Garrett A. Duncan, Ph.D,
"a terrific asset as a teacher and colleague"
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Garrett A. Duncan, Ph.D, "a terrific asset as a teacher and colleague" |
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MetroLink expansion to impact Hilltop traffic
Forrest Park Parkway to temporarily close; construction to take 18 months-2 years By Andy Clendennen People, get ready -- MetroLink is coming to campus. Preliminary work will begin by the end of September to bring MetroLink past the Hilltop Campus on the north side of Forest Park Parkway. "The first thing people will see is mid- to late-September when underground utility lines will be relocated near the intersection of Big Bend Boulevard and the parkway," said Steve Hoffner, assistant vice chancellor for students and director of operations. "There will be some traffic restrictions on the parkway beginning in late September, but those should be temporary, a couple of months." The real work begins next spring, when Forest Park Parkway will be closed from Brentwood Boulevard to at least DeBalivere Avenue and maybe even to Union Boulevard. A temporary roadway will be available to allow people to enter the parking garages on the north end of campus. Construction is expected to take from 18 months to two years. "ItÕs not going to be a pretty picture for a couple of years," Hoffner said. "It will be a challenge to get people around campus, get people to and from campus. WeÕve worked very closely with all the agencies in this area to coordinate our plans, and we think we have a plan that will work." Included in the plan are concessions to allow limited traffic whenever possible on the parkway. "From Big Bend through Throop Drive, it will be one-way east bound," Hoffner said, "and from Skinker Boulevard to Throop it will be two-way traffic. We are working with St. Louis County to hopefully install a temporary traffic signal at Snow Way and Big Bend behind Small Group Housing so people who want to go west to Big Bend will be able to." And because Forsyth Boulevard now will see heavier traffic from people trying to bypass the parkway, talks are ongoing with the city of Clayton for a temporary traffic signal at Forsyth and Hoyt Drive. When the construction is complete, two underground MetroLink stations will have been erected; one at the corner of Skinker and Forest Park Parkway, and one at the corner of Big Bend and the parkway. Between the two stations, the train will be above ground. The University tried to find a way to keep the train underground for the entire route, but because of underground utilities, the cost is significantly lower to bring the train back to grade. A big concern for the University community was how the electromagnetic field (EMF) associated with powering the train would affect research in nearby buildings. "The University retained a consultant a couple of years ago who has done a yeoman's job, and we now have a plan that everyone has agreed to for mitigating the EMF," Hoffner said. "We will not disrupt the sensitive research that is going on in chemistry and physics and some of the other sciences." A MetroLink station and Clayton shuttle stop will also be erected at West Campus. The University has agreed to give up 35 parking spaces in the lot adjacent to the Firestone property. The station will be below-grade, but it will be open-air, similar to the Busch Stadium station. Upon completion, the Medical, Hilltop and West campuses will be connected with the rest of the city via MetroLink. "At the University, we view this as a wonderful asset not only for us but also the region," Hoffner said, "and we're hopeful that people will feel comfortable riding it, and they will leave their cars at home." |
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