BUS STOPS: CHESTERFIELD STEPS IN WHERE METRO HAS FAILED

So Chesterfield is going to pitch in on getting some bus stops with shelters.  I am glad that Chesterfield is stepping up to the plate.  Metro's deplorable CEO John Nations is the former Mayor of Chesterfield.  It is good to know that Nations attitude towards public transit riders is not shared by all of his neighbors.

From:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/71253dd7-dd14-5589-ab69-cf56542ff0a6.html

Chesterfield’s City Council on Monday night gave initial approval an cooperation agreement between the city, Metro, and the Chesterfield Valley Transportation Development District for of bus stop shelters in Chesterfield valley and in other areas of the city in which there are Metro bus routes. A final vote on the legislation is set for June 16. 

The article states that the shelters will be installed in Chesterfield and also in other areas of the city.  In Chesterfield the bus stop trashcans will be maintained by the Chesterfield's waste management provider.  The trash around bus stops is an issue for everyone.

 http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/metro-does-not-take-responsibility-for.html

Too bad Metro gave away $5 million in "contributions to outside entities" (political campaign contributions) in 2013.  That would surely pay for some new shelters and maintenance. ($5 million is also the exact amount that Metro is demanding riders pay for in the next two years through the fare hikes.)

OPTINSTL thinks it might be a bad idea to leave the planning and construction up to Metro.  Mismanagement of funds is systemic at Metro.  After the Shrewsbury debacle, and their continued insolvency and inability to complete  Metrolink expansion to north Saint Louis and Florissant, they need to be audited and overhauled before they are entrusted with any new projects or public money.

At the very least, I hope that someone from Chesterfield will be appointed to audit the planning and construction very closely.

OPTINSTL would like to suggest that Chesterfield add bus schedules and route information, and perhaps install recycling bins that issue public transit credits for plastic bottles.  Also, I hope they will work closely with street services to make sure the new shelters have sufficient lighting and sidewalks in good condition.  Not just in Chesterfield, but all over the city.

Bus stops: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-should-be-metros-new-bus-stop-plan.html

Recycling: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/metro-could-save-on-trash-cans-with.html 

It is a shame that Metro has not placed a greater priority on surveying its' bus riders.  (They do a once a year survey, a very incomplete survey, on the Metrolink.  But the bus is the biggest portion of their service, and north St. Louis City and county constitute the greatest share of riders.  Metro executives and planners know almost nothing about their best customers.)

If Metro did thorough surveys, they could tell the city of Chesterfield the bus routes that were used the most.  The #91 and #258 easy guesses, but what about the many riders that make one or more transfers?

http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metros-new-survey-should-be.html

OPTINSTL spoke with a rider on the #90 bus that lives in Baden and works in Chesterfield.  It is a two hour ride each way.  He takes the #90 to the Metrolink, and then the Blue Line to the #258.  There are no shelters at either of his bus stops.  (And no public bathrooms at all along the way.  When will this most basic of human needs be addressed?)

Improved bus stop shelters will help a lot, but Metro still has a long way to go in becoming a truly viable public transit agency. 

TIME TO SEND METRO A MESSAGE:

JULY 1ST! BOYCOTT METRO!  STRIKE CITYWIDE! DON'T RIDE!