1999
January - June

                               June 30, 1999
         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
                  314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE

BOARD OFFICERS JOINT STATEMENT ON SELECTION OF  A PREFERRED CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE METROLINK CROSS COUNTY SEGMENT I EXPANSION

The Officers of the East-West Gateway  Coordinating Council's (EWGCC) Board of Directors issued the following statement today on the selection of a preferred conceptual design for the MetroLink Cross-County Segment I expansion.  The officers are:  Rudolph J. Papa, Chairman, Buzz Westfall, Vice-Chairman, and Joseph R. Ortwerth, Treasurer. 

"Today's decision is an important milestone  in the expansion of our region's light rail system.  The  Board of Directors has chosen a route for the first segment of the Cross County extension which will bring MetroLink to thousands of people who work and live along the route.  The conceptual design approved today  assures a first class system which is safe,  efficient, within our means, and which will serve the greatest number of people.

"The region, its citizens, and its public  officials now conclude what has been an  unprecedented public debate, not over whether or not MetroLink should expand, but how best to expand it.  While the  debate has been intense and even contentious, it has been beneficial to both the public and the  region's elected officials.  Healthy and vigorous debate, like the debate we have had on this issue, is part of the public decision-making process and we are all the better for it.

"But now, the debate  is over.   Everyone and every interest has had their say and a decision has been made.  We can now move forward with the final design and construction of the first segment of  the Cross County extension and turn  our attention to the next phases of light rail expansion to South St. Louis County, North St. Louis County and elsewhere.  This decision shows that as the century ends, the St. Louis region is on the move.  We  are looking forward and planning for a future that will provide more mobility for our citizens and more alternatives for moving throughout the region.  Our decision today is one action among many that will help to  build a  healthy, secure future for everyone living and working the St. Louis region.  Now, it is time to get to work, and make that future a reality."

                               June 24, 1999
         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
                  314-421-4220

MEETING NOTICE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING JUNE 30

The regular meeting of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council's (EWGCC) Board of Directors will not be held at the Council's offices.   Instead, the meeting will be held Wednesday, June 30 at the Marriott Pavilion Hotel, Pavilion Salons D-G in downtown St. Louis at 10:00 a.m.  The meeting location was moved in order to accommodate the expected  larger than usual attendance.  The Board will consider a full  agenda of items including approval of the FY 2000-2002 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)  for the region and approval of the Conceptual Design of the MetroLink Cross County Extension Segment I.  Action items  are listed below.  The media and the  public are invited to attend.

ACTION ITEMS

1. Amendment of the FY 1999-2001  Transportation Improvement Program and Transportation Redefined II to add 16 projects to FY 99 (requested by IDOT)
    
2. FY 2000-2002 Transportation Improvement Program (recommend approval)
    
3. Conceptual Design of the MetroLink Extension (recommend approval)

                               June 10, 1999
         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
                  314-421-4220

MEDIA ADVISORY

PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT NEXT WEEK AT OPEN HOUSES FOR MAJOR TRANSPORTATION STUDIES

Residents in north St. Louis city and county,  south St. Louis city and county, and west county will get a chance to  comment on their area's initial set of long-range transportation alternatives at open houses the week of June 14.  The alternatives are a critical milestone in the Major Transportation Investment  Analyses, or MTIAs, currently underway in the three  study areas.  The purpose of the MTIAs is to recommend one preferred alternative for each study area.  EastWest Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC), our  region's planning agency, along with the Missouri Department of Transportation and Bi-State Development Agency, is sponsoring the studies.

At the June events, participants will help determine whether some  or all of the alternatives will move to the next step, which is detailed technical analysis.  During the open houses, agency staff  members along with their consultants will be available to review and discuss  alternatives with participants.  Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with a formal presentation at 6:00 p.m.  The open houses will be held on the following days . . .

Southside

Monday, June 14      
Mehlville High School     
3200 Lemay Ferry Road     

Tuesday, June 15
Shaw Community Education Center
5329 Columbia Avenue

Northside

Wednesday, June 16     
Lexington Elementary School    
5030 Lexington Avenue 

 Thursday, June 17
Florissant Valley Community College
3400 Pershall Road (Student Center)

Daniel Boone (West County)

Wednesday, June 16
Chesterfield City Hall
16052 Swingley Ridge Road

 The MTIA studies are scheduled to be completed in March of 2000.

