In 2011 I wrote two research papers for the Rock Road Reporter, AIRPORT CITY – The Future of the Rock Road and BEYOND AIRPORT CITY – Making the Exurbs Accessible. These were written in response to a meeting with Tim James, then Mayor of St. Ann, concerning the potential redevelopment of Northwest Plaza.
This is the second paper - AIRPORT CITY –Making the Exurbs Accessible. April 24, 2011
In our April issue, I discussed the rebirth of Northwest Plaza as the “Town Center” for the St. Louis Aerotropolis. With the probability of increased cargo traffic at Lambert International Airport because of the China Hub connection, Northwest Plaza would be the most reasonable site for office and retail commercial, hotels, parks, restaurants and entertainment venues, as well as a variety of residential uses necessary to support this major enterprise.
Increased activity and enterprise will accentuate the critical need for an improved transportation infrastructure to serve the Aerotropolis. As does the current cost of gasoline ($4/gal) and the realization that $5/gal may be immanent.
Highways and major thoroughfares are in place. Highways I-70, US 67 (Lindbergh Blvd.), MO 180 (St. Charles Rock Road) and MO 115 (Natural Bridge) border the site; highways I-170, I-270, MO 370 and MO 364 (Page Ave.) are minutes away.
A new road is in the planning stages that would connect Natural Bridge Rd. by the Lambert main terminal to Cypress Rd. That connection should extend directly to Northwest Plaza.
The redevelopment of Northwest Plaza means residents, employees, and visitors will create an even greater demand for public transportation to and from the area. Many of these people will come from areas to the west, St. Charles and beyond. They will want and need less expensive and “greener” transportation.
Moving Transit Forward is a recent study conducted by Metro Transit and the East-West Gateway Council of Governments. ”It combines state-of-the-art transit science, professional urban and transit planning experience, and direct input from the community to reposition the Metro System to better connect people to jobs and other important destinations, and to act as a powerful engine of economic growth and development throughout the region.”
This is an excellent study, incorporating Metro Bus, Metro Link (light rail), and looking forward, commuter rail, to strengthen the region and create a dynamic transportation system that would move St. Louis another step closer to regaining its distinction as a world-class city.
According to the study “Transit makes St. Louis a better place to live and work:
The transit study presents a “possible future extension” of MetroLink from the Airport to O’Fallon, MO via I-70, and a “possible future extension” to Westport Plaza (including the Monsanto / Danforth research area), from Clayton.
These are viable and needed routes, would serve the area well, and reduce the requirements of everyday automobile use.
However, I would like to suggest a couple of alternative solutions.
MetroLink currently terminates at the Main Terminal at Lambert. (Although damaged by the tornado of April 22, 2011, the terminal will again be operational by this magazine’s publication date). An extension of this line could follow the new Natural Bridge extension, directly to Northwest Plaza and the Aerotropolis.
This line would then continue to the Westport Plaza business and entertainment complex and would include a station near Page and Lindbergh, where it would connect with the planned extension from Clayton.
Both of these lines to would become even more vital when MetroLink is extended into St. Charles County.
Over the past 10 years many major employers have built facilities throughout St. Charles County. These facilities have created thousands of jobs, but most residents continue to commute to St. Louis City and County for work, shopping, and entertainment. St. Charles County residents use the airport, and attend sporting and cultural events in the City.
Northwest Plaza and the Rock Road Corridor will be the destination of many of these commuters.
St. Charles County residents would be connected via a MetroLink extension from Westport Plaza to Page Ave. (MO 94) and Jungs Station. This route could eventually continue to I-64.
Stations would be built at:
The areas around these new stations are called Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) and all locations offer exciting opportunities for compact, walkable communities centered around the MetroLink system. These communities offer a higher quality life without complete dependence on the automobile.
Therefore MetroLink becomes a self-sustaining system, offering quality public transportation not only to those people living, working and playing in these new communities, but to those who live in the exurbs, beyond the MetroLink system, allowing them access to jobs and activities within the higher density urban and suburban communities. No longer will 60-mile round-trip commutes in your car be necessary.
The Moving Transit Forward study also discusses commuter rail lines to Alton, Illinois, and Eureka / Pacific , Missouri. Both of these routes would follow the existing Amtrak routes and could be linked, in the future, to the high speed rail systems to Chicago and Kansas City. Typically, a commuter line has less frequent stops, and may operate during peak times only.
Again, I would like to suggest a third commuter route, as an alternate to the MetroLink line to O’Fallon, MO. It would be a commuter route to Wentzville and eventually beyond. This route would be rush-hour oriented, carrying mostly passengers from the suburbs into the city and back, on high-capacity trains.
The Norfolk Southern Railroad operates on existing rail lines that run from downtown St. Louis, north and northwest to the northern edge of Lambert Airport, across the Wabash Bridge into St. Charles County, and beyond. These lines could be improved for passenger cars and could include stations and related TODs at numerous points along the route, including:
Imagine being able to come to Northwest Plaza from Wentzville, Downtown St. Louis, Swansea, Il, or even Shrewsbury, without depending upon your car. Imagine the savings to your wallet and the environment.
“Moving Transit Forward has been adopted and approved as the St. Louis region’s official long-range transit plan. It is intended to be a dynamic, living document that will be updated as the region’s transit needs change.”
If we want Northwest Plaza and The Rock Road Corridor to grow and prosper, it’s time to get on board.
I mention this because of a recent article in the St. Louis Business Journal. The City of Bridgeton, MO is seeking proposals from developers to create an “industrial front door” to the city on 500 available acres, about 10 minutes from the airport. The “front door” is located at MO 141 (Earth City Expressway) and MO 370, adjacent to the Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Because I can “Imagine Without Constraints” and can have “Ideas Without Boundaries” I ask What If land could be planned for a potential TOD around a possible transit station?
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