Historical April 1997 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The following is a copy of a letter sent by Georgi Ann Fox, 61xx McPherson, to EastWest Gateway on March 11, 1997.
The MetroLink proosal as presented by Doug Campion of Sverdrup Engineering on January 29 at Crossroads School is detrimental to the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood.
The so-called northern route is said to be the least expensive of four alternatives.
The rails are to go up to grade at DesPeres south of the Parkway. By putting a ground level crossing there at DesPeres, pedestrian and bike access to Forest Park is eliminated.
The Skinker DeBaliviere area is a revitalized and now stable neighborhood in the western central corridor.
It is served by two existing MetroLink stops at DeBaliviere and Delmar.
The route that best serves everyone is the Oakland-Forest Park tunnel—Millbrook to Clayton.
This route links the BJC Medical Center to Washington University and Clayton while servicing other major stops between St. Louis U. High, the Science Center, Forest Park Community College, whatever develops at the arena site, Deaconess Hospital and then, through the park underground, the zoo and the Art Museum and then on to Washington University and Clayton. Going the cheapest route is not necessarily the best. Ignoring all those major institutions doesn’t serve the community well. I’ve just finished reading the PeirceJohnson Report in today’s Post and everything they discuss says “Plan well for the future.” Please consider these options with an eye to the future, not just a cheaper way to get another MetroLink route up and moving sooner.
It would be a shame if, afew years down the road, everyone said “we should have served all those institutions to the south.” Then it would be too late.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April 1997.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1997_04.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