                               June 6, 1999
         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
                  314-421-4220

MEDIA ADVISORY

SIX PART DISCUSSION SERIES KICKS OFF JUNE 9

.The East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC) is hosting the first in a series of discussions on environmental issues in urban neighborhoods this Wednesday, June 9 from  10:00 a .m.-12:00 noon.  The meeting will be held in the Board Room at EWGCC, 10 Stadium Plaza in downtown St. Louis.  The first session in the series is entitled, Empowering Neighborhoods to Improve the  Environment: What Tools do you Need?.  The media is invited to attend the discussion.

The purpose of the discussion will be for  community leaders to interact with youth about environmental issues  in their neighborhoods.  The aim of the series is to find out the type of information urban  communities need to improve their environment.  The discussion series focus is on the Transportation Corridor for  Economic Renewal (TRACER) area.  The TRACER area includes communities along an 18 mile corridor near the existing MetroLink line.  The TRACER corridor connects multiple municipalities in Missouri and Illinois  which comprise the region's "urban core".

The program will feature the premier of an environmental photo slide show produced by high school students from the Central Visual Performing Arts School in the  City of St. Louis.  The students were  commissioned to illustrate their interpretation of both the good and bad of their community's environment.

The results of the meetings will be used to plan future  activities designed to deliver information to community residents for their use.  For further information please call Judis Santos at 421-4220. 

                               June 1, 1999
         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
                  314-421-4220

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOUR OPEN HOUSES SCHEDULED FOR
CROSS COUNTY METROLINK EXTENSION

The EastWest Gateway Coordinating Council  (EWGCC), the region's planning agency, along with the BiState Development Agency and the Missouri Department of  Transportation, will hold four open houses this week regarding the CrossCounty MetroLink Segment I Extension.  The extension will run from the current Forest Park Parkway station, through Clayton and south to the   vicinity of Interstate44.

At the events, residents will be able to review  the designs and evaluation results and talk to planners.  Each open house will be held from 5:008:00 p.m.  Citizens may  stop by at any time during the open houses which will be held on the following days:

Wednesday, June 2, 1999

Clayton and Brentwood         
Wydown Middle School          
6500 Wydown           

Shrewsbury and South St. Louis
Shrewsbury City Hall
 5200 Shrewsbury

Thursday, June 3, 1999

St. Louis and University City       
 University City Senior High School                                 
7401 Balson            

Maplewood and Richmond Heights
Bruce Elementary School
3431 Cambridge

 The EWGCC's Board of Directors will make the final decision on a conceptual design for the extension at their June 30 meeting.  After the decision has been made, responsibility for the final  design, construction, and operation of the extension will be with the BiState Development Agency.  

                               May 27, 1999
         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         CONTACT: Lee Brotherton or
                   Jim Wild
                  314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE

10 OPEN HOUSES IN JUNE ON TRANSPORTATION PLAN

The East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC) will host ten open houses for  the public to familiarize themselves with and provide their input on the region's 2000-2002 Transportation Improvement Program  (TIP). The TIP is the three-year transportation plan for the St. Louis region which is  revised annually.  The plan includes all projects involving federal  funding for transit, roads, and bridges in the region.  There are 753 total projects included in the plan which bears a price tag of $1.8  billion.  Of the total funds called for in the plan, $1.2 billion will come from federal funds.

Staff from EWGCC will take comments from those who wish to provide their own input on the TIP and staff  will be available to answer questions about the TIP, the process used to arrive at the choices made in the  plan, and any other questions citizens may have. Written comments will also be accepted by the EWGCC.  The  deadline for submitting comments is June 18, 1999.

Each open house will be four hours long from 4:00  p.m.-8:00 p.m.  The open houses will be held throughout the metropolitan area beginning June 1,  1999 and ending June 16, 1999.  A list of the dates, times,  and locations for each of the open houses is attached.

