>> GOOD EVENING.

AND WELCOME TO DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT SERVES THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AS WELL AS JEFFERSON, ST. CHARLES, AND ST. LOUIS COUNTIES IN MISSOURI AND MADISON, MONROE, AND ST. CLAIR COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR REGIONS PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.

METRO, WHICH INCLUDES OUR LIGHT RAIL AND BUS SYSTEM AND CALL-A-RIDE SERVICE.

BI-STATE IS ALSO OPERATING THE TROLLEY.

JOINING US THIS EVENING IS TAULBY ROACH, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT.

WELCOME, TAULBY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, WENDY.

THANK YOU, RAY.

>> YOU'VE BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION ON THIS PROGRAM, SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE HERE SO THAT YOU CAN ANSWER.

>> HOW IS THAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION ABOUT STAYING OUT OF THE NEWS WORKING?

>> I'M NOT DOING VERY WELL.

>> NOW, YOU HAVE MADE HEADLINES.

THERE ARE TWO TOPICS THAT SEEM TO BE IN THE HEADLINES.

ONE, OF COURSE, ALWAYS, THE LOOP TROLLEY.

I WOULD ARGUE MORE -- OF MORE IMPORT PROBABLE IS THE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTOR IN THE CITY, WHICH WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED.

WOULD YOU RATHER WE JUST TALK ABOUT THE TRAIN AT THE ARTS SHOW FIRST?

HOW IS THAT GOING?

>> THAT'S GOING GREAT.

ONE OF OUR SEASONS.

>> AND YOU DO OPERATE THE TRAM AND THE AIRPORT AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

LET'S START WITH THE NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTOR.

THERE'S SOME, AS WITH ALL THINGS TRANSIT, SOME CONTROVERSY, SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHERE IT SHOULD RUN OR IF IT SHOULD RUN.

MAKE THE CASE FOR IT AND TELL US THE LATEST AS FAR AS WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE.

>> SURE.

SO, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW YOU DEVELOP THE CITY AND YOU DEVELOP A CITY LIKE ST. LOUIS, I THINK THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE EVOLVING AND CHANGING.

AND INDEED, OUR SYSTEM HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY SINCE THE 1990s.

YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY THE LIGHT RAIL STATION THAT WAS FIGURED TO BE NUMBER ONE WAS 8th AND PINE.

INNOT 8th AND PINE.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE CENTRAL WEST END STATION.

THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE STATION.

THAT MEANS WE SHOULD BE DEVELOPING LIGHT RAIL AS THE CITY DEVELOPS AND MAKING THE CHANGES THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

CERTAINLY WITH THE NORTH SIDE/SOUTH SIDELINE, IT'S REALLY KEY THAT WE MAKE THAT DEVELOPMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOW THE CITY IS CHANGING.

WE'VE RECENTLY LOOK AT MAYBE TWEAKING THE 2018 ALIGNMENT A LITTLE BIT, RUNNING IT ALONG JEFFERSON AVENUE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTH AT NATURAL BRIDGE, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SOUTH AT CHIPPEWA.

IT'S A VERY GENEROUS RIGHT-OF-WAY.

WE WOULD DO A STREET-RUNNING TYPE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, BE ABLE TO HAVE A TRANSFER AT -- RIGHT AT THE RED AND BLUE LINE, SO STILL ABLE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN, ABLE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE CENTRAL WEST END STATION AS AN EXAMPLE, AND THE REALLY KEY ASPECT OF THIS IN HOW WE DEVELOP OUR CITY IS A SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD, STRAIGHT-LINE, TRANSSECTING THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

THOSE QUICK LINES TEND TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

>> YOU SEEM TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH MAYOR TISHAURA JONES.

>> YES.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE ROLE -- I MEAN, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT THE ROLE THAT THE PANDEMIC PLAYED IN MAYBE DIFFERENCES OR DIFFERENT VISIONS BETWEEN MAYOR JONES AND HER PREDECESSOR?

