Should there be any doubt that LA belongs among the big 6 urban US cities?

[Emprise du Lion]

Originally Posted by jmecklenborg

St. Louis, for example, was able to build subway stations in an existing old freight railroad tunnel. But most of their light rail network has crap station locations. Like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6298187,...570INbn7G3Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

To be fair to the other stations in St. Louis proper, Grand is the worst one in my opinion. Grand Blvd becomes elevated as it goes over the rail lines below, so, if they were going to build a station for Grand, that meant building it below the overpass next to the still-in-use freight line. There's some other overpass stations, but you don't have the freight line next to you.

Originally Posted by meh

Here's a nice map from a reddit user showing current STL Metrolink lines and in-the-works extensions:

https://i.postimg.cc/Fsg44bmS/not-really...-see-what-the-metro-v0-mff5bnr39hla1.jpg
Image Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/StLouis/comments/11gortk/comment/japujrt/

The extension from Shiloh Scott AFB to MidAmerica Airport (more cornfield miles on the far right) is fully funded by Illinois and under construction. The City North-South extension (yellow line) is in the environmental review stage and should begin construction in 2-3 years.

But, yeah, about 1/3+ of the system is currently wasted on IL cornfields and IL/MO low-density suburbs because politics.

I'd need to double check the numbers, but I think the Metro East side of the MetroLink might be closer to 40%+.

St. Clair County's & Illinois' contributions to the MetroLink at least created something of a commuter rail system for St. Clair County. I just wish Missouri these days would be even a quarter as willing to fund MetroLink as Illinois has been.