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ASCC Adds Online Courses

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The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has added two online, on-demand courses to its ACI University: Ward R. Malisch Concrete Construction Symposium Parts 1 and 2.  The courses cover information on concrete constructability issues in honor of Dr. Ward R. Malisch, a former senior managing director and an Honorary Member of ACI.  Malisch is presently concrete construction specialist for the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC).

Part 1 covers using the Menzel/NRMCA nomograph method to estimate evaporation rates, the pros and cons of the 90-minute concrete delivery time rule, the effects on durability of SOG when curing water’s applied at temperatures of 20°F or colder, and proper placement.

Part 2 covers achieving and measuring floor flatness and levelness of supported slabs, composite metal deck slabs, and cambered support beams; achieving flatness and levelness requirements for elevated slabs on metal deck; the risks of tolerances associated with as-built, cast-in-place concrete construction; problems with concrete specifications on mix designs; and strategies for improving specification writing and efforts therein, improved through Dr. Malisch’s efforts.

Writers include Dr. Ken Hover, Eldon Tipping, Dr. Kevin MacDonald, Dr. David Darwin, Dr. Terry Holland, Mike Schneider, Michelle Wilson, Dr. Bruce Suprenant, Peter Craig, Dr. Colin Lobo, Ron Kozikowski and William Lyons.  The authors presented their papers at the ACI Convention in Anaheim, in October 2017.

The courses can be accessed online at www.concrete.org.

Preventing Deaths In The Road Construction Industry

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Submitted by Corey Heniser, a vehicle safety expert at Brigade Electronics INC, talks about how the company’s technology is helping to reduce the number of workforce fatalities in the road construction industry.

Road construction is a hazardous occupation and ranked as one of the most dangerous places to work. While roads are now safer than ever before, incidents involving road workers have risen.

According to The Center for Construction Research and Training’s Data Center, nearly half of road construction workers killed on site between 2011 and 2016 were struck by a vehicle or machinery, such as dump truck.

Blind spots on vehicles are a major contributing factor to collisions and are often the main reason ground workers are killed or injured. As roads get busier, more construction work is being scheduled to take place at night, which further increases safety issues for workers and limits drivers’ visibility. Alongside this, ground workers are required to wear ear protection meaning they cannot always hear vehicles approaching. Preventing deaths and keeping workers safe is clearly a challenging yet essential task.

Technology is now playing a crucial role in solving many of the safety issues facing the road construction industry. These include eliminating blind spots on vehicles and assisting drivers working in difficult conditions when visibility can be compromised, such as bad weather or overnight.

While large mirrors have traditionally been used, they cannot completely eliminate blind spots, but commercial vehicle camera systems, such as Brigade’s Backeye®360, can. Safety technology can give drivers better visibility as they maneuver their vehicles by providing the driver with a complete surround view of the vehicle in real time in a single image.

The system combines images from ultra wide-angle cameras, resulting in a ‘bird’s-eye view’ of the vehicle and surrounding area. Research has shown that in the time it takes to scan four mirrors, assess and then react to hazards, a vehicle could travel as far as 33 feet. Vehicle camera safety systems protect the driver and ground workers in the vicinity of the vehicle.

Simple back-up alarms have long been a solution to alerting those on the ground, but research has shown that old-fashioned tonal alarms may be adding to the problem as pedestrians and workers cannot always locate the direction from which the alarm originates. Multi-frequency alarms are solving this problem. Rather than the traditional ‘beep beep’ of tonal alarms, they create a ‘ssh-ssh’ sound which is gentle on the ear and dissipates quickly, meaning the alarm can be instantly located and heard only in the danger zone.

Radar obstacle detection technology is further enhancing safety in the construction industry. It can detect stationary and moving objects even in the harshest of environments giving the driver an audible and visible warning when objects are within a certain distance.

Heavy duty radar systems are able to operate even in high or low temperatures, radar obstacle detection is also waterproof and smoke resistant, and can be easily heard in noisy environments.

While technology is key to helping prevent injuries and deaths, it is also essential for companies to be fully committed to implementing robust safety strategies and plans so that demonstrable progress can be made.

American Society of Concrete Contractors Publishes 44th Position Statement

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The American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), St. Louis, MO, has published its forty-fourth Position Statement, “Measuring Air Content in Non-Air-Entrained Concrete.”  ASCC Position Statements clarify the concrete contractors’ point of view for architects, engineers, owners and others.

