Historical November 1997 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
On Thursday, Oct. 30, 97 people came to Grace United Methodist Church to discuss the proposed MetroLink expansion that will take place along the Forest Park Parkway from the Forest Park station on into Clayton.
It will be an additional southern boundary to our neighborhood and many residents have been concerned about noise, vibrations, and lack of access to the park. Les Sterman, the director of East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, Tom Shrout of Citizens for Modern Transit, and Nancy Farmer of Mayor Harmon’s staff made brief remarks.
They all touched on the importance of citizen involvement and of creating consensus during the design phase.
It has not yet been determined if the route is to be at grade level, below grade and uncovered, or in a tunnel.
A diagram distributed by Sterman placed community engagement at the core of the design process. Sterman indicated that he and/or his staff would be willing to meet with residents at any time.
The process is to begin in January of 1998. Tom Shrout said that Citizens for Modern Transit is a special interest group dedicated to the expansion of MetroLink.
They will sponsor a trip to northern California so that people can see how rail is utilized in San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento.
This trip, set for next spring, is open to anyone who would want to participate. Nancy Farmer explained that Mayor Harmon wants an open public process to plan this extension of MetroLink. Sterman said that if Proposition M passed, there would be more resources that would permit more flexibility in creating options. Various residents expressed a strong dislike of this northern route. Neighbor Dan Schesch indicated that the overriding concern appears to be “maximize the miles.” To do that, a strategy of using the cheapest means—not cut and cover—would be employed. Sterman said that involved a value judgment.
He indicated there is a variety of goals and that he hoped we could all work together to design the best alternative. Dee Hayes, also a resident, summarized the fears of many present.
She said that the decisions are dollardriven and that the cheapest alternative is likely to be chosen.
She urged the panel to remember that the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood had made tremendous progress and that the people present loved and worried about the neighborhood.
She said that neighbors “won’t live with any concession to save money at the expense of this neighborhood.” Residents then broke up into several groups with facilitators to voice their conceptions of the most significant concerns they associate with the MetroLink expansion. Further public meetings on this topic will be scheduled.
Original photograph caption
Susan Littlefield,Les Sterman,Tom Shrout,and Nancy Farmer lead the presentation. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1997.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1997_11.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
