Joe Edwards is still pushing to get this fiasco running. The community has lost millions of dollars and businesses have been disrupted. This should never have happened and now there is talk of taking out the tracks and cables. Let’s move on. Written by Paul Dribin
A friend of mine is a businessman in the Loop who supports the trolley with his taxes. He attempted to find out the ridership levels of the trolley, called the Trolley Authority, and was declined an answer. He then called the feds who oversee the program. The average daily ridership since inception is nine people a day. Pitiful
The Loop Trolley in test runs has twice hit autos , knocking mirrors off of cars in minor accidents. Apologists say people did not park right. That is the point, we should not require perfection for the system to work. Written by Paul Dribin
The trolley situation is still a mess. KWMU had a story which documented the large number of businesses which have gone out of business, at least partly due to the trolley construction. Also, The Riverfront Times published an article about the fact that the automatic ticket machines for the trolley are in before the trolley itself and these machines do not make change. An individual who needed change would need to send in the receipt through the mail and wait for change from the Trolley Association by mail. Overall, the whole thing still seems like a fiasco. One piece of good news, the Loop Business Association has hired Rachelle L’Ecuyer as Executive Director. She is top notch and has done a great job as Economic Development Director in Maplewood. I wonder how long it will take her to clash with Joe Edwards. Written by Paul Dribin
The Post wrote yesterday that there is still not a definite date for the start of the Loop Trolley. This is not a surprise. Furthermore when it does begin it will operate only from Thursday to Sunday from noon to 6pm. Does this sound like a winning program? (By the way last week I almost ran into a trolley when I was trying to turn right onto Lindell at the History Museum.). Written by Paul Dribin
An article in the Post Dispatch indicated that the Loop Trolley will begin at 2/3 capacity. That is because one of the cars will not be available due to repairs that are needed for it. These repairs have taken a very long time to complete because the parts have to be made in Germany. When the service will begin in any capacity is still a mystery. If you understand any of this you are a better person than me. Written by Paul Dribin
Tony Messenger has written in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that when the Joe Edwards group applied for federal funding for the trolley, they promised $5 million in private funds. Not one dollar of these funds has ever appeared, yet they are asking for more money from St. Louis County. What gives? How inept can people be? Written by Paul Dribin
An article in the Post Dispatch today stated that the Loop Trolley in University may once again have its’ opening delayed. The cause this time is repairs that need to be made to one of the three cars that will rotate on the line.
This project has hurt dozens of businesses, significantly exceeded its’ budget, is behind schedule, and is of limited benefit. I predict traffic will be significantly backed up on Delmar. Sometimes I think we are absolutely out of our minds; spending huge sums of money on the next trendy fad that comes along.
The St Louis Contrarian 