FY 2000-2002 Transportation Improvement Program and
Air Quality Conformity Determination
 

Public Open House Meeting Dates and Locations

AREA DATE TIME PLACE ROOM ADDRESS St.  Louis County - West Tuesday, June 1 4-8  PM City of Chesterfield City Hall Council  Chambers 16052 Swingley Ridge Road   City of St. Louis Thursday, June 3 4-8  PM Missouri Botanical Garden Missouri Room 4344 Shaw Blvd. St.  Louis County - North Monday, June 7 4-8  PM St.  Louis Community College at Florissant Valley Student Center Room 220-221 3400 Pershall Road in Ferguson Madison  County Tuesday, June 8 4-8  PM Illinois Department of Transportation Regional Conference Room District 8 Offices 1100 Eastport Plaza Drive in Collinsville St.  Louis County - South Tuesday, June 8 4-8  PM St.  Louis Community College at Meramec Student Center Room 200 11333  Big Bend Blvd. in Kirkwood St.  Charles County Wednesday, June 9 4-8  PM County Administration Building Room 116 201 N. 2nd Street in St. Charles Monroe County Thursday, June 10 4-8  PM County Courthouse Old Courtroom 100 S. Main  Street in Waterloo Franklin County Thursday, June 10 4-8  PM City of Washington City Hall Council  Chambers 405 Jefferson Street Jefferson  County Tuesday, June 15 4-8  PM City of Hillsboro City Hall Board Room 102 2nd Street St. Clair  County Wednesday , June 16 4-8  PM City of  Fairview Heights City Hall Meeting Room A 10025 Bunkum Road

^{If you have any questions about the meetings or would like to submit comments, contact}

 ^{the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council by
phone: (314) 421-4220 or (618) 274-2750
fax: (314) 231-6120
e-mail:  TIP@ewgateway.org
mail: EWGCC, 10 Stadium Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63102.} 

 Deadline for submitting comments is 5 p.m. on Friday, June 18, 1999.  

May 23, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MAY 26
 

The regular meeting of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council's (EWGCC) Board of Directors will be held Wednesday, May 26 at the Council's offices at 10 Stadium Plaza in downtown St. Louis at 10:00 a.m.  The Board will consider a full agenda  of items including a discussion of the Cross County MetroLink Conceptual Design project and a discussion of the FY  2000-2002 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)  for the region.  Action items are listed below.  The media and the public are invited to attend.

ACTION ITEMS

1. Amendment of the FY 1999-2001 Transportation Improvement
   
   Program and Transportation Redefined II (Missouri High Priority Project requested by MoDOT)
    
2. Amendment of the FY 1999-2001 Transportation Improvement
   
   Program and Transportation Redefined II (requested by Bi-State Development Agency)
    
3. Modification of the FY 1999-2001 Transportation Improvement
   
   Program and Transportation Redefined II (requested by Bi-State Development Agency)
    
4. Amendment of the FY 1999-2001 Transportation Improvement Program and Transportation Redefined II
    
5. Amendment of the FY 1999-2001 Transportation Improvement Program and Transportation Redefined II (requested by IDOT)
    
6. Project Review, IL 157
   Applicant: IDOT
   Funding: Federal (STP): $1,640,000; State: $410,000;  Total: $2,050,000
    
7. Project Reviews, Transit Capital Assistance Grants
    
1. Section 5307 Capital Assistance Grant, Hanley MetroLink Station Parking Garage
   Applicant: Bi-State Development Agency 
   Funding: Federal (S5307): $7,790,760; Local: $5,235,440;
   Total: $13,026,200
    
2. Section 5309 Capital Assistance Grant-Bus Funds
   Applicant: Bi-State Development Agency 
   Funding: Federal (S5309): $1,736,875; Local: $434,219;
   Total: $2,171,094
    
3. Section 5309 Capital Assistance Grant-New Start Funds, MetroLink
   Applicant: Bi-State Development Agency 
   Funding: Federal (S5309): $3,405,809; Local: $851,452;
   Total: $4,257,261
    
8. St. Louis Jobs Initiative Contract Agreements
    
1. Renewal of Contract with St. Louis Works Partnership
    
2. Individual Development Account Program
    
3. Contract with SSM Health Care of St. Louis
    
4. St. Louis Community College - WorkLink Project Amendment

May 10, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE

EAST-WEST GATEWAY ISSUES FAQ'S ON METROLINK

As the conceptual design work on the Cross County, Segment I extension of MetroLink enters its final stages, the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council  (EWGCC) has issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) and the answers to them as part of it's ongoing effort to keep the public and the media well-informed about all aspects of the project.  The FAQ's provide factual responses to the 25 most common questions people have about the project including how the conceptual design process works, funding, safety, and design issues.

