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Parkway North High School Wins Lexus Eco Challenge
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), February 28, 2010 - Creating rain gardens, building a biodiesel processor, and promoting the use of solar chimneys were some of the actions taken by the winning teams in the second round of the Lexus Eco Challenge, an educational program and contest that empowers young people to make a positive difference for the environment.
The "Team Neon" - Parkway North High School from St. Louis, MO, was one of the 15 winning middle and high schools teams in Challenge #2 who were awarded $10,000 each and are now qualified to participate in the Final Challenge for a chance at one of two $30,000 grand prizes and 14 $15,000 first-place awards. Parkway North High School addressed destruction of natural prairies. In all, Lexus will award a total of $500,000 in grants and scholarships throughout this year's program. All award money is shared among the students, teacher advisor and school.
"Since launching the Lexus Eco Challenge three years ago, we've enjoyed watching as thousands of students have stepped up to protect our environment, and this latest round of entries did not disappoint us," said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "We've been impressed, humbled, and most of all, inspired by the dedication of the teams and their teacher advisors."
Harsh Winter for St. Louis Roads and Bridges Continuous Freeze-Thaw Cycles Causing Problems
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), February 28, 2010 - A colder than normal winter and plenty of moisture hasn't been a good recipe for roads and bridges in St. Louis. The consistent up and down of temperatures around the freezing mark this year has increased the potential for potholes and concrete chipping off bridges.
According to Missouri Department of Transportation District Engineer Ed Hassinger, "Water seeps into cracks within pavement and concrete and freezes, which expands the cracks and causes material to loosen up and break away when the ice melts."
This destructive process has definitely been the case since the first of the year. Three St. Louis bridges have been found with damage due to freeze-thaw cycles loosening up concrete, which then falls to the ground below. The most recent incident caused damage to two vehicles parked underneath the Interstate 64 overpass near downtown.
"This has been one of the most challenging winters for road and bridge maintenance," said State Bridge Engineer Scott Stotlemeyer. "Just when you think winter will let up, here comes another weather event that brings freezing temperatures and snow that's tough on transportation."
The good news is that all three bridges found with damage are structurally sound and safe to drive on. These damages are cosmetic, so drivers should feel confident using these bridges.
The number of potholes seems to be up this year, too. MoDOT maintenance crews are patching up as many as they can, but won't be able to fully catch up until temperatures stay above freezing. Unfortunately, local meteorologists tell MoDOT that drivers should expect to deal with the kind of weather that produces potholes for a while longer.
To report a potential pothole problem or bridge issue, please call 1-888-ASK-MODOT or (314) 340-4100.
Metro to Unveil Transit Expansion Plan in March
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), February 28, 2010 - Metro's Board of Commissioners and the East-West Gateway Council of Government's Board of Directors officially adopted Metro's strategic plan for Moving Transit Forward. Metro is currently organizing the final report for a March 2010 public release and will continue presenting the plan in a presentation format to various leadership groups and St. Louis regional City Councils.
With its adoption, the plan can now be used by EWG in guiding transit expansion and funding decisions for the next thirty years. The Metro long-range planners have determined that the 1-5 year action items can be initiated once additional local and federal resources are secured. The 1-5 year action plan includes:
- Restoration of services that were cut in March 2009, including returning MetroLink to peak operating times, restoring Metro Bus and Call-a-Ride service, and adding frequency to crowded MetroBus routes;
- Planning and engineering of a new light rail extension;
- Planning, design, and construction of 2 bus rapid transit routes;
- Implementing upgraded passenger amenities and technology, including: Smart Card technology, web applications that take advantage of Metro's Google Transit data feed and a better, more functional Metro website, and computer-aided dispatch/automated vehicle location technology to ensure better, more efficient service.
The 10- and 30-year portions of the plan cannot be accomplished without additional state and federal dollar support. The final report will include information about the financial support that will be required to complete each phase of the Moving Transit Forward plan.
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