On July 15, Metro Transit began relocating and/or removing 450 bus stops in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County in an effort to create faster and more efficient trips for MetroBus customers. The stops were identified during a comprehensive analysis of the spacing of the more than 5,400 bus stops that are currently part of the MetroBus system in Missouri.
Each bus stop marked for removal or relocation was identified by a sign affixed to the bus stop sign. Riders that are unsure of where the next nearest bus stop is located are encouraged to contact Metro Customer Service for assistance. Riders that will no longer have access to a bus stop within walking distance are also encouraged to reach out to Metro Customer Service to let them know how the removal of the stop will affect their ride.
In addition, Citizens for Modern Transit will expand the Citizens for Modern Transit Try and Ride program to allow riders that experience a route change due Metro ReImagined plans to enroll in the program from July 15, 2019 until December 15, 2019. For more information or to sign up, click here.
“CMT is expanding our Try and Ride Program to help accommodate current transit riders who may be impacted by route changes or elimination of routes over the next several months as Metro implements Metro ReImagined. Our hope is that our Try and Ride program may help them identify a possible new transit route and an opportunity to give it a try,” CMT Executive Director Kim Cella said. “We are hoping this is an incentive to keep them on transit moving forward.”
The recent analysis identified the bus stops being removed as being in close proximity to another stop, typically within one block. By relocating or removing these stops, MetroBus operators will be able to improve on-time performance by avoiding making more frequent stops, block after block, which slows down bus trips as well as vehicle traffic.
If your stop has been marked for relocation consider taking some of these steps:
- Visit metrostlouis.org/trip-planner to locate the next closest stop to you or call Metro Customer Care line at 314-231-2345 M-F 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. for immediate assistance.
- Download the Transit App for assistance in routing and up to date information on your new bus stop location.
- If the removal/relocation of the bus stop you use results in a void of bus stops within walking distance of your starting point or destination, contact Metro Transit Customer Care at 314-231-2345 M-F 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. to let them know immediately.
- If the changes make your current transit trip not workable for your schedule, consider completing the Citizens for Modern Transit Try and Ride program application to receive a personalized transit route, tickets to try it out with a two month commitment on your part to give the new route a try.
For more information, or to find out if your stop is impacted, check Rider Alerts or contact Metro Transit Information, which they can call Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. https://www.metrostlouis.org/customer-care/