“A transit station or stop can serve much more than a transportation function; it can be a setting for community interaction, a place that fosters a diversity of activities. Through Placemaking, stations and stops become focal points in a community.” – Project for Public Spaces
CMT, AARP in St. Louis and the Arcturis team are beginning work on the Environmental Design/Placemaking Audit for three MetroLink Stations in the St. Louis region. Transit, from simple bus stops to light rail stations, can be natural focal points for activity and revitalizing adjacent neighborhoods. CMT/AARP will look at the North Hanley, Delmar and Forest Park Stations as potential focal points for the surrounding neighborhoods and stakeholders through this process.
Currently, area residents, transit commuters, and visitors do not view these stations as destinations. For transit stations like these to play an effective role in improving the livability of a community, they must be an integral part of community life and riders must have confidence in the safety of the system at that site. This process provides the opportunity to engage with community members, riders and stakeholders near each of these three stations.
“It is our goal that this community engagement process will not only educate the participants on what to look for when evaluating other stops but will give them a sense of ownership of these three stations,” said Kim Cella, Executive Director of CMT.
This will be a three month process with audits at one stop per month:
August – North Hanley
September – Forest Park
October – Delmar
More information will be available shortly on exact dates, times and how to participate.
“We are very interested in the outcomes from this project; identifiable next steps to improve conditions at or around the stations, improving perceptions of safety through environmental design and activation of space; and fostering a sense of identity at each of the three stations,” said Sheila Holm, Community Outreach Director for AARP in St. Louis.
If you are interested in participating in any of the three walk audits, please email name, address, phone to kcella@cmt-stl.org. Please specify preferred station audit.