Snow, 'Bureaucratic Snafu,' and Gun Shots: Rough First Day for Trolley Service in St. Louis

First, a snow day delayed the opening of the Loop Trolley in St. Louis. Then, the trolley didn't runt the full route. Finally, the trolley line became a crime scene.

November 18, 2018, 1pm PST | James Brasuell | @CasualBrasuell

One of the Loop Trolley Transportation Development District's new trolleys being unloaded in February 2017.

Gateway Streets

Wikimedia Commons

"The Loop Trolley got off to a slow start Friday afternoon," reports Mark Schlinkmann.

First, the trolley's originally planned opening, scheduled for Thursday, had to be postponed due to snow.

Then, "[t]he trolley system's two cars only traveled along part of the route in St. Louis, between the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park and a stop at the corner of Delmar Boulevard and Des Peres Avenue." According to Schlinkmann, service was limited due to "glitch" with the conditional use permit issued by University City.

That was a prelude, however, to gunfire near the trolley after a car crash. "Crime scene tape blocked the trolley route as officers investigated the shooting," according to Schlinkmann.

The article includes more details about why University City isn't ready to let the trolley roll over its entire route. Apparently, "there are nine issues that the trolley operators have known about for a year or more that still must be addressed."

Past Planetizen coverage of the St. Louis Loop Trolley.

Full Story:

Loop Trolley's first day: A 'bureaucratic snafu' kept it from running full route. Then, crime scene tape.

Published on Friday, November 16, 2018 in St. Louis Post-Dispatch