WHY SUCCESS IN ST. LOUIS?
This article describes St. Louis' MetroLink light rail transit system. Since MetroLink opened in July 1993, patronage has been noticeably higher than planners originally predicted. MetroLink does not generate a profit, nor does any metropolitan transit system in the United States. Bus ridership has increased since the introduction of MetroLink. Overall, measured by projected and actual ridership, MetroLink is a distinct success. Economic development is another measure of success, with the Metropolitan Express (MAX) light rail system in Portland, Oregon, providing the standard. MetroLink has not yet equaled the economic impact of MAX, partly because of the two cities' vastly different growth rates. The final measure of success is the favorable response of the citizens of St. Louis to the system. They speak highly of it, but more important, they use it. The last part of this article discusses the four elements that have functioned as prominent features that contributed to the success of Metrolink. These are urban morphology, construction costs, effectiveness of bus feeder routes, and publicity.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07386826
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Authors:
- Warren, W D
- Publication Date: 1995-9
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Figures; Photos;
- Pagination: p. 22-26
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Serial:
- TR News
- Issue Number: 180
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0738-6826
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Construction; Costs; Economic impacts; Feeder services; Light rail transit; Performance; Publicity; Ridership
- Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs
- Geographic Terms: Saint Louis (Missouri)
- Old TRIS Terms: Urban morphology
- Subject Areas: Construction; Economics; Finance; Public Transportation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00713066
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Oct 25 1995 12:00AM