Les Sterman , executive director of EWGCC said,  "The FAQ's are being provided to assist citizens in forming their judgements about the kind of light rail system St. Louis should have.  They have been  written using as little technical jargon as possible in the hope of fostering more widespread understanding of the project and the issues under consideration.  It is  our hope that by making information, such as  this set of FAQ's, available that the civic discussion over this vital regional project will be a healthy and rational one, free of rancor and misunderstanding.  While planning this type of major project always  involves difficult choices, we are certain that the people of the  region will be satisfied no matter what the final result may be if they understand the issues at stake and the process being used to evaluate the  available  alternatives."

Sterman noted the list of FAQ's as well as numerous other documents and informational items are available at the EWGCC's world wide web site at  as well as at city halls and  libraries in the communities  in the corridor.  Those unable to access the web site, their city hall, or a library may call the Cross County project hotline at 621-4499.

April 29, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE

Citizen Input Sought for Major Transportation Study May 3-6    
 

What future transportation needs do you see for your area?  What type of transportation system can best meet those needs?  Those  are just some of the questions transportation officials will ask residents at several workshops scheduled from May 36. 

At the May workshops, transportation officials will also present a full range of  preliminary transportation improvements for the public to consider.  Two workshops will be held in each study area from 7:009:00 p.m.

Northside

Monday, May 3    
Lexington Elem. School   
5030 Lexington Avenue  

Tuesday, May 4
 Hazelwood East High School
11300 Dunn Road

Southside

Tuesday, May 4    
Affton WhiteRodgers Comm. Center 
9801 Mackenzie Road     .

Wednesday, May 5
 Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd

Daniel Boone

Wednesday, May 5    
Wildhorse Creek Elem. School  
16695 Wildhorse Creek Road   

Thursday, May 6
  Creve Coeur Government Center
300 N. New Ballas Road

The workshops are part of a Major Transportation Investment Analysis, or MTIA, currently underway in north St. Louis city and county, south St. Louis city and county and west county, called the Daniel  Boone study area.  The purpose of the 18month planning study is to get the public's input in developing a multimodal transportation system for the 21^st century.  During the MTIA, residents will consider improvements in transit (buses and/or light rail), highways, roadways, pedestrian and bicycle transportation.

The MTIAs are sponsored by EastWest  Gateway Coordinating Council, the Missouri Department of Transportation and BiState Development Agency.   When the study is completed in March of 2000, each study area  will have a preferred transportation  system alternative.

April 28, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lee Brotherton 314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE 

Preliminary Cost Estimates for CrossCounty MetroLink Project  Unveiled

Preliminary estimates indicate that  building  the CrossCounty MetroLink Segment I Extension will cost between $320 million and $518 million depending upon which design alternatives are selected for  different sections of  the alignment.  The estimates were  announced today at EastWest Gateway Coordinating Council's Board of Directors meeting.   EastWest Gateway (EWGCC), together with Bi -State Development Agency (BSDA) and the  Missouri Department of Transportation  (MoDOT), is responsible for the  conceptual design of the seven-and-a-half mile extension which will run from the current Forest Park Station through Clayton and south to Maplewood  and  Shrewsbury.  The report  is "one of the last major milestones in the conceptual design process of the Cross County MetroLink extension," said East-West Gateway's executive director Les Sterman.  "Over the  next two  weeks, our team of consultants will be wrapping up the detailed analyses of the various candidate design alternatives under consideration.  When their work is complete, our staff will make a recommendation  to  the Board of Directors who will  make a final decision on the conceptual design at their June 30 meeting."

 The least expensive alternative  $320 million  is to build a combination  atgrade and grade  separated alignment ending at Deer Creek north of I44.  In contrast, the most expensive  alternative, at $518 million, involves building a fully grade separated alignment with about 50% of  the extension in a tunnel  and terminating south of I44 at  Lansdowne Avenue and River Des Peres Boulevard.  Each alternative's price-tag includes associated capital costs totaling $98.6 million.  The  associated costs encompass 34 new  MetroLink cars, 35 new BiState buses, and an improved circulator transit system for Forest Park. "The preliminary estimates are based on the actual construction cost for  prior and current MetroLink projects and  experience from other recent transit construction projects," says Dick Hocking  of Parsons Transportation Group, the lead engineering consultant.

