Poll results on new Mississippi River bridge

The following are the results of the 200 votes in the weekly poll last week:

Q: The ground breaking for the new Mississippi River Bridge is this week. Which of the following best describes your thoughts on the $640 million dollar project?

1. This makes removing the highway from the PSB to Cass possible 102 [48.57%]
2. Another bridge is good for the region 35 [16.67%]
3. Seriously, the Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Bridge? 28 [13.33%]
4. It should be a toll bridge 14 [6.67%]
5. More highway bridges encourages more driving 11 [5.24%]
6. Wow! How much? 10 [4.76%]
7. Other answer… 10 [4.76%]

The largest group obviously likes the City to River concept of removing a 1+ mile stretch of highway after the bridge opens.

The ten other answers were:

1. Why is it only 4 lanes?
2. Need new bridge or 100 more miles of Metro track and a tram system to feed it
3. this bridge isn’t needed
4. cant we spend on public transit options in stl
5. Investing in infrastructure in the urban core is a good thing.
6. disappointing design
7. I’d prefer it had a more locally significant title
8. good for development but they could’ve done things differently, expand mayb
9. environmental and social impacts, including generating more driving
10. If it includes bike lanes I’m happy. If not, I’m mad.

This bridge is an interstate bridge so no bikes or pedestrians.  Other bridges such as the Eads can be used to cross the river on foot or bike. It is four lanes because of the budget.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Cannabis sativa, medical marijuana and cities

I’ve inhaled once, the year was 2005 and I was 38 at the time (There Is A First Time For Everything). I was with three friends, all very responsible adults, and I was curious.  I see marijuana as less destructive than alcohol or tobacco.

DENVER — Medical marijuana dispensaries are springing up in Colorado’s major cities like coffee shops, nail parlors, tanning salons or taco shops.

It’s been 10 years since Colorado voted to allow the use and sale of marijuana for medical reasons. But in the past six months, the number of patients and dispensaries has skyrocketed.  (USA Today)

I should note that a friend, who is a doctor, sent me studies showing connections to cancer.  I don’t doubt the connection.  She questions the need for many that have prescriptions, where legal. As states begin to legalize medical marijuana the cities in those states are faced with policy issues about dispensaries.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Like hip-hop, health food and snowboarding, marijuana is going corporate.

As more and more states allow medical use of the drug, and California considers outright legalization, marijuana’s supporters are pushing hard to burnish the image of pot by franchising dispensaries and building brands; establishing consulting, lobbying and law firms; setting up trade shows and a seminar circuit; and constructing a range of other marijuana-related businesses.  (NY Times)

Cannabis sativa is often misunderstood:

Cannabis sativa is an annual plant in the Cannabaceae family. It is a herb that has been used throughout recorded history by humans as a source of fiber, for its seed oil, as food (see hemp), as a drug (see cannabis (drug)), as medicine (see medical cannabis), and for spiritual purposes (see spiritual use of cannabis). Each part of the plant is harvested differently, depending on the purpose of its use.

While hemp is not a drug, growing it is illegal.  Environmentally friendly hemp products are imported or hemp material is imported so products can be made.Federal lawmakers need to allow farmers to grow industrial hemp.

The poll this week is designed to get your thoughts on Cannabis sativa.  I hope I have a good variety of answers.  This week I’m testing the ability for you to select up to three answers.

– Steve Patterson

Readers want more frequent transit service, additional light rail

The poll last week asked, “Now that Prop A has passed, what do you want to see in our local transit system?”  Here are the results:

1. More frequent service 47 [ 27.98%]

2. schedules & maps at bus stops 37 [22.02%]

3. Other answer… 35 [20.83%]

4. GPS on buses to indicate next arrival time at bus stops 33 [19.64%]

5. Doesn’t matter, I still won’t ride public transit 8 [4.76%]

6. don’t know/unsure 5 [2.98%]

7. With the old routes restored the system will be perfect 3 [1.79%]

As you can see above “other” was the third most popular answer.  This is primarily due to my failure to include an option for new rail lines.

Here are all of the other answers from readers:

1. MetroLink to Westport, Text message schedule information

2. another metrolink line

3. A north-south Metro line up Gravois and Natural Bridge

4. more metrolink line

5. begin planning and build north-south metro line

6. Light rail from South County to downtown.

7. Expanded Metrolink

8. Expand MetroLink

9. wireless

10. all of the above

11. Metrolink Fare Enforcement.

12. MORE STOPS / ROUTES

13. A north-south line within the city – Jefferson to south 55

14. Expanded Service

15. extensions out to other major areas and restorations, more frequent routes

16. expansion

17. expand metrolink

18. weekend circulator route serving high-density business districts

19. BRT (with dedicated lanes and higher frequency) on Grand!

20. Trolleys!

21. weekend circulator route serving high-density business districts

22. Weekend circulator route serving high-density business districts.

23. The north-south Metrolink line

24. Light rail in South City, more frequent service, schedule and maps, better signs

25. responsible fiscal management

26. more lines

27. Restored service and upgrades of exsiting stations, like BATHROOMS!

28. metrolink expansin

29. north south metro expansion in the city

30. Expansion.

31. Expanded light rail system. This time lets be a little more strategic

32. restoration of old routes expanded Link service

33. Metrolink Expansion

34. Expansion

35. services aimed at not just the transit-dependent

I personally wouldn’t build another light rail line in our region, especially not one on local streets.  What I would do is build a network of modern streetcars to serve more local service.

I like the idea of at least our longer bus routes having WiFi such as Madison County Transit’s “WiFi on Wheels.”

– Steve

Poll: Thoughts on the $630 million dollar Mississippi River bridge

On Monday officials will “break ground” for the new $640 million dollar bridge across the Mississippi River.  The ceremony will take place on the historic Eads Bridge.

Sadly I will not be able to attend the event.  The poll for this week asks your thoughts on the new bridge which is expected to be complete by February 2014.  The poll is in the upper right sidebar.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Prop A transit tax passed, now what?

Last week voters in St. Louis County approved a half cent sales tax for transit:

In November 2008 the same measure was narrowly defeated by a narrow margin (48.45% to 51.55%).  Now what?

“The sales tax increase will generate about $80 million a year for Metro. The measure also triggers a previously passed 0.25 percent tax increase in the city of St. Louis.

By the end of the year, the bus and light-rail agency will restore all the routes and service it had to cut last year, said Metro President and Chief Executive Bob Baer. Metro will also be able to maintain and add jobs, he said. “Instead of a loss of 600 jobs, we’ll be adding 125,” he said.”  (full story: Voters approve Metro tax – St. Louis Business Journal)

So the poll question this week is what would you like to see in the way of changes & improvements to the system.  Obviously the prior level of service will return but I think we should expect more. Some of you have said you’d like route maps and schedules posted at bus stops.  I’d like to see Metro add GPS to buses and display at bus stops how long until the next bus arrives. For the poll in the right column I’ve listed a few items but feel free to add to the list.  As always, share your thoughts in the comments below.

– Steve Patterson