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Metro Transit
A Blue Line MetroLink train approaching downtown Clayton
Overview
Owner	Bi-State Development Agency
Locale	Greater St. Louis, Missouri–Illinois, U.S.
Transit type	Bus Light rail Streetcar Paratransit
Number of lines	59 bus routes 2 light rail lines 1 streetcar line
Number of stations	5,000+ (bus) 38 (light rail) 10 (streetcar) 25 (transit centers) 26 (park and ride lots)
Daily ridership	64,600 (weekdays, Q3 2024)
Annual ridership	19,528,200 (2023) 12,350 (2024, Loop Trolley)
Chief executive	Taulby Roach
Headquarters	One Metropolitan Square 211 North Broadway St. Louis, Missouri, 63102, U.S.
Website	metrostlouis.org
Operation
Began operation	September 20, 1949; 75 years ago (1949-09-20)
Reporting marks	BSDA
Number of vehicles	25 Siemens SD-400s 50 Siemens SD-460s 237 Diesel buses 24 Electric buses 123 Call-A-Ride vans 2 Gomaco Brill replica streetcars 1 MMTB W2-class streetcar

Metro Transit is an enterprise of the Bi-State Development Agency and operates public transportation services in the St. Louis region. In 2023, the system had an annual ridership of 19,528,200, or about 64,600 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.

History

The enterprise now known as Metro Transit was founded in 1963 when the Bi-State Development Agency, using a $22.5 million bond issue, purchased and consolidated 15 privately owned transit operators to sustain efficient and reliable public transportation in the region. These services would operate under the Bi-State name until 2003, when the agency would begin operating as Metro. In 2015, the Bi-State Development name would be resurrected for the parent organization and the public transit enterprise renamed Metro Transit.

In the 1960s, after taking over the private operators, Bi-State consolidated bus lines and in 1966 shut down the St. Louis region's last streetcar service, the Hodiamont line. Its right-of-way was paved over and replaced with buses. In 2018, Great Rivers Greenway began soliciting feedback for turning the 3.5-mile (5.6 km) former transit corridor into a greenway.

In the 1970s, the system became one of the first in the United States to use buses equipped with wheelchair lifts. In June 1973, with a financial crisis approaching, Bi-State threatened to end all bus service at the end of that month. In response, the Missouri General Assembly passed the Transportation Sales Tax Act allowing St. Louis and St. Louis County to levy a half cent sales tax for public transportation. With the additional funding, Bi-State lowered the bus fare from 40 cents to 25 cents.

In the 1980s, Metro Call-A-Ride began demand response service to help people whose physical or cognitive disabilities prevented them from independently using regular fixed-route bus service. In 1986, Arts in Transit, Inc. was founded, which is a 501(c)(3) organization that ensures the integration of local art and design in the transit system. In 1987, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments completed a study that recommended light rail with an integrated bus network as the next step forward for the St. Louis region’s public transit system.

Construction on the region's first light rail line began in 1990 by reusing former railroad rights-of-way including downtown subway tunnels and the Eads Bridge. The first 13.9-mile (22.4 km) segment opened on July 31, 1993, between the North Hanley and 5th & Missouri stations. The remainder of this initial alignment was completed on June 25, 1994, when the extension to Lambert Airport Main opened. Three infill stations have been added to this original alignment. East Riverfront in 1994, Lambert Airport East in 1998, and Cortex in 2018. In 2001, MetroLink doubled in length with a 17.4-mile (28.0 km) extension to Southwestern Illinois College in St. Clair County. Two years later, a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) extension brought service to Shiloh, Illinois. In 2006, Metro opened the 8-mile (13 km) Cross County extension running from the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station to Shrewsbury, Missouri.

After St. Louis County voters defeated Proposition M in 2008, Metro shelved all expansion plans and was forced to cut 24 Missouri bus routes. In 2010, County voters passed Proposition A, a half cent sales tax increase, to restore service cuts and fund system expansion under the banner of Moving Transit Forward. In 2013, the St. Louis County Council authorized loaning Metro $400 million of surplus Proposition A funds to pay off debt related to the Cross County extension. In 2019, the State of Illinois provided the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) $96 million in funding to extend MetroLink from Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois. SCCTD began construction on the extension in 2023; Metro is expected to begin operating it in spring 2026. In 2021, Metro introduced the region's first electric buses: 40-foot and 60-foot articulated models.

In February 2022, Bi-State's board voted in favor of Metro taking over operation of the troubled Loop Trolley. In August 2022, Metro reopened the trolley and received a $1.26 million grant from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments to operate the service on a seasonal schedule for the next several years. In November 2024, Metro announced the Loop Trolley ended that season within budget and with a 44% increase in ridership.

