Citizens for Modern Transit is teaming up with the St. Clair County Transit District and AARP in St. Louis to activate the space around a MetroBus stop at the Belleville MetroLink Station in Belleville, IL. This joint initiative, known as the “Transit Stop Transformation Project,” will transform the area between the MetroBus area serving both Metro Transit and the SCCTD Flyer and the entrance to MetroLink– into a fun, artistic space that encourages active play, cultivates community and increases transit use.
A transit stop can serve as a transformational tool to reconnect a community, promote social equality, increase accessibility, position an area for growth, activate and beautify the public space, and enhance neighborhood safety. With the permission of Bi-State Development/Metro Transit as the property owner, SCCTD and its partners hope to initiate this project by October 2021. Opportunities the connecting area could include the shelters, the light poles, pavement and area for art.
Recently this site has seen significant investment and development including newly renovated parking lots, LED lighting installations, investment in the Belleville Building onsite that serves both riders and community members. This project would include a community engagement component, and the St. Clair County Transit District will be responsible for maintenance of the project moving forward.