Public Transit

For years I took TWO trains and bus each way to work every weekday. This was probably the only time I ever thought to use a bus. What I learned was that the bus was just too infrequent and unreliable. I still recall waiting on McDonnell Blvd at night in the cold for my Hazelwood bus that never showed. I ended up walking to Hanley Road to catch a completely different bus. It put me off using the bus otherwise. Without doubt, the transit system simply does not support many folks who must travel to work and shop. I have spoken with folks who got a job because it was on a bus route, only to have BiState change the route and ruin their commute. We see the notices for route and schedule changes all the time when riding Metrolink. The route system is too unstable. Does anyone know if there is data showing how many residents are within, say, 2 blocks, of ANY bus or Metrolink route, let alone one that is going where they most need to go? To that end, I would also like to see an overlay of today's bus routes with our once-vaunted street car routes. I think we would be shocked at the loss of service.

Buses, small and large. Frequent and everywhere. Fraction of the cost of METROLINK .

This could all be funded completely if we invested all of the money into a municipal endowment fund. We do not touch it for a period of time and allow the returns on that fund to finance all services of the city including enhanced social services, infrastructure improvements and especially: modern and sustainable public transportation for all citizens. It could be funded 100% and forever.

I came across your proposal / post and see possible connections between our projects. I am interested in collaborating with you to explore any visions and commitments we might share. Public Personal Rapid Transit Consortium (PPRTC) would like to collaborate in accomplishing your goals in St. Louis. By reducing emissions, using multiple forms of energy collection, and incorporating recent advances in transportation technology, it is possible to move goods, people, and telecommunications effectively with a rapid speed, electro-magnetic propulsion system that is carbon neutral. Imagine elevated guideways and Rapid Alternative Freight & Transit (RAFT) Centers which provide a cluster of power options, transit choices, charging stations, EV availability, and community activities. Please view the proposal submitted by Post Carbon Communities of Practice and consider ways in which you might contribute to its fulfillment. David P. Lehmann Public Personal Rapid Transit Consortium

I agree! I enjoyed my commute on the metrobus for a seasonal job I did, but majority of bus lines and transit options just do not make the city as accessible as I wish it did. I’d love to see more people be able to use public transit!

I took the bus at 5am on the Southside. The busses would always show up on time, and rarely they would not on the weekend. I've had very few problems. I believe we may need to find better civil engineers to develop our transit system if these problems people are talking about become larger problems.

I agree! This is a good idea and I love that you have firsthand knowledge. I believe mobility is a human right. Public transportation is the lifeblood of any urban place. St. Louis absoLUTEly needs a holistic solution to its public transportation system. Ways to make it more FREQUENT and logically follow the framework of the city. We’ve gotta get away from this destination-centered planning and integrate the transit system into the fabric of the city and close counties. So many St. Louis natives have lived in places like Chicago, New York, and returned home wishing for walkable neighborhoods and reliable, convenient, public transportation. We have the foundations of it and it would enhance the city so much!! Development and population will surely follow.

Different tiers of bus service so that the top 10, let's say, most frequent and highly-traveled routes are top priority: priority routes wouldn't have trips cut when operators don't show, and people could rely on them as much as MetroLink is reliable.