Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), AARP in St. Louis, and Metro Transit invite the St. Louis community to celebrate the unveiling of three new bus benches across the region during the Bus Bench Progressive Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, October 9, 2025. As part of CMT’s new placemaking program, The Story of a Bench, the day’s events will kick off at 9 a.m. at MetroBus Stop #926 (4412 Natural Bridge Road), continue at 11 a.m. at MetroBus Stop #4134 (1100 S. Grand), and wrap up at 1 p.m. at MetroBus Stop #5609 (South Lindbergh and Baptist Church Road). Each stop will feature partners, stakeholders, and riders gathering to celebrate these new amenities and share “The Story of a Bench,” highlighting the importance of comfort, accessibility, and community connections in public transit spaces.
The program aims to gather and share narratives on how these benches positively influence riders and local communities, potentially sparking further investment in transit across the region. Even a basic amenity like a bench can significantly build support for transit, increase ridership, and improve the rider experience, while also removing the stigma of the “forgotten” bus stop.
The goal is to place five benches each year at bus stops that lack existing amenities. These benches will be branded with “Enjoy the Ride” and feature a QR code and web address linking to a survey where bench users and transit riders can share their stories. These installations will mark completion of five benches this year with an additional three locations in the works.
