Brenda and I took a recent trip to France on a Rick Stieves tour. It was great. Anyway in talking with our group at dinner both a couple from Milwaukee and Omaha discussed the trolleys in their cities and what an incredible waste of money they were. It seems like bad thinking transcends local communities. (I did not see any trolleys in Paris). Written by Paul Dribin
This story just gets worse. Les Sherman, President of the Trolley Group has now said they need $500,000 or the trolley will be never begin. This is worse than a fiasco, it is borderline insane. What makes anyone think people will want to ride this thing. To add to the woes, I now hear concerns about security.
Comparisons are made to the success of the trolley in Kansas City. In KC, the trolley is a popular means for taking people from downtown to Westport for lunch etc. That is a popular destination, something we do not have. Furthermore, Kansas City does not have a light rail, so the trolley serves as a means of transportation. Written by Paul Dribin
The St. Louis Business Journal has written an editorial called Trolley Follies, criticizing the trolley effort in University City. I am disappointed they stole my headline and more disappointed I have been proven correct on this issue. Now we are stuck with the unsightly tracks that disrupt traffic flow. When will we learn? Written by Paul Dribin
Here is a major beef I have with how things get done in St. Louis in the 21 years my family and I have lived here.
Instead of investing in neighborhoods, education, crime prevention, etc. St Louisians invest in glitzy and trendy project that may work elsewhere but are unsuitable for our community. Some examples include, Union Station, City Center, adding a runway at Lambert, football and soccer stadiums, a downtown convention hotel, metro link, and a trolley. There is a place for all of these things in some communities, but glitz put on top of a crime ridden city with crumbling infrastructure will not work. The problem is compounded by a build it and they will come attitude, meaning that data does not support the endeavor but it will be so cool that people from somewhere will come and use it after it is completed. (I;E THE LOOP trolley)
Written by Paul Dribin
Once again some more stuff. Joe Edwards, the head of this fiasco has informed the community the trolley needs another $500000 from St. Louis County. This is in addition to the $53000000 or so that has already been spent on a project over budget and behind schedule. Worse, the US Department of Transportation has stated that if the project does not get off the ground pretty soon, St. Louis will lose future transportation funding. Need I say more. Written by Paul Dribin
This is the gang that can’t shoot straight. Now the opening of the trolley is delayed again because one of the three cars needs repairs and the parts are not available. There are also rumors of dissension within the ranks of the Loop community due to the number of businesses that have been lost during the construction and the lack of leadership from Joe Edwards.
The St Louis Contrarian 