December 2009

“Moving
Moving Transit Forward
Forward”
€ Vision for Metro Transit System
y Identify opportunities for system growth
and enhancement
y Introduce innovative service concepts

€ Blueprint for achieving the Vision

y 5-year short-range plan
y 10-year
0 yea mid-range
d a ge p plan
a
y 30-year long-range plan
Progress Update
€ Community Workshops Results

€ Foundation Values

€ Potential System Enhancements

€ Potential Expansion Projects

€ Financial Challenges and Opportunities

Engaging the Community
€ Project website www
www.movingtransitforward.org
movingtransitforward org
launched

€ 10 Community workshops conducted October

13 - November 17
y Open-house format focused on education &
outreach and participant preferences
Community Workshop Results
€ Preferred types
yp of transit:
1. Light Rail
2. Bus Rapid Transit
3
3. Bus

€ Focused on improving the passenger experience:

1
1. IImproved d security
it and
d lilighting
hti
2. Bus enhancement packages (shelters & seating)
3. Transit centers
4. Restrooms

€ Participants
p identified transit routes most important
p to
them
 Moving the St. Louis Region
€ Population and employment density are critical for effective transit.

€ Slow population and employment growth expected

€ St. Louis City hosts the densest concentration of population in the

St
region.

€ The fastest-growing regional population areas, including St. Charles

County and the IL-159 corridor, exhibit lower-density development.

€ Transit-dependent populations are currently concentrated in St.

Louis City and adjacent suburbs.
Population Density (2000)
Moving the St.
St Louis Region
€ The strongest employment core is the central
corridor, including Downtown, the Central West
End, and Clayton.

€ Smaller but potentially transit-supportive centers

suchh as W
Westport
t t and d Earth
E th City,
Cit could
ld b
be more
transit supportive if development policies are
modified to encourage transit-oriented
development and density.
Foundation Values
€ Provide transit access to the g
greatest number of
people and a range of markets and communities.

€ Reposition transit as a vital regional asset

asset.

€ Provide enhanced mobility options to transit-

dependent citizens throughout the region.

€ Identifyy cost-effective p
projects
j that balance
increased ridership with capital improvements and
operating costs.
Foundation Values
Select projects that will:

€ Potentially attract federal funding.

€ Support development in the St. Louis region.

€ Help mitigate pollution and congestion.

€ Contribute to the strengths of the region

region’ss core.
core
 QUESTION 1

Are there any values you

would like to add to this list?
Short-Range Service Enhancements:
M
MetroBus
B
€ Improve frequency on
heavily-utilized
MetroBus routes

€ Restore job access

y Possibility for alternative
route configurations
y Expand Metro System
service area
Short Range:
g Restore Call-A-Ride Access
Short Range:
g Restore MetroLink Frequency
q y
Short Range: Passenger Comfort Improvements

€ Security and lighting

€ Benches and shelters
€ Transit Centers
Short Range: Technology Improvements

€ Smart Cards
€ Computer-aided
dispatch/automated
p
vehicle location
(CAD/AVL)
€ Web-based applications
○ www.metrostlouis.org
○ Google
G l Transit
T it
○ TripFinder
 QUESTION 2
Which of these ser
service
ice
enhancements are more
important, and why?
Mid-Range Service Enhancements:
B R
Bus Rapid
id TTransit
i (BRT)

€ High-capacity vehicles with rail-like characteristics and

amenities
€ High tra
traveling
eling speeds
speeds, less freq
frequent
ent stops
€ Dedicated passenger stations & stops
€ Frequent all
Frequent, all-day
day service
Long-Range Service Enhancements:
Li h R
Light Railil
€ Frequent,
q , day-long
y g service
€ High capacity vehicles
€ Street running or separated right of way
€ Trains typically electric powered
Long Range: Commuter Rail
€ Long distance, suburb to city trips
€ T i typically
Trains t i ll didiesell powered
d
€ Less frequent, rush hour oriented service
€ High capacity vehicles with passenger amenities
 QUESTIONS 3 & 4

Which of these routes do you

thi k are mostt iimportant
think t t for
f
the region,
g , and why? y
Financial Challenges
• Lack of growth in local sales tax
LOCAL revenue and debt obligation

• Lack of state support for transit in

STATE Missouri

• Inability to match Federal capital

FEDERAL funds with state and local resources
 Financial Opportunities
• Local funding required for sustaining system and
LOCAL
any expansion

• Funding from state is vital for attracting Federal

STATE
S
funds and expanding the system.

• Possibility for increased levels of Federal support

for capital and operations.
FEDERAL • All major expansion projects must qualify for
Federal funding
funding.
Moving Forward
€ Planning team review community workshop
results December – January

€ Complete financial analysis late December

€ Draft plan presented to the public at third

round
d off community
it workshops
k h weekk off
January 18

€ Final plan released in March