 In  determining the estimated costs,  engineers took  into consideration a number of factors such as construction costs, contingencies, engineering design and other related costs.  The majority of  the expenses are  for construction, which includes everything from site  preparation and track work to building station stops and structures such as bridges for  roads and pedestrians.  Final cost estimates may be adjusted upon  taking into consideration the findings of the environmental  analyses now underway, and the "fine-tuning" of designs.  The environmental analyses report will be completed in the next two weeks.

 Because of the various alternatives in each segment of the  route, there are a large number of possible combinations that can be used to design the CrossCounty corridor.  All costs mentioned  represent current 1999 dollars. 

 EastWest Gateway's Board  of Directors  will decide on a preferred design alternative on June 30.  Then, BiState Development Agency will be responsible  for the final design, construction and operation  of the alignment.

 For  a copy of the entire preliminary capital cost estimates report for the CrossCounty MetroLink Segment I Extension, call Lee  Brotherton at EastWest Gateway Coordinating Council at 4214220.

March 31, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
     314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE

ACTION AGENDA IS FOCUS OF TODAY'S  REGIONAL  CONGRESS

The Regional Congress of Governments meeting today at the Pavilion  Marriott  Hotel downtown is focusing its attention on  the action agenda of the Initiative for a Metropolitan Community (IMC).  The IMC covers a wide range of proposals on, among other things, the City of St.  Louis earnings  tax, Tax Increment Financing districts, development of a regional "blue print" emphasizing the relationships between transportation, economic development, infrastructure, environmental quality, open  space, cultural  resources, and land use, adoption of a regional policy on flood protection and the use of flood plains, targeted tax relief in economically distressed areas, and  developing benchmark standards for local  government performance.

 Congress attendees will participate in eight workshops focusing on the IMC action agenda.  The IMC was established by the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC)  Board of Directors last  year.  Four working groups, chaired by members of the Board investigated numerous issues of regional importance  and developed the recommendations which will be discussed today. The input of  participants will be used to  strengthen the proposals. 

"The IMC has produced a number of bold proposals for the improvement of our region, representing a  proposed commitment on the part of  local governments to act together  on matters of regional importance in a thoughtful and productive way," said Les Sterman, executive director of the EWGCC.  "The purpose of the Initiative has been to identify areas  where local government can  take action and make real progress at a regional level.  Local government officials from every county in the region have worked in concert to produce what is genuinely a metropolitan  agenda for action." 

Sterman noted the IMC is an ongoing effort which will continue to evaluate regional challenges and fashion proposals for local  governments.  "We hope that by building this  decision-making process and  through definition of new kinds of intergovernmental relationships we will move toward a region that is  more unified, with a common agenda, leading to a stronger, healthier St. Louis  area".  Sterman said  that  the process was driven by a common desire on the part of local government officials to create a better, more equitable, more cooperative environment for sustained development and  redevelopment in the region.  "Our  region's elected officials  recognized that action is needed on a number of issues and this process is intended to bring those actions about."

The working groups and  Chairs for them are as follows: Wealth,  Taxation and Finance, Co-Chairs Joe Ortwerth, Gordon Bush; Strategic Intergovernmental Relationships, Co-Chairs John Baricevic, Clarence Harmon; Resource Management, Co-Chairs Jon  Selsor, Larry Reinneck; Regional Planning and  Community Design,  Co-Chairs Ron Selph, Milt Bischof..

March 31, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
      314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE

1999 "WHERE WE STAND" COMPARES ST. LOUIS TO PEER REGIONS

  Today the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC) issued the third edition of Where We Stand, The Strategic Assessment of the St. Louis Region . Where We Stand looks at the performance of our region based on eighty-nine measures compared to thirty-four metropolitan areas around the nation.  Statistical measures in the report provide a mixed picture for the region, showing improvement on 18 measures and decline on 14 measures.  Improvements outpaced decline most noticeably in crime and in the category of Urban Form/Quality of Life, which includes measures in areas such as urban growth, the environment, housing quality, and infrastructure. However, the region has seen declines outpace improvements in the critical areas of demographics, economics, and well -being.  Four new measures, not included in the second edition of Where We Stand, have been included in the third edition.

