enjoy this remarkable treasure.

Look for it in the library or your local bookstore.

– Steve Patterson

Beautiful Detailing On Older Infrastructure

Many of you have probably driven under the railroad tracks while traveling on Chippewa St between Gravois Ave and Meramec.

If you’re like me you never paid much attention to the design of the underpass. But earlier this month I was on a MetroBus heading westbound on Chippewa and it had to stop at the light at Meremac (aerial) and there was the railing right next to the bus window.

I love the detail, so much more interesting than today’s infrastructure. Seems we either get boring stuff with zero detail or over the top designs. I’d much rather see a nice balance.

– Steve Patterson

Chouteau Bridge Sidewalk Cracked, Pedestrians Detoured Slightly

The Chouteau bridge (aerial) between 39th and Vandeventer opened on January 19, 2007 (source). The project to replace the old bridge was estimated at $16 million and “the construction contract was awarded to KCI Construction Company for $11.7 million.”

Knowing the bridge wasn’t very old I was surprised recently when I saw barricades on the south edge, then I received a press release from MoDOT:

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Department of Transportation will close Chouteau Avenue (Route 100) between Vandeventer and Spring in both directions for periods of up to 10 minutes starting at 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 8. All lanes will be open by 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 9.

Crews are conducting load testing on the bridge to determine the best way to fix the sidewalk. The sidewalk has been closed since mid-2011. (MoDOT)

Fix a sidewalk on a five year-old bridge?

BIke/Walk Alert – Chouteau bridge between Vandeventer and 39th St.: During a recent inspection, MODOT found a crack in the sidewalk on the Chouteau Bridge and has closed the sidewalk while they investigate if the bridge is safe. MODOT plans to close one eastbound lane of Chouteau between Vandeventer and 39th and separate it from traffic with a concrete barrier. This lane will be a shared bike and pedestrian path until the sidewalk is repaired. Until the concrete barriers are in place, please use extreme caution when crossing the Chouteau Bridge or select an alternate route. Trailnet will post updates as we become aware of them. (Trailnet Facebook post on November 1, 2011)

With the barriers it’s possible to cross the bridge, although meeting someone in the middle would be a problem.

I’ve not seen anything since the recent testing to indicate a solution. MoDOT hasn’t responded to my inquiry. Did Missouri get a warranty on this bridge?

– Steve Patterson