>> SURE.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE REFERENCED IS THERE WAS A 2018 STUDY THAT WAS DONE PREVIOUS, AND, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED AND HAS CHALLENGE KD ED ALL OF -- CHALLENGED ALL OF US, PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP CITIES, PRIVATE SECTOR PEOPLE, THE WORLD HAS CHANGED UNDERNEATH OUR FEET.

CERTAINLY THE ST. LOUIS OF 2017 IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS IF 2022, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO IS ADJUST THAT ALIGNMENT.

I WOULD IS AN I THAT MAYOR JONES HAS HAD THE VISION TO LOOK AT SOMETHING IN A NEW WAY AND THAT HAS MEANT THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS NEW ALIGNMENT.

CAPITALIZING ON SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, INCLUDING NGA, BUT ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS, HUGE DEVELOPMENT OBVIOUSLY IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MLS SOCCER STADIUM RIGHT THERE WITHIN ONE BLOCK OF WHAT WOULD BE PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL STATION.

LOOK, THAT'S THE KIND OF ICING ON THE CAKE IN TRANSIT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS FAR AS THES ON OPERABILITY OF THESE SYSTEMS.

>> WHAT'S THE TIMETABLE?

>> WE'RE STILL ANALYZING THE ROUTE.

LET ME MAKE THAT CLEAR.

WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY OVERALL DECISIONS.

WE STILL HAVE TO PRESENT AND DO A MORE THOROUGH JORVE VETTING THE ALIGNMENT REQUEST THE PUBLIC, THE AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS, THE VARIOUS ALDERMEN ALONG THE LINE SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT FURTHER.

SO WE'LL BE DOING THAT IN THE NEXT NINE MONTHS.

WE'LL DO AN INTERIM REPORT TO EAST-WEST GATEWAY.

I THINK WE'LL DO THAT IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER.

WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE FTA IN TOWN TO REVIEW THE ALIGNMENT, FTA STAFF.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR IN AND DISCUSSED IT WITH HIM AND HE THINKS THE LINE HAS A LOT OF MERIT.

WE'LL HAVE TO COMPETE WITH A LOT OF OTHER METROPOLITAN AREAS TO GARNER THAT MONEY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING 420, $500 MILLION OF FEDERAL MONEY TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, SO IT NEEDS TO COMPETE.

>> AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT SAY BASED ON THE TROLLEY, ETCETERA, WE DON'T NEED MORE MONEY AND ALSO AS A NATIVE ST. LOUISAN, PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN JUST NATURALLY WANT THINGS NOT TO CHANGE.

I THINK IN A LOT OF -- SO WHEN YOU SAY IT'S CHANGED A LOT SINCE THE 1990s, I'M GUESSING YOU GET SOME PUSHBACK FOR THAT.

>> WELL, SURE, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

WE HAVE THE DOMINANCE OF AREAS -- LOOK, I LIKE TO SAY WE'RE NO LONGER -- WE DON'T BUILD CORVETTES ANYMORE AND YOU TWO ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER, LIKE ME, THAT CORVETTES USED TO BE MADE ON UNION AVENUE.

THIS USED TO BE A MANUFACTURING CITY.

BUT I WOULD SAY AS A TIER 2 MIDWESTERN CITY, OUR GREATEST ASSETS ARE CONTAINED IN A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WASH-U, SLU, WE HAVE WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGY, THE DOMINANCE OF ENTERPRISE, SO THOSE ARE THE FUTURE OF ST. LOUIS AND WE NEED TO BE BUILDING OFF OF THOSE ENTERPRISES AND THAT MEANS THAT THE VERY FABRIC, THE TRANSPORTATION FABRIC OF THE CITY SHOULD ALSO CHANGE AS WELL.

>> CAN YOU SHARE WITH US IN TERMS OF THE SHARED VISION THAT YOU HAVE WITH MAYOR JONES AND THE EXTENSION UP TO NATURAL BRIDGE?

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT BUSINESSES ALONG THE EXTENSION?

>> YEAH, NO QUESTION.

SO THE MAYOR HAS BEEN A LEADING VOICE AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, LOOK, SHE HAS STAR POWER IN WASHINGTON, D.C., RIGHT NOW.