On July 26, 2022, a flash flood shut down MetroLink for nearly 72 hours and caused roughly $40 million in damage. The flood damaged nearly 5 miles (8.0 km) of track bed, two elevators, two communications rooms, three signal houses and destroyed two MetroLink vehicles and a Call-A-Ride van. By that September, normal Red Line service had resumed while restricted service continued on the Blue Line. On July 31, 2023, Metro received $27.7 million in federal emergency disaster relief funding to help cover the cost of restoration. In March 2024, Blue Line platform and speed restrictions were lifted after repairs on the last signal house were completed.

In March 2023, Bi-State's board approved a memorandum of understanding authorizing the Metro team to plan and develop the Green Line MetroLink expansion with the City of St. Louis. That September, Bi-State's board approved a 4-year, $18.9 million contract with the joint venture Northside-Southside Transit Partners to provide consulting services for the design phase of the project. In February 2024, East-West Gateway approved the updated locally preferred alternative along Jefferson. In May 2023, Metro received a $196.2 million federal grant to purchase new light rail vehicles to replace the remaining SD-400 cars. Six months later, Bi-State's board approved a contract with Siemens Mobility worth up to $390.4 million for as many as 55 battery-hybrid S200 light rail vehicles with delivery expected to begin in early 2027.

In September 2024, turnstiles began initial operation at four Illinois stations as part of Metro's Secure Platform Plan. Seven Missouri stations are slated for completion by early 2025 with the remaining stations and an upgraded fare collection system expected to be in place by early 2026.

Services

MetroBus

Since 1963, Metro Transit has continuously provided bus service in the Greater St. Louis region. Metro currently operates 46 fixed bus routes in Missouri and 13 fixed bus routes in Illinois. In September 2019, Metro launched Metro Reimagined, a restructuring of Missouri bus routes that increased frequency on busy routes and discontinued six low-ridership routes. That same year, Metro also removed or relocated more than 360 of the system's 5,400 bus stops. In June 2021, Metro introduced the region's first electric buses including 40-foot and 60-foot articulated models. The 60-foot articulated buses are used exclusively on the #70 Grand bus line, the region's busiest.

In 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in MetroBus ridership and initiated a labor shortage that had reduced Metro's ability to offer comprehensive service to passengers. In an effort to recruit more drivers, Bi-State's board signed a contract in August 2023 with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788, which approved salary increases and a signing bonus. By the end of 2024, MetroBus had increased its operator ranks from 556 to 642 allowing it to increase frequency or add service on 35 Missouri and 7 Illinois routes, including the addition of four new routes.

MetroLink

Since 1993, Metro Transit has operated light rail service in the Greater St. Louis region. Today, the system consists of two lines, the Red and Blue lines, with 38 stations and 46 miles (74 km) of track. It runs from St. Louis Lambert International Airport in northwest St. Louis County to Shiloh, Illinois near Scott Air Force Base in southeast St. Clair County. The Cross County extension opened in 2006 and introduced MetroLink service between Forest Park and Shrewsbury, Missouri. A 5.2-mile (8.4 km) extension of the Red Line from Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah broke ground in 2023 and is expected to be operational by 2026. In Missouri, Metro and local leaders are planning the Green Line, an expansion that would run between North and South St. Louis.

While officially light rail, MetroLink features many characteristics of a light metro or rapid transit service, including a completely independent right of way, a higher top speed, and level boarding at all platforms.

Metro Call-A-Ride

Since 1987, Metro Transit's Call-A-Ride demand response service has provided alternative transportation to residents who have limited access to MetroBus or MetroLink and/or disabled residents who are unable to use those services. In April 2023, in response to operator shortages, Metro announced that it would reduce its service area for Call-A-Ride, primarily in southwest and far north St. Louis County. These reductions in service have led to significant criticism for the transit agency.

Via Metro STL

Via Metro STL is an app-based, on-demand microtransit service provided by Via Transportation with Metro Transit. The service launched in June 2020 to serve exurban areas of St. Louis County with few bus stops and limited MetroLink service. It provides rides in three service zones; North, South and West. In 2023, the service completed 271,402 rides.

Loop Trolley

The Loop Trolley is a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) heritage streetcar line that runs from City Hall in University City to the Missouri History Museum and Forest Park in St. Louis. The 10 station line travels along Delmar Boulevard through the Delmar Loop and DeBaliviere Avenue between Delmar and Forest Park. Connections can be made to MetroLink at both the Delmar Loop and Forest Park–DeBaliviere stations.

