Best Way? 2.22.2007 | 7 Comment(s)
I looked into taking the Metrolink downtown daily and discovered it takes about 40 minutes to go from the Shrewsbury station to the one at the convention center. I can't add an additional 2 hours to my daily commute, my dog's bladder would explode. I wish there was a more direct route, but there's not so I'm going to have to drive most days.

Question...what's the best way to get downtown from South City (Southampton). I was thinking about taking Gravois all the way up. Suggestions?
7 comments:

By Blogger stlmark, at 7:27 PM

I think you're right on track with the Gravois route. That's my prefered road for Downtown.

 

By Blogger Matt Fernandez, at 8:57 PM

I've taken a whole bunch of different routes to get to the ONSLRG since I started interning there. I only live a few blocks from you, so our commute would be comparable. I think Gravois has probably been the easiest, but I'm not always necessarily concerned about the fastest route.

 

By Blogger Chris, at 12:21 PM

I never take the fastest route. Every time I think I found a great new way, the lights turn against me the next time. Bad luck with traffic lights on any route through the city can make your journey a LOT longer. So I'd feel bad giving advice.

Since you mentioned the Metro, I looked up bus lines and there's actually a few lines that go directly from our neighborhood to downtown. The 11X picks up at Macklind and Chippewa and only takes 30 minutes to drop you off in downtown. If you count the time it takes to park, etc that's really in the same ballpark as driving. The stop is near a clean 7-11 or not too far from Murdoch Perk for morning coffee. Just a thought. The money you save on parking downtown might make this attractive.

 

By Blogger Michael M., at 1:40 PM

TripFinder is worth a look for checking Metro routes.

 

By Blogger Brick City, at 8:47 PM

all great advice...thanks! i'll look into all these options. If i can avoid paying for parking that would be ideal!

 

By Blogger Joe, at 11:41 PM

I'll second the rec on the #11x Shrewsbury Express route. It runs several times AM and PM, and it is pretty fast because up here east of Gravois, it skips most stops. (Luckily I can still catch it at Arsenal and Gravois, depending on my work schedule).

Anyway, try the #11x and I think you'll be impressed at just how fast it will get you into the heart of downtown. It also connects with MetroLink at Civic Center if you do need to go west.

Other MetroBus options are much slower, such as:
#11 Chippewa (it makes many, many stops along Chippewa east of Grand and on S. Jefferson, and does not go all the way into downtown);
#92 Macklind or #95 Kingshighway, to transfer to MetroLink at Central West End. Both routes get tied up in the I-44 ramp traffic and the BJC employee rush traffic as well.

So, if you want to try transit, the #11x is certainly your fastest way to go.

 

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:24 AM

I drive from my house (hampton and chippewa) to downtown everyday and take:

Chippewa to Macklind. North on Macklind to Southwest. East on Southwest to Vandeventer. North (east) on Vandeventer to I-44. I-44 to the downtown exit.

There are a lot of turns but I have found it to be the fastest route because traffic is minimal on Macklind and Southwest.