Passenger Trains > Last-resort effort to save St. Louis Loop Trolley fails

A committee investigating a proposal for Bi-State Development Agency to take over St. Louis' failed Loop Trolley chose to reject the plan and not send it to Commissioners for a vote.  Bi-State operates the Metrolink light rail line, and it was hoped the trolley route could be integrated into Metro's system.  The Loop Trolley shut down on December 29 after a year of low ridership and numerous problems quickly exhausted operating funds.

Barring an unlikely private operator stepping forward, the Bi-State committee's decision marks the end of any hope for the trolley's return.   In addition, the Federal Transit Administration is poised to sue to recover $25 million of the federal money spent on the project, an event that will make it difficult for the St. Louis region to receive federal funding for future projects.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/bi-state-development-will-not-revive-loop-trolley-transit-agency-ceo-says#stream/0



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/20 12:45 by i64west.

Not every train (or transit line) is a good one.

GenePoon Wrote:
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> Not every train (or transit line) is a good one.

Metrolink Perris line.  

GenePoon Wrote:
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> Not every train (or transit line) is a good one.
 
Mr Google can't find to whom the Loop project successfully "transited" $51 million in fed grants and other taxpayer cash.

Lurch_in_ABQ Wrote:
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> GenePoon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Not every train (or transit line) is a good
> one.
>  
> Mr Google can't find to whom the Loop project
> successfully "transited" $51 million in fed grants
> and other taxpayer cash.


Then I'd say it was good for SOMEBODY!!

Many similarties to the DC trolley system. A mere 2.2 miles long...hundreds of millions $$$ spent... several trolleys "damaged" by the weather. Starts on a bridge and ends in a cemetery. No fare collection. No ridership!

Posted from Android



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/20 04:53 by mp208.

JohnM Wrote:
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> GenePoon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Not every train (or transit line) is a good
> one.
>
> Metrolink Perris line.


Good example. The Perris line's primary function is not to transport people but to faciltate political wheeling & dealing. Money would have been better spent upgrading already-busy lines closer to Los Angeles. But that's not how the game is played.

Duna Wrote:
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> JohnM Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > GenePoon Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Not every train (or transit line) is a good
> > one.
> >
> > Metrolink Perris line.
>
>
> Good example. The Perris line's primary function
> is not to transport people but to faciltate
> political wheeling & dealing. Money would have
> been better spent upgrading already-busy lines
> closer to Los Angeles. But that's not how the game
> is played.

Well for starters, since this was the RCTC so the money would have to be spent in Riverside County.
Unless they decided to play nice with the other Metrolink partners and share their bucks!
Not holding my breath on that one...

It's not buried yet.. It could return in April

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-could-be-back-on-track-in-april-promoter/article_d40a0662-2004-5b5e-b85a-16d16b977488.html#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

We agree on this one Duna.  I was too close to some of the very early planning.

PHall Wrote:
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> Duna Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > JohnM Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > GenePoon Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Not every train (or transit line) is a good
> > > one.
> > >
> > > Metrolink Perris line.
> >
> >
> > Good example. The Perris line's primary
> function
> > is not to transport people but to faciltate
> > political wheeling & dealing. Money would have
> > been better spent upgrading already-busy lines
> > closer to Los Angeles. But that's not how the
> game
> > is played.
>
> Well for starters, since this was the RCTC so the
> money would have to be spent in Riverside County.
> Unless they decided to play nice with the other
> Metrolink partners and share their bucks!
> Not holding my breath on that one...


Metrolink funding is extremenly complicated with funds coming from different local, county, State, and Fed sources. Much of it gets belnderized and regurgitated here & there, as needed. Lots of deal making and trading among member agencies and individual politicians. So it's not just RCTC money.

SCRRA Perris Line and the StL trolley are both unneeded projects in a time of limited budgets. Transportation money that could have been better spent elsewhere.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/20 17:02 by Duna.