AND SO SHE HAS THAT ABILITY TO PUT ST. LOUIS ON THE MAP AS FAR AS OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ARE CONCERNED.

THAT'S A REALLY KEY TALENT.

BUT ADDITIONALLY, THE MAYOR HAS PUSHED TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN SOME OF THESE UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED, ARGUABLY, FOR DECADES AND MAKE SOME OF THOSE INVESTMENTS IN AREAS RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE'S NOT A LOT GOING ON.

CLEARLY A LOT OF THAT IS IN NORTH CITY AND SOME UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THEN WE HAVE THE DENSITIES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CHIPPEWA.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS THERE THAT CAN HELP DRIVE RIDER SHIP.

SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS CHANGE NOT ONLY THE TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE ROOFTOPS ALONG THE ALIGNMENT.

WHETHER THAT'S WHERE FOLKS LIVE OR WORK, THIS IS HOW YOU DEVELOP A CITY.

>> IN TERMS OF MARKETING AND REACHING THOSE POTENTIAL USERS, WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT OTHER THAN ADVERTISING ON RADIO, FOR EXAMPLE?

THAT WAS A JOKE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A JOKE.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> SURE.

>> HOW DO YOU REACH THOSE PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS SUCH A MARVELOUS ALTERNATIVE?

>> WELL, I AM NOT A MARKETING PROFESSIONAL.

I PROMISE THAT I WON'T -- THAT'S ONE OF MY CONFESSIONS TODAY, BUT I THINK PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS BUILD INTEGRITY OF SERVICE.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT AN EARLIER PROJECT THAT HAD A PROBLEM WITH INTEGRITY OF SERVICE, EVEN WITH THE LOOP TROLLEY.

IT'S A VERY SIMPLE IDEA.

PEOPLE ASK ABOUT WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE.

THE FIRST OBJECTIVE IS LET'S LET IT RUN.

LET'S LET IT RUN AND BE RELIABLE.

IT'S A SIMPLE OBJECTIVE, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AT METRO TRANSIT IS WE KNOW HOW TO RUN EQUIPMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NEARLY 1,000 OPERATORS WHO STILL, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, SHOWED UP.

I THINK THEY'RE THE REAL HEROES OF ST. LOUIS.

THEY STILL SHOWED UP FOR THOSE 4:30 A.M.

SHIFTS.

THEY STILL MOVED ST. LOUIS.

THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMY OF ST. LOUIS.

IT STILL EXISTS AND NOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BUILD OFF OF IT.

TRANSIT IS PART OF THAT EQUATION.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN VERY OPEN, I THINK REFRESHINGLY, ABOUT THE FACT THAT METROLINK HAS AN IMAGE PROBLEM, A PROBLEM REGARDING SAFETY.

AND ONE OF THE COROLLARIES TO IT, I DON'T KNOW IF -- IS THE QUESTION OF TURNSTILES VERSUS, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING TURNSTILES.

AND I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I THINK GOT BEAT UP FAIRLY REGULARLY BECAUSE I READ THE SECURITY REPORT WHICH DIDN'T THINK TURNSTILES WAS GOING TO MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.

BUT NOW IT'S BEEN MANDATED YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL PEOPLE TONIGHT THAT IN ANY WAY -- IN WHAT MESSAGE DUNET THE PUBLIC TO HEAR ABOUT SECURITY AND SAFETY ON METROLINK?

>> THAT'S ONE ASPECT.

LOOK, WE DO NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS.

AND THE PUBLIC WANTS -- JUST LIKE ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, I LIKE TO THINK OF TRANSIT AS A TRANSPORTATION NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST HAPPENS TO BE MOVING.

FOLKS WANT SECURITY WHETHER THEY LIVE IN WELLSTON OR CLAYTON, WHETHER THEY LIVE IN EAST ST. LOUIS OR BELLEVILLE.

EVERYBODY WANTS A SAFE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ON TRANSIT.

LOOK, IF SOME FOLKS WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S A MARKETING PLAN TO CLOSE THE SYSTEM AND GATE IT, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO DO.

