{"id":25778,"date":"2023-06-28T20:26:50","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T20:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=25778"},"modified":"2023-06-28T20:26:50","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T20:26:50","slug":"citizens-for-modern-transit-hold-talking-transit-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=25778","title":{"rendered":"Citizens for Modern Transit Hold “Talking Transit” event"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Route Options for Northside-Soutside<\/b><\/h1>\n

MetroLink Line Outlined<\/b><\/h1>\n

\u00a0 <\/b>Citizens for Modern Transit\u2019s \u201cTalking Transit\u201d event, held June 27 via Zoom, served as a forum to discuss route options for the planned North STL County Community Connector MetroLink line, which will be a major component of the Northside-Southside MetroLink expansion project. The more than 50 members, stakeholders, transit riders and others in attendance received an overview of the planned project and had the opportunity to ask questions.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 The discussion featured panelists Kristen Lueken<\/strong>, Project Manager for AECOM, the consulting firm studying the various route and transit stop alternatives for this project; Sal Martinez,<\/b> CEO of Employment Connection of St. Louis; Marcie Meystrik, <\/strong>Director of Transportation Planning at East-West Gateway Council of Governments and Taulby Roach<\/strong>,<\/b> President & CEO of Bi-State Development. The forum was moderated by Kimberly Cella, Executive Director of Citizens for Modern Transit. Plans for the overall MetroLink expansion project include a new line in the City of St. Louis, known as the Jefferson Avenue Alignment, that will run 5.6 miles along Jefferson Ave., from Chippewa St. to Grand Blvd. and west along Natural Bridge Rd. and will feature 14 new MetroLink stations. The St. Louis County part of the MetroLink expansion, known as the North STL County Community Connector, will travel 5 to 8 miles from Natural Bridge into North St. Louis County. Four different route options, featuring seven to 10 MetroLink stations, are currently being studied. The total project will span 14 to 17 miles and offer seating, ticketing and weather protection at all stations. Seamless access to the existing MetroLink system is a major planning component with a transfer station to be located near Jefferson Avenue and Ewing Avenue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a regional project that will serve as a catalyst for the future of St. Louis City and County,\u201d commented Roach during the \u201cTalking Transit\u201d discussion. \u201cIn order for the light rail lines to be successful, we need to have rooftops near them \u2013 whether those be houses or businesses with job opportunities. This needs to be the driver of development and deliver on unfulfilled promises to impacted neighborhoods of color.\u201dThe goal of the planned project is to provide more choices to those with limited transportation options. The four route options for the North STL County Community Connector include:NorthSTLCountyCommunityConnector_AlignmentOptions<\/a>NorthSTLCountyCommunityConnector_AlignmentOptions<\/a>NorthSTLCountyCommunityConnector_AlignmentOptions<\/a><\/p>\n