Position Statement #44 explains that while air content is reported in the mix design submitted for air-entrained concrete and measured in the field for compliance, air content measurements are rarely specified or measured for non-air-entrained concrete.

Specifications such as ACI 301 and MasterSpec 033000 – Cast-in-Place Concrete require a maximum air content in concrete floors to receive a hard-troweled finish, and for good reason, according to ASCC technical director Bruce Suprenant, PE, PhD, FACI.  “Air-entraining admixtures should not be specified or used in concrete to be given a smooth, dense, hard-troweled finish,” says Suprenant, “due to the probability of blistering or delamination occurring as a result.”

ASCC contractors have observed that when water-reducing and/or waterproofing admixtures are used in concrete to receive a hard-troweled finish, air contents often exceed the 3% maximum set out in ACI 302.1R-15, “Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab Construction.”

Often contractors aren’t alerted to this issue because the air content isn’t measured, says Suprenant.  Thus, Position Statement #44 concludes, ASCC contractors encourage owners to direct specifiers to require measuring the air content of concrete to receive a hard-troweled finish.

The ASCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of those who build with concrete, and to providing them a unified voice in the construction industry.  Members include concrete contracting firms, manufacturers, suppliers and others interested in the concrete industry, such as architects, specifiers and engineers.  There are approximately 770 member companies in the United States and 13 foreign countries.  For more information visit the website at www.ascconline.org or call (866) 788-2722.

 

Electrical Connection Partners with St. Louis Cardinals And PLANLED to Launch SHINE STL Lighting Program

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Better lighting delivers better educational outcomes, not to mention improved cost efficiencies.  That’s the reason behind the SHINE STL Program launched on June 4, 2019 in a partnership between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cardinals Care, PLANLED, the Electrical Connection and the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation.  SHINE is a community program initiated by PLANLED where they fulfill their mission to improve human life while updating the quality and energy efficiency of lighting.

During a press conference announcing the partnership, Ozzie Smith, National Baseball and Cardinals Hall of Famer, was named the SHINE STL Ambassador. Smith joins National Baseball Hall of Famers, Mariano Rivera and Edgar Martinez, who also serve as SHINE Ambassadors, to help bring awareness to the importance of human centric lighting.

“As an athlete, I have always tried to find ways to improve performance and health,” said Smith.  “Human Centric Lighting is a logical path of improving human life while reducing carbon footprints.”

St. Louis Public Schools Lyon Academy, Gateway Elementary and Gateway Michael will each receive lighting upgrades through the program.  SHINE STL will donate the lighting retrofit materials, and The Electrical Connection will donate the labor to install them for a computer lab classroom at Lyon Academy, the gymnasium at Gateway Elementary, and the multi-purpose room at Gateway Michael.

“This program wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners at The Electrical Connection,” said Michael Hall, vice president of community relations and the executive director of Cardinals Care.

“At St. Louis Public Schools, we are learning more about the benefits of LED lighting and have begun to make a districtwide investment in updating the lighting in our schools,” said Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools.  “This partnership with PLANLED and the St. Louis Cardinals comes at the perfect time.  It will speed up our learning curve by providing LED lighting updates and allowing us the opportunity study the results at targeted locations.”

Human Centric Lighting is the inclusion of visual and biological needs of humans in the design of lighting projects.  According to PLANLED, integrating daylight and electric light to create lighting strategies focused on human health, along with traditional requirements for visual acuity and comfort, can lead to healthier and more productive environments.

“There have been great innovations in lighting over the past 15 years,” noted John Hwang, CEO, PLANLED.  “We can control the full spectrum of light, bringing the benefits of daylight indoors. This delivers better color and visual acuity as well as healthier circadian rhythm and improved performance in schools, offices, healthcare facilities and more.”

“To build a great team, you get the best players with the necessary skills and talents to succeed,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection.  “The Electrical Connection is proud to have been selected to be a part of this team for this project and beyond. Our contractors have been an integral part of building and updating all three Busch Stadiums, including the new LED lighting this year by PLANLED. Now, we will help introduce Human Centric Lighting and its energy efficiencies to St. Louis Public Schools in this innovative pilot program.”