BY THE WAY, WE HAVE GARNERED $10.7 MILLION OF PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT TO DO THAT, AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT IN OUR CITY, AND I THINK THAT SHOWS WE HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT, BUT LOOK, IF FOLKS WANT IT AND YOU WANT TO CALL THAT A MARKETING PLAN TO GET MORE PEOPLE ON TRANSIT, OKAY, HAVE AT IT.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT BY ME.

MY JOB IS GET MORE BUTTS IN THE SEATS, SO TO SPEAK.

I NEED TO GET MORE FOLKS ON TRANSIT.

I NOT ONLY WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE ON TRANSIT, BUT FEEL COMFORTABLE.

THAT'S WHAT OUR GOAL SHOULD BE.

>> WE HAVE TURNSTILES EVERYWHERE, TAULBY, AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO GREAT ABOUT ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BORNE OF FRUSTRATION.

WHAT CAN YOU -- CAN YOU TAKE US BACK TO THE DECISION NOT TO HAVE THE TURNSTILES?

AND BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SIMPLY HAVE BEEN AT A LOSS AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, BUT WE'RE NOT TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES.

>> SURE.

>> SO MAYBE YOU CAN WALK US THROUGH THAT.

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE LOGIC WAS.

WE'RE MOVING FROM THAT MODEL.

THE ORIGINAL MODEL WAS INSTEAD OF SPENDING THE MONEY ON THE HARDSCAPE, OKAY, THAT YOU WOULD THEN INVEST THE MONEY IN, FOR INSTANCE, PERSONNEL, IN SECURITY OR POLICE OFFICERS TO ENHANCE SECURITY.

AND FOR INSTANCE, DO MORE.

SO THE OPEN SYSTEM CONCEPT DOES SPOT WORK VERY WELL IF YOU -- DOES NOT WORK VERY WELL IF YOU DON'T MAKE THE HUMAN INVESTMENTS IN SECURITY AND THEY NEED TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH ONE ANOTHER.

EVEN IN OPEN SYSTEMS, OPEN SYSTEMS IN A THEATER OR STADIUM, YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S A HEAVIER ASPECT OF PHYSICAL SECURITY, OKAY?

SO THESE CONCEPTS NEED TO BE -- NEED TO BE INVESTED IN AND DEPLOYED IN PARALLEL FOR THEM TO WORK.

AND LOOK, LET'S JUST BE HONEST.

IT WASN'T WORKING.

AND IF THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS ARE SAYING THEY FEEL UNSAFE ON THE SYSTEM, THEN WE NEED TO RESPOND TO THAT AND CHANGE WHAT OUR CURB APPEAL IS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS AND WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE FORWARD.

>> JUST TO -- NOT TO BEAT THAT HORSE TOO MUCH, BUT YOU DID BRING IN SOME OF THE WORLD'S TOP EXPERTS ABOUT THIS, AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT SAID, FUNNELING PEOPLE MAKES SENSE, TURNSTILES THEMSELVES ARE KIND OF A WASTE.

AND AM I WRONG?

THAT WAS THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND ULTIMATELY IT GOT OVERRULED BECAUSE PEOPLE HERE, YOU KNOW, FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH TURNSTILES.

YOUR HONOR, I DON'T THINK THE TURNSTILES ARE GOING TO WORK MYSELF ANY MORE THAN THEY DID IN THE DESERT IN BLAZING SADDLES, BUT THE FACT IS YOU GOT TO DO -- YOU'RE LISTENING TO FOLKS AND I THINK THAT'S COOL.

LET'S SHIFT TO THE TROLLEY, GOT TO BE A FAVORITE TOPIC.

YOU HAVE -- BI-STATE STEPPED UP AND SAID WE CAN DO THIS, WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.

AGAIN, I'LL LET YOU JUST HAVE THE FLOOR TO TELL US WHY SO MANY PEOPLE -- I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PROJECT THAT'S EVER HAD MORE SKEPTICISM HERE IN ST. LOUIS THAN THIS ONE HAS.

>> SURE.

