On the Metro merry-go-round
By Shane Graber
Published: Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

STL-Today.Com

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Matthew R. Schirado forgot his rain poncho, which was typical for an overcast
day like this.

Sometimes he brought it to work. This time, he didn't.

"When you bring something, you don't need nothing, sir," Schirado said. "And if
you don't bring anything, it's usually the opposite."

Schirado, a mailroom clerk in a downtown Clayton bank, walked to a bus stop
around the block. It was 4:15 p.m. He had a spoiled cat named KC to get home to
in south St. Louis. All that stood between the two was a 2 1/2-hour trip on
four buses and a train.

Schirado was lucky last Tuesday. It didn't rain.

All his adult life, Schirado, 39, has relied on St. Louis' public
transportation. He has no access to a car. He has never even driven one. His
situation is not unusual.

About 25 percent of this city's households - or 37,017 out of 147,076 - have no
access to a vehicle, according to 2000 U.S. Census figures. That figure is more
than twice the national average.

Compared to cities with a similar number of households, only Miami and
Pittsburgh have a slightly higher rate of vehicle-less homes than St. Louis.
Less than 13 percent of Kansas City homes have no vehicles. About 7 percent are
without them in Wichita, Kan.

For the overall St. Louis area, the numbers are starkly different. There are
1.09 million households in the metro area, according to the census. Only 9
percent - or 91,446 - are without access to a vehicle.

That's about average for similar-sized metropolitan areas.

Transit experts say a lot of factors account for St. Louis' vehicle-less rate.
Inner-city poverty. A high population of old people.

"The transit system here is fairly decent still, and people can get along
without vehicles," said Tom Shrout, executive director of Citizens for Modern
Transit, a local transit advocacy group.

But changes are needed "so its service is more frequent and it begins to
broaden its appeal beyond the transit-dependent," he said. "It's sad that the
bus system is only barely adequate for those who don't have choices, and
inadequate for those who do."

At 4:30, Schirado stretched his neck out to see down the street.

"That looks like a bus now," he said.

Schirado hopped on Metro's 58 Clayton-Ballas bus. Mustached and bespectacled,
he wore loafers and a windbreaker over a button-up sweater.

He lives with his identical twin brother and collects easy-listening records.
His favorites are by Engelbert Humperdinck and Mantovani.

Around his neck, Schirado wore the monthly bus pass for which he pays $23.50.
He gets a disability discount because of walking difficulties, but, he said,
that wouldn't keep him from driving.

"I just don't have any interest in it," he said. "With all you have to do
keeping up with insurance and everything, it's cheaper taking the bus. I'd
rather have a nice place than a car really, sir."

Money is a big reason most St. Louisans don't have vehicles, said Jerry Blair,
transportation planning director for East-West Gateway Coordinating Council.

"It's just an economic reality," Blair said.

Metro, the public transportation agency, needs to explore better ways to
provide more door-to-door service and additional options for the elderly, Blair
suggested.

At 4:45, Schirado transferred to the 47 Cross-County bus. Schirado likes the
bus but can be frustrated by the system. He was shocked the new St. Louis Mills
shopping center had no bus access, he said. He also was disappointed that some
routes have been cut over the years.

"I kind of thought when they took the Morganford-Arsenal route out of service
two or three years ago, that was a mistake," Schirado said. " I guess I should
have went to those (Metro) meetings. I should have put my viewpoint in."

By 5:10, Schirado stood at the University of Missouri at St. Louis MetroLink
station. He caught a train five minutes later, headed for Grand Boulevard.

Last year, East-West Gateway surveyed 15,000 public transportation users like
Schirado. The survey showed that 65 percent of all users took MetroLink despite
having access to a car. Like the census figures, the study showed that 25
percent of the users had no vehicle.

Shrout believes the train system has had a meaningful impact.

"You also have a small number of people that MetroLink is reducing vehicle
ownership, again because they live in the city," Shrout said. "The need is
there to broaden the constituency . . . with more people seeing public
transportation part of their lifestyle. We saw that with the first expansion up
to north city to the airport. I think we'll see more of that."

By 2006, Metro hopes to finish its 8-mile, nine-station MetroLink extension
from St. Louis to Shrewsbury. The project is expected to cost $550.3 million
and is expected to bring an extra 18,000 riders a day, said Metro spokesman
Patrick McLean. Schirado can't wait for more train stations.

"That's really going to be a blessing," he said.

After arriving at the Grand station, Schirado took the elevator up to the bus
stop. After waiting 20 minutes, Schirado still smiled.

"Boy, it's sure taking a little long," he said.

Finally, the 70 Grand and Iron bus arrived. Schirado took it down Grand, got
off and caught the 11 Chippewa bus. At 6:20 p.m., Schirado pulled the drop-off
cord at Oakhill Avenue.

Schirado then walked a half-mile home down a rolling street. He was mugged here
a few years ago as he headed for a bus. The thief made off with Schirado's
lunch and his Bible.

Two hours and 16 minutes after he caught his first bus, Schirado made it home.
KC was waiting.

"And if I'm tired, I'll go to bed," Schirado said. "Sometimes, this does get
tiring, sir."

Schirado went inside. It began to sprinkle.

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Reporter Shane Graber
E-mail: sgraber@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8207