Why were people trapped in the St. Louis Arch for 2 hours?

I watch the travel channel a lot. They have do have 2 sets of stairs and they do have an emergency exit in the train. The steps are used for maintenance and emergencies. I would consider people trapped an emergency.



Sorry, if wrong category.Why were people trapped in the St. Louis Arch for 2 hours?
I heard about the accident. I also wonder why they didn't do that. you are in the right category.
To the other poster. It is a lot easier to go down stairs then to go up stairs. It wouldn't be dark if they have emergency lights in the stairwell. Battery powered lights would come on if power failed. I don't know if they have battery powered lights, if not they need to get some.

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Why were people trapped in the St. Louis Arch for 2 hours?
Nobody was killed or injured. You may know better than the people in charge, but maybe they did not want to take a risk. People sometimes get stuck on ski lifts for long periods and they make every attempt to get the lifts working.
Just my thought; and its kinda odd... but . The power went out to the Arch and some of ther riverfront. You want to go down 600 ft of steps, pitch black... with 100 other people?
The Arch opened in1960's? Americans are way too fat to fit down the stairways now. One heart-attack and you'd never get those people out.