>> PEOPLE JUST KIND OF VISCERALLY DISLIKE IT, EVEN ONES THAT AREN'T PAYING FOR IT.

TELL US WHAT HE IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHY PEOPLE SHOULD BE OPEN-MINDED ABOUT IT?

>> LOOK, WE'RE A PUBLIC AGENCY AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE ENGAGED IN SOLVING PROBLEMS.

THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE THINK NEEDS TO BE SOLVED, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE EARLY EXAMPLES THAT YOU MENTIONED WAS INDEED THE TRAM SYSTEM UP TO THE ARCH.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THAT, AND BI-STATE WAS TAGGED WITH TRYING TO MAKE THAT SOLUTION WORK.

AND WE DID.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT'S VERY KEY.

LOOK, I AM BEING CHALLENGED WITH NORTH SIDE/SOUTH SIDE TO GO AND COMPETE FOR THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

COMPETE FOR FEDERAL DOLLARS.

I JUST MENTIONED A PROJECT IN NORTH SIDE/SOUTH SIDE WHERE WE'LL BE COMPETING FOR NEW STARTS FUNDING APPLICATION FROM SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 420 TO $500 MILLION.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

THE DEFAULT ON THE TROLLEY IS ONLY $21 MILLION.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, I GET IT, BUT HAVING A DEFAULT ON THE BOOKS MEANS THAT AS A REGION, AND I'M SORRY, I'M NOT VERY POPULAR BY SAYING THIS, BUT THIS IS MY OPINION.

HAVING A DEFAULT ON THE BOOKS REGIONALLY IS BAD FOR US.

ALL OF THOSE TRAINS AND BUSES THAT I RUN, WE GET 80% OF FUNDING THROUGH THAT VERY REGION, REGION 7 IN KANSAS CITY.

WE GET OUR FUNDING THROUGH THAT, AND HAVING A REASONABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE FEDERAL PARTNERS IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE GOING INTO THAT SAME OFFICE, AND LOOK, I'M ABOUT AMBITIOUS PUBLIC PROJECTS.

NOT ALL OF THEM WORK, OKAY?

AND CERTAINLY THIS ONE IS HAVING ITS TROUBLE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU TRY AMBITIOUS PROJECTS, FIVE OF THEM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FOUR WILL WORK WELL AND ONE MIGHT NEED SOME HELP.

THIS ONE NEEDS SOME HELP.

WE'RE GOING TO STAND UP AND DO OUR BEST THAT WE CAN.

WE'RE GOING TO FIREWALL THE FUNDING AND BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO ENGAGE ANY OF OUR FUNDERS' DOLLARS AND TRY TO RUN IT SIMPLY ON THE TAX BASIS THAT IT HAS.

>> NINE PBS HAS ASKED THE TWITTERVERSE FOR THEIR FEEDBACK, AND THEY HAVE BEEN SENDING IN A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

TAULBY, ONE OF THEM IS WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO THE BUS FLEET AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THAT REGARD?

AND WE THINK OF BALANCE, WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT METROLINK, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BUSES?

>> BUS SERVICE IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN OUR BUS SERVICE, ALMOST 90% OF OUR BUS SERVICE IS IN MISSOURI AND ABOUT 10% IN ILLINOIS.

IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY KEY WEB INTO THE OVERALL TRANSIT SYSTEM.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS WHETHER THEY BE SECURITY, WHETHER THEY BE IN WORKING ON THE ROLLING STOCK.

IN FACT, OUR FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC FLEET IS IN THE NUMBER 70 GRAND, A GRADE 14, ALL-ELECTRIC, BEAUTIFUL 60-FOOT NEW FLYER BUSES MANUFACTURED IN ALABAMA OF ALL PLACES, AND THOSE ARE OUT THERE MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS.

AND SO PART OF THAT -- THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE TO THAT 2019 STUDY THAT RAY, YOU READ, AND WE'RE INTERESTING A LOT OF THOSE SPACES AND SOME OF THAT IS SECURITY AND CAMERA SYSTEMS ON THE BUS SYSTEM AS WELL.