"Where We Stand provides insights regarding trends affecting the St. Louis region and our peer regions." said David Boyd, director of Planning and Information Services at the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC) which produced and published the report.  "St. Louis is making progress in a number of areas and we are experiencing unprecedented economic vigor.  Yet, the benefits of our prosperity are not being shared equally among our citizens."  The report indicates that while St. Louis has experienced general improvements relative to past performance, most other regions have also done well.  According to Boyd, "The real question is 'are the improvements we have made on various performance measures keeping pace with our peers around the nation, are we being outpaced, or are we outpacing our peers?'  While we can celebrate that we have made progress, we must recognize that if our peers are doing better, over the long term we will fall behind."

Highlights include that St. Louis reported the 4^th lowest metropolitan crime rate with 4,567 crimes for every 100,000 area residents, one crime for every 21 people in the region.  The average annual crime rate for the region decreased 5.71% between 1993 and 1997.

 St. Louis ranks sixth (with Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Salt Lake City) on the Housing Quality Index in the report, ahead of such cities as Dallas, Kansas City, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and New York.   This reflects the  region's commitment to  maintain and develop strong, stable neighborhoods where citizens are involved in maintaining a high quality of life. 

 The region ranks below average on job growth: 24^th out of 35 metropolitan peer areas.  98,300 jobs were created here between 1990 and 1996.  Nonetheless, St. Louis' moderate job growth outpaced the New York and Los Angeles regions which experienced substantial losses.

The report is divided into seven main categories: Demographics, Regional Economic Well Being, Leadership, Governance & Public Service, Individual & Family Well-Being, Educational Vitality, Crime  and Social  Disorder, and Urban Form & Quality of Life.

March 31, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lee Brotherton
      314-421-4220

MEDIA RELEASE

ST. LOUISANS LOOK AT THEIR REGION IN "HOW WE SEE IT" SURVEY

  Today the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC) issued the third edition of Where We Stand, The Strategic Assessment of the St. Louis Region . Where We Stand looks at the performance of our region based on eighty-nine measures compared to thirty-four metropolitan areas around the nation.  Statistical measures in the report provide a mixed picture for the region, showing improvement on 18 measures and decline on 14 measures.  Improvements outpaced decline most noticeably in crime and in the category of Urban Form/Quality of Life, which includes measures in areas such as urban growth, the environment, housing quality, and infrastructure. However, the region has seen declines outpace improvements in the critical areas of demographics, economics, and well -being.  Four new measures, not included in the second edition of Where We Stand, have been included in the third edition.

"Where We Stand provides insights regarding trends affecting the St. Louis region and our peer regions." said David Boyd, director of Planning and Information Services at the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC) which produced and published the report.  "St. Louis is making progress in a number of areas and we are experiencing unprecedented economic vigor.  Yet, the benefits of our prosperity are not being shared equally among our citizens."  The report indicates that while St. Louis has experienced general improvements relative to past performance, most other regions have also done well.  According to Boyd, "The real question is 'are the improvements we have made on various performance measures keeping pace with our peers around the nation, are we being outpaced, or are we outpacing our peers?'  While we can celebrate that we have made progress, we must recognize that if our peers are doing better, over the long term we will fall behind."

Highlights include that St. Louis reported the 4^th lowest metropolitan crime rate with 4,567 crimes for every 100,000 area residents, one crime for every 21 people in the region.  The average annual crime rate for the region decreased 5.71% between 1993 and 1997.

 St. Louis ranks sixth (with Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Salt Lake City) on the Housing Quality Index in the report, ahead of such cities as Dallas, Kansas City, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and New York.   This reflects the  region's commitment to  maintain and develop strong, stable neighborhoods where citizens are involved in maintaining a high quality of life. 

 The region ranks below average on job growth: 24^th out of 35 metropolitan peer areas.  98,300 jobs were created here between 1990 and 1996.  Nonetheless, St. Louis' moderate job growth outpaced the New York and Los Angeles regions which experienced substantial losses.

The report is divided into seven main categories: Demographics, Regional Economic Well Being, Leadership, Governance & Public Service, Individual & Family Well-Being, Educational Vitality, Crime  and Social  Disorder, and Urban Form & Quality of Life.