East St. Louis Action Research Project
Introduction
This proposal extends the MetroLink light rail system from its current terminus near 5th and Missouri streets in the East St. Louis central business district to State Street Estates near the Eastern edge of the city. A series of new rail stations would be strategically located along a route largely following the abandoned CSX railroad corridor. The rail corridor roughly paralells Interstate 64 as well as parts of State Road 161 traversing through and alongside the city. Utilizing this existing corridor, which lies primarily at grade, minimizes the costs associated with land acquisition, as well as further disruption to the residential neighborhoods.
Four new platform stations would be located along the extension at 15th street in Emerson Park, 29th street, Kings Highway, and an undetermined site in State Street Estates at about 73rd Street. The first new station, at 15th street would fall north of the interstate to directly serve the residents of Emerson Park. The 29th street station would occur south of the interstate as a result of an existing crossing of the rail corridor by the interstate. The remaining new stations, at Kings Highway and State Street Estates, would also fall south of the Interstate, along the exisitng corridor.
The new stations and rail extension would serve as economic generators for the city as a whole, as well as to provide direct access to the neighborhoods of Emerson Park, Dayton, Wedgewood, and State Street Estates. Additionally, neighborhoods in proximity to the four new stations which would be indirectly served include Olivette Park,Winstanley/Industry Park, Landsdowne, Claremont, Fairlawn and Edgemont.
The initial economic impact to the areas served would be most likely realized through the obvious benefits of increased access into and from the city. As a part of this goal, 'Park `N Ride' facilities at the Emerson Park and Kings Highway stations would be a critical initial-phase component. Spin-off commercial and/or residential development is seen as the long-term objective.
As an alternative to the above route proposal, a second proposed route further minimizes the costs associated with providing new crossings of the existing interstate. This route returns across the interstate immediately after the 5th and Missouri station, crossing an existing rail overpass, and follows the existing rail corridor for the entire distance to a new terminus at State Street Estates.
East St. Louis Action Research Project