SO WE NEED TO SEE IT AS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM.

I REALIZE METROLINK OFTEN GET AND LOT OF THE ATTENTION, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE BY THE VIEWER THAT THE BUS SYSTEM DESERVES AS MUCH ATTENTION.

>> IN THESE TWEETS, THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE SENSE THAT THERE IS A DISINVESTMENT GOING ON IN TERMS OF BUSES.

IS THAT PERCEPTION VERSUS REALITY?

WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO OUR VIEWERS TO PUT THEIR MINDS AT EASE?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE CASE.

IT NEEDS TO BE SEEN AS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM.

IT IS TRUE THAT, LIKE A LOT OF BUSINESSES, WE HAVE SUFFERED HAVING EMPLOYEES AVAILABLE TO RUN OUR ROUTES AND MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES OPERATE BUSES, AND SO SOMETIMES IN THE EMPLOYMENT SHORTAGE, WE HAVE MISSED SOME TRIPS.

I WOULD REALLY PREFER NOT TO EVER DO THAT.

WE'VE HAD TO CUT BACK SERVICE.

NOT BECAUSE OF FUNDING, STRICTLY BECAUSE OF HAVING THE EMPLOYEES AVAILABLE TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE FABULOUS JOBS AT METRO.

I'D LOVE TO GET MORE OPERATORS.

THEY'RE GREAT SALT OF THE EARTH FOLKS.

MOST OF THEM HAVE WORKED FOR US FOR OVER NINE YEARS.

IT'S A GOOD JOB, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WHETHER IT'S IN THE ROLLING STOCK, WHETHER INVESTMENTS IN OUR OPERATORS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE DONE.

>> FOR THOSE OF OUR VIEWERS WHO THINK I'M PUFFING YOU UP ABOUT THIS STUDY, IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST -- REALLY SARCASTIC, EVEN, CRITICISMS -- I MEAN, IT WAS JUST -- THIS IS NOT YOUR NORMAL STUDY THAT AGENCIES GET ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

IT WAS A GREAT READ BECAUSE THEY WERE SO CAUSTIC ABOUT CRITICIZING THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

>> JURISDICTIONS, YEAH.

>> AND JURISDICTIONS AS WELL AS BASICALLY SAYING, WHY DON'T YOU TELL YOUR -- I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO PARAPHRASE IT, BUT YOUR SECURITY FORCE TO MAYBE, LIKE, LET GO OF THE DRUG DOGS AND STUFF.

AND THIS WERE NOT -- THEY WERE UNCOMPLIMENTARY AT THE TIME.

WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THAT STUDY WITH REGARD, OR DO WE STILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM WITH MISCOMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION?

>> WELL, HONESTLY, IT WAS A QUALITY STUDY BECAUSE IT WAS A FAIR CRITIQUE.

THERE WAS POOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR THREE PROFESSIONAL POLICE PARTNERS AND METRO, AND WE HAD TO OWN THAT.

WE HAD TO SEE THAT AS A PROBLEM.

LOOK, I THINK NO SECRET THAT OUR REGION HAS BEEN HAUNTED BY THAT BIFURCATION OF DIFFERENT REGIONS, SO WE HAVE FIXED THAT.

OUR RELATIONSHIPS ARE RIGOROUS.

I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO TALK TO ANY OF THE -- THE SHERIFF IN ST. CLAIR COUNTY, THE CHIEFS ON EITHER OF THE MISSOURI FORCE TOP, WE WORK TOGETHER ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

WE'RE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

WE ARE NOT THE POLICE.

METRO SECURITY IS NOT THE POLICE.

THE POLICE HAVE THEIR JOB AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF EVERYTHING.

WE ALSO NEED TO WORK ON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SOME OF THOSE AS SPECKSES AND BE FRIENDLIER TO OUR COMMUNITY.

ALL ASPECTS OF SECURITY AND POLICING, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE THE HEAVIEST PART OF POLICING.

OTHER PIECES HAVE TO DO WITH FUNDAMENTAL CUSTOMER SERVICE.