For more information on the SHINE STL Program visit cardinals.com/shine.

PLANLED is a minority owned, LED lighting Company based in Seattle, Washington specializing in research applied lighting solutions.  PLANLED completed the installation of LED Field Lights at Busch Stadium for the St. Louis Cardinals in March 2019.  This was the third MLB Stadium that PLANLED outfitted with LED Lighting.  PLANLED was the first company to convert a MLB stadium to LED Field lights at Safeco Field for the Seattle Mariners in 2014.  They also installed new LED field lighting at Yankee Stadium in 2015.

Since 1997, the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation has existed to mobilize the community’s generosity and to support the amazing educators and students within the Saint Louis Public Schools. The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation is the District’s strategy partner with the unique mission of dedicating 100% of its funds and efforts to District strategy. The Foundation works closely with the Saint Louis Public Schools Superintendent, District leadership, and schools to ensure that the community’s resources support District priorities. Learn more at http://slpsfoundation.org/

The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).  It represents more than 5,000 highly skilled and safe IBEW electricians and the more than 150 NECA electrical contractors who employ them.  For more than 75 years, the IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection partnership has trained more electricians/communication technicians than any education program in Missouri. Its award winning work provides safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.Learn more at www.electricalconnection.org.

Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way of teaming up with Cardinals players and the organization to help children in our community—both on and off the baseball field.  Established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested over $24 million to support St. Louis area children and built or renovated 23 youth ball fields in local under-resourced neighborhoods.  Most recently, the Cardinals dedicated Dexter Fowler Field at Hess Park in Decatur, Ill. in July 2017.  This season marks the 16th year of Cardinals Care’s innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free baseball and softball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play.  In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring, cultural arts, and scholarships for each of the nearly 3,000 kids who participate in the program each year. To learn more about all of Cardinals Care’s programs visit cardinals.com/community.

Citizens For Modern Transit To Host Talking Transit Event On June 21

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Event to Feature Panel Discussion on Development Opportunities Around MetroLink 

A safe, reliable public transit system is credited with much more than simply getting people to and from destinations. It plays a key role in stimulating economic development and attracting and retaining business. To further reinforce the impact transit has on our region, Citizens for Modern Transit is bringing local and national experts together to discuss the opportunity that exists for development near transit in the St. Louis market. Area residents are invited to attend the “Talking Transit” event on Friday, June 21, at 8:30 a.m. at Innovation Hall, located on the first floor of 4220 Duncan Avenue, in midtown St. Louis, Mo., which is accessible via the MetroLink or MetroBus.

The event will include a panel discussion featuring Aaron Burnett, president of the ByWater Development Group in St. Louis, Mo.; Jeff Tegethoff, principal of Pearl Development in Indianapolis, Ind.; Reed Singer, director of infrastructure for ULLICO Infrastructure Fund in Chicago, Ill.; Robert Ship, Midwest regional vice president for ULLICO Real Estate Investment Group in Chicago, Ill.; and Brandon Sterling, executive director of Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council in St. Louis, Mo.

“Developers understand the value of public transit and the economic benefit it brings to their projects, often choosing to build, locate and expand in communities with adequate transit access,” commented Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “It was a priority for the Cortex Innovative Community, which was one of several community partners that helped secure the needed financing to make the Cortex Metrolink Station a reality. We are excited to host this discussion and learn more about other local opportunities.”

Registration for the Talking Transit event can be completed online at https://cmt-stl.org/ or by arriving early to the event. The cost is free for CMT members and $10 for non-members. For non-members that would like to attend but have personal financial constraints, CMT offers a limited number of scholarships for each of the Talking Transit events. To learn more about the event, or for more information on Citizens for Modern Transit and its efforts to further transit development in the St. Louis region, call (314) 231-7272, find the organization on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @cmt_stl.

Citizens for Modern Transit is a nonprofit, member supported organization that leads efforts for an integrated, affordable, and convenient public transportation system with light rail expansion as the critical component that will drive economic growth to improve quality of life in the St. Louis region.

NorthSide Regeneration Issues Settlement Statement

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Northside Regeneration LLC (“Northside”) is pleased to announce that it has resolved all outstanding issues with the State of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Revenue (“DOR”) and the Missouri Department of Economic Development (“DED”) regarding NSR’s application for, the issuance of, the use and reporting requirements of the tax credits received by Northside pursuant to the Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit Act.  On June 3, 2019 the State, DOR and DED submitted a Dismissal with Prejudice in Case No. 1822-CC10508.

