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Session 170 I, Minutes July 7, 1997 would suggest eliminating it as a practical option. There is only a limited amount of money from the Proposition M taxto build the first expansion route. If University City makes unreasonable demands and restrictions, the Millbrook route could be eliminated as viable. The overall cost would become too expensive, giving those people who do not want MetroLink in University City additional ammunition to advocate going out Highway 40 to Clayton. From the very beginning we have been in favor of below grade construction along the entire route. He said that they also want it covered so people can not see it. They have studied the sound, environmental and safety issues with this type of construction and are satisfied that this method will serve the City well. Despite the objections of a few vocal opponents, most people do support that plan. In their survey of over 450 University City residents, 8296 had no objection to below grade construction. In the First Ward, support was at 7996, in the Second Ward it was 8496 and the Third Ward it was 8296. Because of these factors, he urges the Council to do what is right for University City and ensure that the integrity of the neighborhoods are preserved, but to also understand the importance of reasonable and practical demands. (Applause) David Geller, 7337 Maryland, want ed to speak about the June 23rd error. He said that he loves this neighborhood and University City. He said he was just shocked. He applauds Mr. Wagner for his curative thoughts, but he thinks that the June 23rd resolution; the way it was railroaded through and the way the Council voted for it, is just a disaster. There are people with very strong interests who are determined to carry them out. He would have to single out the Mayor as one of these people. He asked Council to do their duty and just pass the October 21 st resolution again and be done with the whole mess. (Applause) Julie Bloomquist, 7103 Westmoreland, said that on the June 23rd resolution that was passed, it speci[cally stated that it was the Mayor and the Council that felt the Millbrook alignment was the most desirable. She asked that Mr. Wagner propose that paragraph be removed. University City does have access to the Delmar station and she still does not understand why a solution can not be worked out with the City of St. Louis to develop those few blocks. Mayor Adams replied that they were currently working on this. Ms. Bloomquist said that this was the quickest way to get MetroUnk into the University City business district. She said that it makes sense to support the Highway 40 route, because the bulk of the population is there. The neighborhoods along the proposed route are nearly all historic neighborhoods and she said that they pay a large percentage of the real estate taxes. They are very concerned about having their properties devalued, if the Millbrook route goes through. The position on no park and ride lots is fine as long as Council remembers that it is only for University City. If they decide to put a park and ride lot at the corner of Big Bend and Millbrook, which is Washington University property - they can do it. She proposed to amend the resolution to state that there would additionally not be a MetroLink stop at Big Bend, whether it is underground or at the surface. If MetroLink must go down Millbrook, she thinks that it has to be in a tunnel or cut and cover. She was also very appalled to hear about what happened with the June 23rd resolution. She thinks the integrity of the original resolution was dissolved by the Mayor. She thinks the people need to look at replacing the Mayor and get someone that can be trusted to represent the people. She believes the Mayor is representing political interests. (Applause) Charles Caspari, 7330 Maryland, would like to support the motion which has been made tonight to amend the June 23rd resolution. As he recalls, the original resolution passed in October, was based on "if MetroLink came through University City, this is how it would have to be." The current resolution says that the best route for MetroLink is down Millbrook, As he was thinking about this, he was struck by an article in the morning paper, of all the congestion of traffic areas in St. Louis, which MetroLink is supposed to help alleviate. One of the areas conspicuously absent as a traffic problem in St. Louis is the Forest Park Expressway. It is never mentioned. (Applause) An area that is conspicuously clear on the map is Highway 70 out by the airport where MetroLink runs. Maybe MetroLink is the answer for the Highway 40 congestion. East-West Gateway, in the article, is quoted as saying '~that the delays in the region caused by the congestion are about a million dollars a day in terms of lost time, fuel consumption and air pollution." He was not sure if East-West Gateway was in a great position to say that Millbrook was the way they wanted to recommend. As we also look at the train going through Forest Park, the article says that Highway 40, from the Chesterfield area to about Hampton gets congested going both east and west in the morning and evening. That is the part, if we bring it down Millbrook, that will be completely avoided. Let's put MetroLink where it belongs, where it can help the congestion problem.