WE'VE PUT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON THE METROLINK LINE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, TO TRY TO ENHANCE THOSE SERVICES AND SEE OUR COMMUNITY AS COMPLEX AS IT IS AND TO DEAL WITH THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE HAVE.

LOOK, WE'RE AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE PROBLEMS THAT WORK ON -- THAT ARE ON THE SYSTEM AND WE HAVE TO BE HONEST AND CONFRONT THEM.

>> WE HAVE HAD SOME EMAIL FROM ST. CHARLES COUNTY WONDERING IF THAT WILL EVER BE REVISITED, TAULBY.

>> OH, I'D LOVE TO BUILD THAT IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY.

LOOK AT THE BURGEONING, GROWING AREA, BUT THE REAL KEY IS THAT THE FOLKS OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY NEED TO DO THE SAME THING THAT ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND ST. CLAIR COUNTY DID.

SELF-TAXING INITIATIVE BASED ON EXPANDING THE METROLINK SYSTEM OR ESSENTIALLY THE METRO SYSTEM, I SHOULD SAY.

AND SHOULD ST. CHARLES COUNTY DO THAT, YOU KNOW, BY GOLLY, I THINK WE CAN EXPAND THE SYSTEM AND REALLY HELP THE FUTURE OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN SOME REALLY INTERESTING AND NEAT ASPECTS.

WE USED TO HAVE 37 METROLINK STATIONS.

WE NOW HAVE 38.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE INVESTMENTS LIKE CORTEX.

I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I'M ON THE TRAIN IN THE MORNING AND I LOOK UP AND SEE A MICROSOFT SIGN, I KNOW THAT ST. LOUIS IS CHANGING.

ST. LOUIS IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY YOU'LL NEVER SEE CHANGE IN ST. LOUIS.

I CHALLENGE THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.

I SEE THE CHANGING SPACE ON METROLINK AND METRO BUS AND I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THE VOTES IN ST. CHARLES WERE NOT THAT LOPSIDED, ACTUALLY CLOSE, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT THE WEATHER DOWN BELOW BEFORE YOU -- YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER VOTE IN MANY PEOPLE'S ESTIMATION.

ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS OR ANY IMMINENT THOUGHTS THAT -- FROM ONE OF OUR MANY ASTUTE VIEWERS, IS THAT ANY CONVERSATION ON THAT?

>> RECENTLY?

>> I HAVEN'T RECENTLY HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS, BUT I THINK THE POINT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

YOU NEED TO DELIVER.

PART OF NORTH SIDE/SOUTH SIDE IS THAT WE NEED TO DELIVER THAT INVESTMENT THAT THE PUBLIC ASKED US TO MAKE.

THEY'RE GETTING IMPATIENT.

THEY'RE LIKE, WHERE IS THE LINE GOING TO GO?

AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD AT MAKING SOME PROGRESS.

MAYOR JONES OBVIOUSLY, THAT KIND OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IS UNIQUE.

THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY IS A REALLY KEY ASPECT HERE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT BEFORE.

A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

SELFISHLY, THAT'S VERY GOOD FOR ME, MAKES MY JOB A LOT EASIER, SO PART OF THAT IS THE POLITICAL WILL.

THE POLITICAL WILL TO NOT ONLY HAVE A SELF-TAXING INITIATIVE, BUT ALSO LEADERS WHO ARE BOLD ENOUGH TO TRY TO STEP OUT AND TRY SOMETHING NEW.

>> IN TERMS OF SECURITY, GETTING BACK TO SECURITY, WE HAVE HAD SOME EMAILS, PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT IMPACT WILL TURNSTILES OR GATES ON THE PLATFORM, WHAT HAVE YOU, HAVE ON SECURITY IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE SO MANY OF THE ISSUES ARISE?

>> WELL, YES, ALTHOUGH ONE OF THE -- AND OUR POLICE PROFESSIONALS WERE INVOLVED IN THE 2019 STUDY AND ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF THAT WAS MAKING AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, ESSENTIALLY SECURITY BUBBLE THAT WOULD BE INSIDE AND WOULD BE EASIER FOR OUR POLICE PARTNERS TO SECURE.

