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Shuttered Loop Trolley seeks $1.26M in federal money, says its tax collections are down 53%
The trolley closed in December 2019 after facing low ridership and difficulties putting into operation the number of streetcars initially planned. Author: Jacob Kirn – St. Louis Business Journal Published: 7:14 AM CST March 10, 2021 Updated: 7:14 AM CST March 10, 2021
ST. LOUIS The shuttered Loop Trolley is seeking a reboot with more federal money.
The taxing district that built the 2.2-mile line is requesting $1.26 million from the Federal Highway Administration s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ), to fund 70% of its operations with cars running four days a week for two years. The trolley entity, a transportation development district that charges a 1% sales tax in the Delmar Loop, would kick in $540,000 in local matching funds.
I’ve never been happier to see a year end, but 2020 certainly deserves a new edition of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which was written by Clement Clarke Moore and originally titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Happy and safe holidays to you! ’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through South County, Those without.
âI sure thought it would be operating during the Christmas holidays,â Edwards said last week.
âThat would have been glorious. Families could ride it and have this wonderful experienceâ as they sampled the areaâs shops and eateries.
But the COVID-19 pandemic kept trolley backers from implementing their plan to resume service last April for four days a week, using money that had accrued in its sales tax districtâs coffers. Thatâs been put off until the pandemic recedes, next spring or later.
Meanwhile, University City officials have begun talking about what will happen if the trolley isnât on sound financial footing by mid-2022.