Show me the Land of Lincoln: The St. Louis-Chicago Amtrak

The Lincoln Service of the Amtrak, the route between Chicago to St. Louis, traverses 284 miles of the rolling hills of Southern Illinois: galloped by horses, nourished by farmland, and preserved by woodland. This rail service is in the midst of a several year project to make improvements to the route, and operate more high speed trains.

Several years behind Europe in increasing the efficiency of train transportation, particular areas of the route already have trains speeding along at 110 mph.  In an effort to move speeds up to 125 mph and reduce the commute between the two Midwest cities to approximately 3 hours, there is a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluation being conducted.

“The 16-month Tier 1 EIS will identify and evaluate improvements needed to accommodate higher speed (125 mph maximum) trains and additional daily round trips. Higher speed trains would reduce travel time, increase service reliability and enhance safety. The Tier 1 EIS is separate from the construction currently taking place along the corridor”

The EIS is a mandatory evaluation that considers the impact of the rail service on the natural environment, the impact on surrounding communities, and the archaeological record at stake. After careful examination, the EIS will purpose the best options for the project’s continuance to the Federal Railroad Administration and the project can move forward from there.

Originally hoping for the first trains to run in 2014, the expected dates are now pushing back to 2016 for the high speed rail service. These pioneering American efforts will forge the Midwest cities as top travel destinations for international visitors.

Written by Ciara Brewer on behalf of Monica Brewer

Bike Friendly, St. Louis!

With gas prices the way they are, cities around the country have been improving their public transportation systems. Although St. Louis has attempted to hop on board with the Metro Link and bus system, the city and county are still largely inaccessible through public transit. But, don’t give up just yet: bicycles to the rescue!  

Great Rivers Greenway is an organization who has taken the initiative since 2004 to build bike trails through St. Louis, and its neighboring cities, to facilitate alternative transportation that encourages positive health and promotes local economy. The project is a sect of Americorps and mainly run through volunteer and community efforts. Most of us are familiar with one of their most famous outcomes from the project: Grant’s Trail. Extending 8 miles across southwest St. Louis County, it is an easy trail that houses many St. Louisan’s sunny afternoons. Although the bike trails are great as an afternoon destination, the goal is to extend the trails throughout St. Louis and its surrounding areas as a means of transport.

On the macro level, the project will help to promote health and wellness, community cohesion, and affordable transportation for our progressive city. Over the past 7 years, the organization has developed over 80 miles of on-street bike lanes throughout St. Louis City, Kirkwood, Clayton and Maplewood. Street bicycling can be intimidating, especially to newly procured cyclists. Adequate bike lanes provide a safety zone for your commute as well as cautioning neighborhood traffic in the area to be more aware of cyclists and share the road.

Bike safe and have fun St. Louis!

Written by Ciara Brewer on behalf of Monica Brewer