On February 18, 2022, Bi-State's board voted in favor of Metro Transit taking over operations after several financial setbacks and closures. In August 2022, Metro reopened the trolley and received a $1.26 million grant from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments to operate the service on a seasonal schedule for the next several years. In November 2024, Metro announced the Loop Trolley ended that season within budget and with a 44% increase in ridership. Additionally, at its current service level further funding requests would not be necessary.

Fares

Metro Transit uses a proof-of-payment system, requiring riders to carry passes at all times. When boarding MetroBus, riders with valid passes present them to the operator and those without passes are able to pay exact change into the onboard farebox. MetroLink passengers must have a validated pass and present it when asked by security personnel. Beginning in 2024, MetroLink will convert to a paid access system as part of its Secure Platform Plan.

Metro also accepts some fares from Madison County Transit (MCT) on its services. MCT's 2-hour regional pass is accepted as full fare on MetroBus and MetroLink and its senior/ADA passes qualify as reduced fare on Metro services. In addition, Metro's 2-hour pass/transfer is valid for a single bus trip on MCT with no additional charge.

Residents called to jury duty in Metro's service area may travel on MetroBus and MetroLink free of charge.

Fleet

Buses

Metro Transit operates 261 vehicles for MetroBus, including 237 35- and 40-foot low-emission, low-floor diesel buses made by Gillig; 10 electric 40-foot Gillig buses; and 14 electric 60-foot articulated New Flyer XE60 buses. Electric buses are charged overnight at the Brentwood and DeBaliviere garages, while in-service charging is at the North Broadway Transit Center. Each MetroBus vehicle has a two-bike bike rack, available first-come, first-served.

Metro also operates 123 Call-A-Ride vans.

All MetroBus and Call-A-Ride vehicles have an accessible lift or ramp and include priority seating.

Trains

At its largest, Metro Transit operated a fleet of 87 Siemens light rail vehicles for MetroLink, including 31 SD-400 cars and 56 SD-460 cars. As of 2023, Metro operated 25 SD-400s and 50 SD-460s. Two SD-460s were destroyed in a July 2022 flash flood. Metro services trains at its Ewing and 29th Street rail yards. All light rail vehicles are accessible and include priority seating and spaces for those using mobility devices. Riders may walk bicycles onto the rear of the first train car and the front and rear of the second car.

In May 2023, Metro received a $196.2 million federal grant to purchase a fleet of new Siemens S200 light rail vehicles to replace the remaining 25 SD-400 cars. Six months later, Bi-State's board approved a contract with Siemens Mobility worth up to $390.4 million for as many as 55 battery-hybrid light rail vehicles to replace aging rolling stock. The onboard traction batteries would allow a train to travel 5 miles (8.0 km) without overhead catenary wire. Delivery of the new vehicles is expected to begin in 2027. Meanwhile, Metro is refurbishing many of the remaining SD-460 cars for continued use.

Metro currently operates three vehicles for the Loop Trolley: two Gomaco-built Brill-replica streetcars that came from Portland, Oregon, and one W2-type streetcar used in Melbourne, Australia, and Seattle. All three vehicles were modified for wheelchair accessibility to meet ADA regulations before entering service.

Liveries

Metro Transit has a similar livery across all of its services except its battery-electric buses and the Loop Trolley. In 2019, Metro began phasing in a new livery for its vehicles. Previously, MetroLink vehicles had a white base with a red stripe running horizontally beneath the windows that turned into a dashed blue stripe near each operator cab. The front included Metro's "M" logo centered between vertical blue, red, and white lines. MetroBus and Metro Call-A-Ride were similar, except the red stripe continued around the rear of the vehicles.

The new livery is made up of a blue base with white accents. On MetroLink, the stripe was moved further below the windows so the word "metro" could be inlaid within it and the tops of the cars were painted black. Metro Call-A-Ride uses this same design. MetroBus includes two large white circles on either side of the bus. The horizontal stripe has been eliminated, save for a small portion on either side of the word "metro." All three services retained Metro's "M" logo on the front of their vehicles.

Metro's battery-electric buses are a shade of lime green on the front and rear with shades of blue in the center accented by a green leaf pattern. A white stripe runs horizontally near the base with the word "metro" and an image of a power plug inlaid within it. This livery is part of a partnership with Ameren Missouri.

In January 2024, the agency announced that it would cease to sell advertising that covers the exterior of buses and trains, citing aesthetic reasons. The 144 exterior advertisement spaces had generated up to $1.5 million annually through contractor Vector Media but had also drawn complaints.