​On June 13, 2018 the State, DED and DOR filed a three count Petition in the Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis against Northside seeking a total of $7,097,362.58 in damages.  On August 3, 2018 NSR filed a Motion to Dismiss the Petition, which was still pending with the Court at the time of the dismissal.

​After a prolonged period of negotiation, the parties have entered into a Settlement Agreement and General Mutual Release (the “Agreement”).  Under the Agreement, NSR admitted no liability, fault or wrongdoing.  Per the Agreement, NSR made a payment to the State of approximately $320,000.  From NSR’s perspective, the payment represents NSR’s payment of statutory fines relating to the failure to meet technical reporting requirements, the reimbursement of the State’s litigation costs and expenses and the amount that NSR would have been required to spend to vindicate itself of all claims in what was expected to be prolonged and expensive litigation.

With this matter’s resolution, NSR looks forward to focusing all of its attention to building on the success it has achieved in North St. Louis, with the relocation of the NGA facility and its 3,100 jobs, and the recent opening of the GreenLeaf Market/Zoom C-Store project creating 72 new jobs.

About NorthSide Regeneration St. Louis

NorthSide Regeneration (NSR) is a mixed-use community development – a self-sustaining neighborhood of people, cultures, economic opportunity, safety and education with the infrastructure and growth to support key, necessary services for the community. The original development encompasses over 1,500 acres and borders downtown St. Louis. Jobs have always been the primary motivator for NSR with a goal of more than 43,000 construction jobs and 22,000 permanent jobs generated by the development’s activity. For more information about NorthSide Regeneration, visit www.NorthSideRegeneration.com.

Electrical Connection Supports Payne Family Homes and the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway

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This summer one lucky family will win a house valued at more than $400,000 to help support the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® where families never receive a bill for treatment, travel housing or food – because all they should worry about is helping their child live.

Payne Family Homes is building the home for St. Jude in the Villages of Sandfort Farm subdivision at 1046 Sandfort Farm Dr., in St. Charles, Mo. The annual giveaway is supported by the Electrical Connection, a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Payne Family Homes along with their vendors and trade partners are building the luxury home at zero cost to St. Jude. St Jude is offering anyone the chance to win the home by purchasing $100 individual tickets with the winner selected in a lottery drawing later this summer.

“We expect to raise more than $1.1 million through ticket sales,” said Dawn Walter, director of marketing, Payne Family Homes.  “And because our vendors and trade partners, like the Electrical Connection, are donating all services to build the home, 100 percent of the ticket sales will benefit St. Jude and the research of life-threatening childhood diseases and its treatment of children fighting those diseases.”

The house will be equipped with a number of upscale amenities including high-end appliances, cost efficient LED lighting, a private theater, a game room, hockey rink, a speakeasy bar and more.  NECA contractor Branson Electric is managing the electrical installations.

Tours of the house are scheduled to begin on July 13, 2019, with the drawing planned for August 22, 2019.

Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit St. Jude.  To learn more and purchase a ticket, visit www.paynefamilyhomes.com/st-jude/

American Society of Concrete Contractors to Hold 18th Annual Conference in Chicago this September

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The American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), St. Louis, MO, will hold its eighteenth Annual Conference September 19-22, 2019 at the Westin Chicago Northwest, Itasca, IL.  Concrete contractors, manufacturers, designers and other industry professionals will gather for three days of educational events and networking.

Industry experts including Jen Chrisman, Euclid Chemical Co.; Bob Harris, Structural Services, Inc.; Wally Adamchik, Firestarter; and Feng Mu, PNA Construction Technologies, will offer seminars on critical industry topics. Seminar tracks include Tech, Business Management, Decorative/Polished Concrete, and Safety.

Seminar topics include “Cost Effective Concrete Pavement Design,” “Building a Process for Industrial Concrete Finishing,” “ Polishing Slabs on Metal Deck,” a contractor panel discussing “Handling/Managing Growth,” and “One Chicago Square: Top Down Challenge.”

Attendees can take advantage of the ACI Flatwork Finisher Certification and the ACI Decorative Concrete Flatwork Finisher Certification classes and exams offered on September 19.

