Forest Park-Loop Trolley Plan Moves Forward
Thanks to Joe Edwards’ continued efforts, St. Louis is taking one step closer to being a great destination for visitors.
Plans are in the works for a new hybrid-electric trolley which will run on tracks from The Loop to Forest Park.
The 2.2-mile fixed-track trolley will have 9 stops including:
- Forest Park MetroLink station
- Delmar MetroLink station
- Crossroads College Preparatory School
- Pageant
- Tivoli Theatre
- Market In the Loop
Today’s STLToday article provides details on the background of street cars in St. Louis and plans for the future project:
The trolleys will run in both traffic lanes of Delmar west of the old Wabash train station.
Tim Page, a project engineer with the firm CH2M Hill, predicted that the trolleys will alleviate traffic congestion in the Loop.
“They’ll travel right along with traffic, accelerating and braking like a car,” Page said.
East of the Wabash station, the trolleys will transition to a single track running down the middle of Delmar. The trolleys will also run on a single set of tracks on DeBaliviere.
DeBaliviere will be reconfigured from four lanes to two. Traffic will be moved to the west side of DeBaliviere, while the trolley and a greenway for bicycles and pedestrians will be on the east side. Page said the trolleys will be hybrid-electric models. They will run on battery power west of the Wabash station.
East of the station, they will be powered by overhead electric lines on Delmar and DeBaliviere that will recharge the batteries.
The cars will be retro-styled but with modern amenities such as air conditioning, heating and efficient mechanical systems.
The article also quotes Joe Edwards as saying “If you look at other cities that have them, trolleys lead to more commercial and retail activity, as well as neighborhood vitality.”
Impact on Housing Market:
I also think that the trolley could lead to more demand for housing in neighborhoods in the eastern section of the Loop and near the city stops.
Just last week I helped a couple buy a home in Maplewood within a couple of blocks of two MetroLink stations. Over the years, I’ve had a number of clients try to find homes close to the light rail stations, usually without a whole lot of success.
The trolley stops will be a huge bonus for people wanting easy access to Forest Park and the Loop’s nightlife. My prediction is that many people who would have chosen to live in the Central West End will take a serious look at the neighborhoods along the trolley line. Easy access to Forest Park, Loop restaurants and MetroLink stations heading to the CWE and the city, combined with more affordable home prices than those in the CWE, will make the trolley area very attractive.
Once all this happens, prices will start going up. Maybe the time to buy is now.
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