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Session 1818 <br />August 6, 2001 <br /> <br />of the extension project. This calls for a re-examination of our position and <br />demonstration of our resolve to stand with our Parkview neighbors who are rightly <br />incensed by the treatment they are receiving. <br /> <br />Peter Steuterman, 7335 Cornell, is a member of the Big Bend Neighborhood Advisory <br />Committee. He challenges the Council not to take on this resolution or its many issues. <br />The neighborhood advisory committees have been meeting, in public, and they have <br />been well documented. He has received many hundreds of emails from the Ames <br />Place Subdivision. So far, they have been able to mitigate the problems of the <br />MetroLink line from a center line alignment to a north alignment. By doing that, we have <br />separated the two forms of traffic, and therefore, we have gotten rid of all the sound of <br />the gates, whistles, and bells. There are no more traffic crossings on MetroLink for this <br />stretch. The other issue is that they are trying to get and move the alignment of the <br />entire, both the cars and the train alignment to the south. We have asked for that, but <br />they have not received it at this point. If the Council decides to approve this resolution, <br />they will be telling the region that the process doesn't work and the last two years of <br />people's efforts have been ineffective and wrong. The Council will be saying that the <br />only way to do this thing is to put it underground. He does not agree. Furthermore, the <br />committee has been able to establish and maintain the existing pedestrian north and <br />south traffic from particularly Trinity. This was a very large issue with the Ames Place <br />subdivision. This has been accomplished. We have a four way underground station <br />with four intersections at Big Bend. This was also important to our neighborhoods. He <br />does not think that this action that the Council has been asked to take, on a regional <br />basis, is a fair and honest approach to a regional transportation project. <br /> <br />Bob Dowgwillo, 7343 Northmoor, used to live on Pershing, which is one short block <br />away from one of the MetroLink right of ways. Surface rail has been a part of U. City <br />since the City came into being. Parkview, had trolleys running, at frequent intervals on <br />its north, south and west boundaries along Delmar, parallel to Melville and along the <br />north side of what is now Forest Park Parkway, similar to the right of way we are <br />discussing tonight. The trolleys back then were certainly more noisier than the light rail <br />trains we have now. We need to have a Ii§Iht rail system to happen sooner than later. <br />We cannot expect the federal government to bail us out. Under the current budgetary <br />restraints, we cannot expect any funds from them any time soon. The plan currently in <br />place is the best practical solution to extending MetroLink with the monies available. <br />He does not believe that a fully underground alignment is necessary nor the best <br />engineering solution. He suggests that the Council not adopt this resolution. <br /> <br />Judy Little, 6325 Waterman, said that this resolution has a great deal of support. She <br />asked the residents of Parkview subdivision to rise. There is a great deal of strength of <br />feeling of the residents about the importanc'e of this resolution. University City has a <br />long history of protecting its residential areas. In this case, the City has turned its back <br /> <br /> <br />