Citizens for Modern Transit is pleased to announce it was the recipient of an East-West Gateway Council of Governments’ Outstanding Local Government Achievement (OLGA) award in the Leadership in Planning and Design Innovation category. The award was presented to CMT and AARP in St. Louis – during East-West Gateway Council of Governments’ 56th Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony – in recognition of the organizations’ “Transit Stop Transformation” projects.
CMT launched its “Transit Stop Transformation” projects in partnership with AARP in St. Louis two years ago. Since then, the region has witnessed the transformation of the Maplewood MetroBus Stop in Maplewood, Mo., and the Emerson Park Transit Center in East St. Louis, Ill. Both projects succeeded at completely transforming these spaces into vibrant, engaging corridors that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the communities.
These projects have introduced a new development concept to the region that has succeeded at reinforcing the power of revitalized space and influence of public transit. Each showcases a deep understanding of and commitment to equitable development around transit, the impact and possibility of play, the ability for creative interventions to produce long-term impact in neighborhoods accessible for residents from 8 to 80 years of age, and the need for collaboration to succeed. The partners worked with stakeholders to build consensus and policies to move permanent development forward and ultimately established two lasting developments at transit stops to improve safety and security, build ridership on the system and increase activity around transit. Each development also reinforces the element of fun that comes with activating space around transit and building community.
The Belleville and North Hanley Transit Centers are the next stops set to be transformed.
To learn more, visit www.cmt-stl.org/programs/transit-stop-transformation-projects/