SO IT'S CERTAINLY A LEGITIMATE CRITIQUE.

OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE, AND OUTSIDE IN OUR PARKING LOTS AND SO ON.

ONE OF THE REALLY KEY ASPECTS AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GARNER PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT WAS TO ALSO THEN ENHANCE OUR VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, SO WE WOULD DO STATE-OF-THE-ART VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, REALTIME CAMERA CENTERS THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO SEE NOT ONLY OUR PARKING LOTS, BUT ALSO LOOKS INTO THE TRAINS AND BUSES.

A LOT OF THAT TECHNOLOGY IS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

ALL WE GOT TO DO IS GRAB IT OFF THE SHELF, MAKE THE INVESTMENTS AND TRY TO MAKE EVERY ASPECT OF OUR SYSTEM SAFER, INCLUDING THE PARKING LOTS.

>> I KNOW YOU WANT TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE TROLLEY, SO LET ME ASK YOU ONE MORE QUESTION, AND THAT IS TELL US WHAT THE SPECIFIC PLAN IS IN TERMS OF HOURS OF OPERATION AND STUFF SO FOLKS -- I DON'T THINK WE COVERED THAT.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT AND WHEN CAN THEY EXPECT IT WITH REGARD TO BI-STATE OPERATING -- OR STARTING UP THE TROLLEY AGAIN?

>> RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE TRY TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH EXPECTATIONS.

I REALIZE THAT THAT'S MODEST, BUT WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE STARTING AT A MINIMUM AND ANALYZING THE EQUIPMENT AND BE SURE IT'S WORKING WELL.

THAT'S JUST A THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY TYPE OPERATION JUST ON THE WEEKENDS.

IT WILL BE FREE.

WE'RE GOING TO START -- I THINK IT'S AUGUST THE 4th.

WE'RE GOING TO RUN FOR A FEW MONTHS UNTIL IT GETS COLD.

THIS IS A WARMER WEATHER TYPE OPERATION.

THE EQUIPMENT WORKS WELL IN THAT ASPECT, AND WE NEED TO SEE HOW WELL IT GOES.

THEN AFTER WE HAVE THOSE, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF OPERATING UNDER OUR BELTS, WE'RE SURE THAT IT IS BEING SAFE, THAT IT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY A STATE SAFETY OVERSIGHT, THEN WE'LL SEE HOW WE CAN EXPAND THAT ENVELOPE AND DO A LITTLE BETTER OF ENHANCING THE BUSINESSES DOWN RATHER THAN IMPACT THEM NEGATIVELY.

>> SO IT STARTS AUGUST 4th.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> TWO DAYS AFTER THE PRIMARY.

THAT WILL BE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, POLITICIANS OUT OF WORK THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP OUT.

>> HOW SIGNIFICANT IS -- WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU THINK -- WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE, BUT THE NGA.

IT'S GOING TO BE -- IT'S GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

NO MATTER WHAT, WHEN A CITY IS SEEING THAT KIND OF A JOBS INVESTMENT, I THINK NEARLY 3,000 JOBS UP THERE, NO MATTER WHAT, EVEN IF IT'S A HIGHLY SECURED LOCATION, AND IT IS, IT'S A PLACE HOLDER, A SIGNIFICANT PLACE HOLDER OF STABILITY UP IN THAT NORTH CITY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT CAN PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY BOOK-ENDS WHERE OTHER DEVELOPMENT CAN GO.

WE HAVE THAT OBLIGATION TO RUN LIGHT RAIL SERVICE UP THERE, ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING ALL THOSE JOBS IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AND I THINK NORTH SIDE/SOUTH SIDE -- YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING YOU DO WITH TRANSIT IS YOU TRY TO CAPITALIZE ON YOUR EXISTING INVESTMENTS, LIKE MLS, LIKE NGA, SO LET'S DO THAT.

>> TAULBY ROACH, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS BEING ACCESSIBLE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE TONIGHT ON NEXT UP.

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT NINE PBS, HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.