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Saint Louis News - "All the news that is Saint Louis"
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  Grand Entrances to Forest ParkTime to "Play ball" for No Call ListThe Future Starts Here at the McDonnell PlanetariumButterfly House Merges With Missouri Botanical GardenIt Takes a Village to Build a StadiumMissouri Steps Up to the Plate for New Cardinal Stadium'Rib America' Festival at Soldier's MemorialTourism Season Has Dramatic
Impact on St. Louis Area EconomyReuters to Provide SAVVIS With
Up To $45 Million in Financing'No Call' Exceeds 1.1 Million MissouriansLeica Camera, Inc. Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With Support of Rare Civil Rights Photo ExhibitionHardee's Moves Headquarters to St. LouisEnterprise Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Leisure RentalsPatients' Medical Information to be Used for MarketingGov Holden Promotes Technology At Festus Elementary SchoolSmall Towns and Villages Appeal to US TravelersWestin St. Louis Opens at Cupples Station ComplexLamkin Will Succeed Joyner-Kerseeas Sports Commission Chair American Airlines Announces TWA Buyout |
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), July 30, 2001 - Local and state officials and airline representatives were joined by nearly 400 guests under a blazing summer sky at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, July 30, to break ground for the initial $1.1 billion phase of the Airport Expansion Program (W-1W).
The initial phase is scheduled for completion by 2005 or early 2006 and will include construction of a nearly two-mile-long third parallel runway and associated taxiways. The expansion will re-route several major traffic arteries west of the airport including Lindbergh Blvd, Natural Bridge Road, Fee Fee Road, Missouri Bottom Road, Cypress Road, Bridgeton Station Road and Long Road. The airport is providing up to $18.8 million to purchase land, design and build a new Pattonville Elementary School in St. Ann. Also, the Missouri Air National Guard will be moving into new quarters due to the expansion. "Lambert Airport is vital not only to the entire region but to our entire state, said Joe Driskill, director, Missouri Department of Economic Development. "It is North America's 15th largest airport in terms of total use with a $5.1 billion impact on the St. Louis regional enconomy and employs almost 20,000 people. It just may be the number one enomonic/development engine for our entire state," stated Driskill. The expansion is expected to inject an estimated $7 - 10 billion into the regional economy by the year 2015 and create nearly 86,000 new jobs over the next 15 - 20 years. The payroll for Phase I is anticipated to be more than $112 million through 2006. Lambert suffers during inclement weather, reducing the capacity to 40 percent, and contributing to massive delays across the country. The expansion will also enhance public safety because fewer aircraft will be required to taxi across runways being used by other aircraft landing and taking off. "The program will ultimately mean more travelers will conveniently pass through Lambert's gates with fewer delays than we see today," said Leonard Griggs, Jr., director, Lambert-St. Louis Airport. Under current operations, Lambert handles approximately 500,000 takeoffs and landings, with an average delay of 8 minutes. With the new runway, there will be 705,000 takeoffs and landings annually. Phase I will double parking space for vehicles from 6,300 spaces to 12,500 and increase the number of gates from 87 to more than 100. Don Carty, president and CEO of American Airlines noted that the runway means fewer delays. "This new runway will give us the wherewithal to follow through on our commitment to grow and develop our new hub for many years to come," stated Carty. The program is funded by a half-dozen sources: grants from the aviation trust fund, general airport revenue, airport bonds paid for by airport revenue, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration and passenger facility charges. Griggs stated that no local tax dollars or revenue is being used for the project. "The airport will be paid for only by people who buy tickets and board airplanes."  Art Happening at Queeny Park ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), July 20, 2001 - The 25th Annual Art Happening returns to Queeny Park, August 31 - Sept 2, with more than 130 artists from across the country displaying works in all media including oils, clay, glass, wood, jewelry, watercolors, sculpture, photography and more. The event, sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Art Association, Pioneer Bank and Trust Company and the St. Louis Bread Company, will be held indoors in the climate-controlled Greensfelder Recreation Complex. Live music performances and refreshments will add to the enjoyment of the show. Admission is $3 per person with free parking. The show and sale will take place Friday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, call 314-889-0433.
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