Additional opportunities include golf at Salt Creek Golf Club, the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise and a Secret Food Tour.

The ASCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of those who build with concrete, and to providing them with a unified voice in the construction industry.  Members include concrete contracting firms, manufacturers, suppliers and others interested in the concrete industry, such as architects, specifiers and distributors.  There are approximately 750 member companies in the United States and 15 foreign countries.  For more information visit the website at www.ascconline.org or call (866) 788-2722.

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Golden Graduates Return to Ranken for Commencement Ceremonies

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At its recent commencement exercises, Ranken Technical College presented nearly 500 diplomas to men and women who completed the rigorous requirements demanded by the school. And, as is its tradition at this May graduation, the school also paid tribute to special “Golden Graduates.”

There were 18 of these special honorees who graduated more than 50 years ago, including a 1958 graduate who came all the way from Redmond, Washington. They wore gold caps and gowns at the ceremony and led the commencement procession. They reminisced with one another, and also enjoyed conversing with Dennis Alvord, the EDA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs who was the commencement speaker, as well as various other Ranken staff, faculty, trustees, students and graduates. They shared a variety of fascinating personal and professional stories, and a mutual appreciation for the education they had received from Ranken.

George Kroder and Donald Meier were 1968 grads with degrees in industrial electricity and electronics, Kroder later earned a bachelor degree in business from SIUE and a master degree in safety from Central Missouri State. “I credit my Ranken education with much of what I accomplished in my life,” he says. “While at Ranken, I took a first-aid class with Mr. Davis, and that class inspired me to become an EMT. Later in my career I ran the paramedic program at St. Louis Community College and eventually became the risk manager for the college. I also had the opportunity to work with the White House and the Secret Service to arrange for medical care – something they do as a precautionary measure when they visit a city for a president.”

“If it had not been for Ranken, I would not have accomplished any of the things I did. I learned discipline there,” said Donald Meier. After graduating from Ranken, he worked for Western Electric and became a Chief Master Sargent in the U.S. Army. He then worked for Emerson, followed by a position as an IT Branch Chief for the U.S. Army, eventually retiring with a top-level Federal position.

Charles Guess was a 1964 graduate, also with a degree in industrial and electricity and electronics technology. He credits Ranken with an introduction to a company that paved the way for his successful career. “Ranken helped me get an internship with IBM cleaning typewriters. I would work for them for three months then be back at Ranken for class for three months. IBM suggested that I take an assessment for data processing and I did well on it and was hired. I spent my entire career there.”

Golden Grad Roger Munie graduated in 1965 from the plumbing technology program. His legacy is shared daily with Ranken students as he is the father of the College’s current plumbing department chair, David Munie, a 1990 Ranken graduate.

Several Ranken Golden Graduates, like Lawrence Hild of Arlington, Texas, Class of 1969, sent regrets that they were unable to attend the festivities, but also shared their appreciation and high praises for Ranken’s contributions to their lives and post-graduation achievements.

Hild came to Ranken for its automotive training program, after struggling with an earlier attempt at higher education. He was #1 in his class, sharing that honor with another classmate. When he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, he scored 148 out of 150 on the mechanical aptitude test, which qualified him to go to school to learn how to repair and maintain vital Chinook CH-47 helicopters. That led him to a fascinating series of jobs in the military, as a government contractor and then in the private sector maintaining aircraft for industry leaders – even royal families abroad. “Ranken was my first school that taught me the value of doing work the right way and to have a good attitude toward work,” he wrote.

As recent graduates celebrate their new beginning, Ranken President Stan Shoun says the school is pleased to honor past graduates who have contributed so much to industries and communities locally, nationally and internationally. “They have distinguished themselves at both professional and personal levels, and we are proud that they are part of our heritage.”

Hyperloop Project Plans Progressing as Innovative Transportation Option in America’s Heartland

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The possibility of bringing the first Hyperloop One intercity route to Missouri is progressing at a rapid pace, putting this innovative technology — and what it would mean for travel and economic development in the region — into reality.

Andrew Smith, co-founder of the Missouri Hyperloop Coalition, took part in a Q-and-A format, hosted by the Heartland Civic Collaborative as part of 2019 FreightWeekSTL, to update attendees on progress being made to bring the Hyperloop to Missouri.

