Just a quick thought: why doesn't Metro start an Adopt-a-Track program for Metrolink? That way, a corporate or philanthropic organization could pay for track or station upkeep and maintenance. A sponsoring organization could even help fund Arts-in-Transit for its particular station or track segment. There could be a competition amongst donors, who get a bit of advertising out of the deal, to see who has the best Metro stop.
There could also be Adopt-a-Route, for buses.
What say you, Metro?
1 comments:
Hey Matt, I responded on Twitter but I can respond more at length here. We're envisioning two kinds of partnerships: One like you envision, with art- or station-related improvements being sponsored by businesses in the MetroLink system. (Similar to what CTA does.) Or a second kind wherein a neighborhood, business, or group might adopt a bus stop and help provide for some upgrades, like a decorative bench or an art shelter, or perhaps sponsor a sign post add-on that would hold a schedule. (The sponsoring organization could then get new schedules by email when they get changed, and go out to the stop and make the change.)
This project is not the highest priority - I am spending a lot of time working on ARRA projects right now, which have tight deadlines - so as work ebbs and flows I get to spend a little time working on it, but it is something I'd like to get before the executive staff before summer, if possible. If you or the urbanist community has some ideas or thoughts on how this could be run, let me know! Jennifer@nextstopstl.org.
But remember, this is still in the "idea" phase and doesn't have anyone's approval. Anytime a program like this is introduced, you have to look at it from a resource perspective. Someone will have to manage it, promote it, etc. If organizations want to do it, someone will have to work with them, our maintenance of way guys will have to actually install upgrades, etc. So it's not just a "free" idea - there's always a cost, and we have to prioritize what we can do with limited staff & resources. But the only way to find out is to put together a good proposal and let people hear it.
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