Organization

Leadership

Metro Transit's executive leadership is made up of President and CEO Taulby Roach and Chief Operating Officer Charles A. Stewart. As an enterprise of the Bi-State Development Agency, Metro's leadership answers to Bi-State's Board of Commissioners. As of 2024, the agency had roughly 2,000 employees.

Security

Security for the Metro system is provided by contracted uniformed police and Metro's own security guards. Known as "bumblebees" for their neon-yellow and black uniforms, Metro security guards enforce fare collection and other rules, patrol trains, and help passengers. The system also has contracts for officers with the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and the St. Louis City Sheriff’s Department.

Security features in vehicles, stations and transit centers include lights, closed-circuit television monitoring, emergency telephones, police and security patrols, and radio communication between operators and MetroBus and MetroLink control centers.

Kevin Scott is the General Manager of Security for Metro Transit.

Funding

Metro's operating budget is funded by sales taxes from the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County and the St. Clair County Transit District. Other funds come through federal and state grants and fare-paying passengers. Metro's operating budget in FY2025 is $328,980,534 in addition to a 3-year capital budget of $1,037,311,983. Combined sales tax appropriations between the three supporting jurisdictions is estimated at $312 million in FY2025 with federal grant revenue estimated at $4.2 million and Missouri state funding estimated at $750,000. Passenger revenue is estimated at $21.8 million.

In 1973, the Missouri General Assembly passed the Transportation Sales Tax Act which allowed St. Louis, St. Louis County and Kansas City to levy up to a half cent sales tax for public transportation. In 1981, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Local Mass Transit District Act allowing counties to levy up to a quarter cent sales tax for public transportation. Additional ballot initiatives are listed in the table below:

Projects in progress

MidAmerica Airport extension

In 2019, the St. Clair County Transit District was awarded $96 million in Illinois infrastructure funding to build a 5.2-mile (8.4 km) extension of the Red Line from Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah. This extension will include two 2.6-mile (4.2 km) segments, a double-track and a single-track segment, along with a station at the airport. Construction on the extension began in 2023 with Metro expecting to begin operations in early 2026.

MetroLink rehabilitation

In 2023, Metro began a system-wide rehabilitation program that will last several years. That spring, Metro began rehabilitating the downtown subway tunnels, including the Laclede's Landing, Convention Center, and 8th & Pine stations. Elsewhere, catenary wire, curve tracks, platforms, retaining walls, staircases, and system conduit are to be upgraded or replaced.

Beginning in 2025, Metro will start rehabilitating the Union Station tunnel with rehabilitation of the Cross County tunnels beginning in 2026. The latter will include the renovation of the Skinker and University City–Big Bend subway stations and the construction of a storage siding near the Richmond Heights station. In 2026, Metro expects to complete upgrades to the Supervisory Control Automated Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Public Address/Customer Information (PA/CIS) systems. The upgraded SCADA/PA/CIS will operate as an integrated system that monitors and controls operations and will allow Metro to provide real-time arrival information to passengers, such as live displays at stations.

Secure Platform Plan

In 2024, Metro Transit began adding turnstiles at all MetroLink stations as part of its $52 million Secure Platform Plan (SPP). Stations will also receive a new fare collection system, more fences, passenger-assist telephones, and more than 1,800 cameras to be monitored at a center opened in November 2022 at Metro's Central Garage.

The SPP will be implemented in three "packages" with full operation expected to begin in 2026. In September 2023, Bi-State awarded a $6.4 million contract to Millstone Weber LLC for the first package covering four Illinois stations. The gates at these first four stations began operating in September 2024. However, due to delays in implementing a new fare collection system, Metro staff will operate the fare gates manually at first. The second package covers seven Missouri stations and is also slated for completion by early 2025. The remaining stations and the upgraded fare collection system are expected to be operational by early 2026.

Projects in planning

North-South MetroLink

MetroLink's proposed North-South light rail line would lack the rapid transit-like characteristics of the Red and Blue lines, resembling instead other U.S. on-street light rail lines, such as those in Houston or Phoenix. The new line has been named the Green Line and would connect to the Red and Blue lines with an infill transfer station.

This 5.6-mile (9.0 km) line would serve about 10 stations between Chippewa Street in South St. Louis and Grand Boulevard in North St. Louis running primarily on Jefferson Avenue. It would provide a fixed rail upgrade to Metro's #11 (Chippewa) and #4 (Natural Bridge) bus routes. In September 2023, Bi-State Development's board approved a 4-year, $18.9 million contract with the joint venture Northside-Southside Transit Partners to provide consulting services for the design phase of the project. In February 2024, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments approved the updated locally preferred alternative along Jefferson. The 2023 design study estimates 5,000 daily boardings, $8-9 million in annual operating costs, and $1.1 billion in capital costs.

