MetroLink, and why it Don't Go Nowhere

Looking back at the original MetroLink line in St. Louis, (Forest Park to East St Louis) let's all remember how it had to be put together on a shoestring budget in order to get voter approval. Look at the crossties at the Central West End station sometime - rotting from the inside out, because they're 50, 60, 70 years old. Every single piece of the original line was scrap or frenched from older railroad lines that were being shut down.

The original extension, from FP to Lambert, was very similar; notice that it runs through old railroad rights-of-way. Heck, the Delmar Station is right below an old passenger depot from the Wabash line, which believe that they owned the portion of the right-of-way and trenches that make up the majority of the trip from East St. Louis to about UMSL south or so.

The Shrewsbury line was the next logical line to build because so much of the land was cheap - it was residential, like near the Sunnen station, or was being given to Metro free of charge (Washington University donated land along the length of its campus to shift Forest Park Parkway slightly to the south, making space for the open trench between Skinker and Big Bend stations).

The problem with going north south is this, then: With as much bellyaching as people do about Metro's budget, despite the fact that the organization really does run on a tightrope, where would the line run? It can't run down I-55 unless it's built on elevated tracks above the highway, and that would create incredible expenses - and where to put the stations? It could run down Broadway, I suppose, except that there's a freight line crossing Broadway at the brewery, which means AB and Metro would have to coordinate schedules. Plus, where on Broadway would you put it? Above? Below? At grade in a fence?

Do any of my readers remember how long it took the city to rebuild Broadway at Arsenal a few years ago? Three years, at least. How well would Todd Waelterman and his staff fare with an 8-mile rail line being built over there?

So, the line would most likely would have to run down the riverfront, which creates its own mess of problems, like flood preparedness, and the fact that the major employers in south city - AB and the Defense Aerospace Mapping Agency - are both 3500 feet from the river.

Plus, how would this line GET to south city? Would it run down Broadway the whole way? There's no space to build a transferring line at any station but the Civic Center - or at least, there was space there until the Amtrak and Greyhound multimodal center went up. Maybe a non-connecting transfer at the Eads Bridge and the arch? Would the new Arch grounds plan allow for that sort of space as a scenario?

Maybe it could run down Grand - or at least, it could have done, until the great streets initiative made that impossible. The south grand neighborhood association would NEVER let the rail line tear up the sidewalks they're just now building. And what happens when it gets to Carondelet park?

No, despite my best hopes, the Metrolink will NEVER run to south city, unless and until the city residents and county residents who would be affected (the city ends at Weber, or thereabouts) get it in their heads that they'll have to sacrifice to get something done for the good of the whole region.

And - let's be honest here - when was the last time that happened?