Hyperloop combines two types of technologies that already exist – vacuum tubes and Maglev trains, which use magnetic levitation to move vehicles. These two technologies create a coasting effect that would transport people and goods at nearly 700 miles per hour. The proposed Missouri route would run between St. Louis and Kansas City along Interstate 70 and would cut travel time between the two cities to less than 30 minutes. The Missouri Hyperloop Coalition, a public-private partnership of several civic organizations and the Missouri Department of Transportation, has taken the lead in bringing the proposed route to life, which includes coordinating a feasibility study that was completed last fall by Kansas City-based engineering firm Black and Veatch.

Speaking at FreightWeekSTL, Smith compared the Hyperloop One system to building the U.S. Interstate system more than half a century ago and explained how Missouri is a catalyst of innovation.

“Missouri is where the U.S. interstate system began,” he said. “If you are going to build a network, you start in the middle, and that’s something that we have that no other place has. When you start thinking about the history of Missouri and the kinds of things that we have been involved in over the years, you realize it’s possible to bring Hyperloop technology to our state. There wouldn’t have been a space program if it hadn’t been for McDonnell Douglas and the work that was done in St. Louis by St. Louis engineers to put people in orbit and get people to the moon. To me, Hyperloop is the natural next step, and it’s something that’s very much connected with the history of our state.”

In March, Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr announced the formation of the special Blue Ribbon Panel to work on a plan for the Hyperloop project. The panel, chaired by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, was formed to come up with recommendations on how to commercialize the technology. The panel will release its recommendations and findings this fall.

Also in March, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the formation a new council to govern and oversee new technologies in transportation – including Hyperloop and autonomous vehicles. The Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology Council (NETT) will determine if a new or existing federal agency will regulate hyperloop travel. According to Smith, the announcement opens up the conversation for truly tangible next steps – building a certification track in Missouri.

The goal would be to build a 12 to 15-mile Hyperloop certification track in Missouri and eventually extend it beyond Missouri’s borders. Smith said the Coalition is working to partner with universities in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and other neighboring states that have the resources and incentives to create a multi-state system.

The Hyperloop One track would cost about $30 million per mile to build and would largely be funded through private donations – similar to what is currently being done to bring the technology in India to connect the cities of Mumbai and Pune. Funding will most likely also come from federal funds.

“The cost to build the Hyperloop is about 40 percent less than high-speed rail, and it’s three times faster,” Smith said. “The operating costs of this system, because it’s so energy efficient, is about five cents per passenger mile – lower than any other existing form of transportation. We’re looking at a ticket price between $30 and $40 between Kansas City and St. Louis, less than a tank of gas.”

In addition to passenger travel, Hyperloop technology can also supplement the freight industry. Smith expects Hyperloop tubes to transport light-weight cargo currently moved by truck or air within 300 to 1,500 miles. He also believes the Hyperloop could become a larger player in connecting freight hubs across the Midwest.

“Several airports within 350 miles of Lambert move approximately 40 million tons – a massive percentage of freight traffic passes through them,” Smith said. “If we had a Hyperloop connecting those airports with ours, it strengthens our region from a logistics standpoint, especially with the multimodal capacity our rivers offer, which very few regions have.”

FreightWeekSTL debuted in May 2018 and drew 2,000 freight and transportation experts as well as exhibitors from around the country to share ideas and collaborate on the forward movement of America’s growing freight industry. It also gave participants firsthand exposure to the St. Louis region’s enviable location as the epicenter of American logistics. Returning for its second year and once again built around – and in partnership with – the annual Inland Marine Expo (IMX), FreightWeekSTL 2019 is building on those efforts.

The St. Louis Regional Freightway is a Bi-State Development enterprise formed to create a regional freight district and comprehensive authority for freight operations and opportunities within eight counties in Illinois and Missouri which comprise the St. Louis metropolitan area. Public sector and private industry businesses are partnering with the St. Louis Regional Freightway to establish the bi-state region as one of the premier multimodal freight hubs and distribution centers in the United States through marketing, public advocacy, and freight and infrastructure development. For more information, visit thefreightway.com.

Powered by business and civic leaders from the four leading Midwestern metros – Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha and St. Louis – the Heartland Civic Collaborative builds momentum through targeted civic initiatives, driving the region to reach its full potential and strengthen the Heartland’s competitiveness in the global economy.

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