Historical Fall 2010 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
US Undersecretary of Transportation Roy W. Kienitz made the official announcement in July of a urban circulator streetcar programs grant of $25 Million for the Delmar Loop Trolley.
The grant fills a huge part of the proposed $44 Million project.
The trolleys will run from the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park along DeBaliviere, then go west on Delmar all the way to the U City Lions Gates. Of the remaining $19 Million, approximately $5-8 Million will come from private donations, and another $9 Million has been pledged from East-West Gateway Council of Governments and the St. Louis Development Corporation, a City of St. Louis agency.
The History Museum will also participate in the fundraising efforts; Washington University is also an important supporter.
The balance will come from sales taxes already being collected at Loop businesses. Operating the trolley will cost about $ 2-4 Million a year, and this will be partially paid by a one-cent sales tax in the Transportation Development District, already approved by voters. Fares from passengers will fill part of the remaining need; selecting the operator and figuring out fares will be decided in the coming year. Construction is due to start next year on the “St. Vincent Greenway” connector along DeBaliviere to Forest Park, and that design has been planned to be compatible with the planned trolley.
Following the route of the old streetcar lines which ceased in 1966, overhead wires will power the trolleys, although hybrid engines will power the vintagelooking vehicles in Forest Park. Edwards said that while the initial cost for the hybrid vehicles is higher than simply renovating older trolley cars, the project would save money on installing the poles and wires required to go around corners. Additionally, it would remove the need for overhead wires around the History Museum, which is a key supporter of the trolley project. Along Delmar, the trolley project will connect neighborhoods and bolster the successful links between the City of St. Louis and University City forged by the success of Joe Edwards’ other great projects, including the Pageant Theater, the Moonrise Hotel, the Tivoli Theatre, and his original restaurant, Blueberry Hill, a constant tourist attraction along According to Edwards, this is “a game changer for this exciting and culturally diverse urban district,” on what the American Planning Association calls “one of the ten Great Streets in America.” The trolley will connect as many as 12 million annual visitors to St. Louis and Forest Park with the Loop and our neighborhoods.
Original photograph caption
Russ Carnahan, Joe Edwards, Charlie Dooley and Lacy Clay at 25 milliongrant presentation by Roy W.Kienitz.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Fall 2010.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source paragraph ends a constant tourist attraction along before According to Edwards; incomplete source clause retained without guessed object.
Original source: SD_Times2010_09.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 6; PDF page(s) 1, 6.