An extension of the Green Line into North St. Louis County had been explored. In 2023, four alternatives were proposed that would have continued the line from the Grand/Fairground station along Natural Bridge Avenue toward the county. By 2024, County leadership had rejected all four routes primarily due to the unfunded 3-mile (4.8 km) gap between the Grand/Fairground station and the county line. Additionally, concerns were raised about federal funding, ridership, right-of-way constraints and other factors. Instead, county leaders are exploring alternatives for North County such as light rail branching off the existing Red Line near the University of Missouri–St. Louis, rapid bus service or a hybrid of the four 2023 alternatives.

Previous proposals

Many of these services were proposed after the passage of Proposition A in 2010 when Metro Transit released its 30-year plan, Moving Transit Forward. Most are defunct; regional leaders have said their priorities are the proposed MetroLink extensions in the city of St. Louis and North St. Louis County.

MetroLink

Moving Transit Forward identified five potential MetroLink extensions as part of its long-range plan: North-South, Daniel Boone, MetroSouth, MetroNorth, and Madison County. While the first phase of North-South is in design, no others have moved beyond the initial study phase because of uncertainties about funding, ridership potential, community support, and other factors.

Bus Rapid Transit

Moving Transit Forward also identified five potential bus rapid transit lines. Four would have run along highways that connect downtown St. Louis to its suburbs: I-44 to Eureka, I-64 to Chesterfield, I-55 to South County, and I-70 to St. Charles County. A fifth line would have run along Grand Boulevard in St. Louis.

Commuter rail

Initially, two long-distance commuter rail lines were proposed as part of Moving Transit Forward. Both would have run from the Gateway Transportation Center in downtown St. Louis to Alton, Illinois, and the Pacific, Missouri area. Both routes carry existing Amtrak service. Neither has been studied for local commuter rail service.

See also

• Bi-State Development Agency
• Madison County Transit
• St. Clair County Transit District
• Blue Line (MetroLink)
• Green Line (MetroLink)
• Red Line (MetroLink)
• List of MetroLink (St. Louis) stations
• List of rail transit systems in the US
• List of tram and light-rail transit systems
• Transportation in St. Louis

References

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External links

• Metro – Official website for Metro Transit
• Bi-State Development – Official website for Bi-State Development
• St. Clair County Transit District – Official website for the St. Clair County Transit District
• Citizens for Modern Transit – St. Louis transit advocacy group
• Arts in Transit Website

v t e MetroLink (St. Louis)
Lines	Red Line      Blue Line      Green Line
Infrastructure	Cross County Tunnels Downtown Tunnel Eads Bridge Union Station Baggage Tunnel List of MetroLink stations
Rolling Stock	Siemens SD-400 and SD-460 Siemens S200
Rail Yards and Shops	29th Street Yard and Shops Ewing Yard and Shops
Major Transit Centers	Civic Center Clayton Central West End Emerson Park Fairview Heights Forest Park–DeBaliviere North Hanley Rock Road Shiloh–Scott Shrewsbury
Connecting services	Illinois: Alternative Transportation System Madison County Transit MetroBus Missouri: Loop Trolley MetroBus Metro Call-A-Ride Via Metro STL
Other Connections	Gateway Transportation Center St. Louis-Lambert International MidAmerica St. Louis
Expansions	MidAmerica Airport Green Line MetroLink Previous Proposals
Operators	Metro Transit St. Clair County Transit District
Italics denote lines or service which are planned or not operating Bold denotes primary transfers or terminals

• Metro Transit (St. Louis)
• 1949 establishments in the United States
• United States interstate agencies
• Transportation in Illinois
• Public transportation in Greater St. Louis
• Public transportation in St. Louis
• Public transportation in St. Louis County, Missouri
• MetroLink (St. Louis)
• MetroBus (St. Louis)
• Metro Call-A-Ride
• Light rail in Illinois
• Light rail in Missouri
• Bus rapid transit in Illinois
• Bus rapid transit in Missouri
• Intermodal transportation authorities in Illinois
• Intermodal transportation authorities in Missouri
• Paratransit services in the United States
• Passenger rail transportation in Missouri
• Passenger rail transportation in Illinois
• Bus transportation in Missouri
• Bus transportation in Illinois
• Missouri law
• Illinois law
• 1949 establishments in Missouri
• Special districts in Illinois