Effort Designed to Encourage MetroLink and MetroBus Usage, While Reinforcing Transit Benefits and Availability of Metro U-Pass Program at Local Colleges and Universities
To help underscore the benefits of public transit and encourage area college students, faculty and staff to use the system more regularly, Citizens for Modern Transit is teaming up with St. Clair County Transit District, Metro Transit and five higher education institutions – each of which offer the Metro U-Pass Program – to host the CMT “College Transit Challenge.” This day-long competition will prompt those affiliated with St. Louis Community College, Saint Louis University, Southwestern Illinois College, University of Missouri–St. Louis and WashU in St. Louis to utilize their Metro U-Pass to take transit as often as they can throughout the day. Ridership will be tracked via mobile texting. The school with the most transit trips will be awarded bragging rights and a traveling championship trophy.
The “College Transit Challenge” will kick off on Friday, Sept. 20, at 9 a.m. with a “Mascot Meetup” at the Cortex MetroLink Station. Representatives of the transit organizations, along with college and university representatives and students, will share remarks on the benefits of transit access before they and mascots Archie, the Billiken, Kashmir the Snow Leopard, Louie the Triton, and the Bear take MetroLink to the Stadium MetroLink Station in downtown St. Louis. All kick-off attendees will then cross the street to Busch Stadium for a group photo with Fredbird. Over 100 free tickets to watch the Cardinals play the Cleveland Guardians at 7:15 p.m. that night will then be distributed courtesy of the St. Louis Cardinals.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Under the outdoor pavilion at Cortex Commons, which is adjacent to the Cortex MetroLink Station at 270 Duncan Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
To learn more about the “College Transit Challenge” visit www.CollegeTransitChallenge.com.