The Board of Commissioners of the Bi-State Development Agency/Metro (BSDA/Metro) approved the budget for the new fiscal year which begins on July 1, 2014. The budget, which incorporates a planned 2.5 percent fare increase, outlines $315.9 million in operational expenses before depreciation and a $602.8 million (three year) capital budget for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY2015).
The FY2015 budget allocates resources to run the public transit system and all other BSDA business enterprises from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. It includes a 3.1 percent increase over last year’s total expenses before depreciation in the operating budget. The increases are due primarily to higher fuel and maintenance costs, rising employee benefit expenses and rehabilitation projects for MetroLink and MetroBus stops. The FY2015 operating budget will sustain transit service at its current level and includes resources for some service enhancements.
The FY2015 capital budget allocates resources for major capital projects planned in FY2015, including the expansion of the Civic Center Transit Center in downtown St. Louis, construction of the North County Transit Center, updating the fare collection system, continuing rehabilitation of the historic Eads Bridge, and transit service vehicle replacement. The budget also includes resources needed to plan future transit projects such as Bus Rapid Transit route planning, and resources to begin the planning process required to determine how future MetroLink expansions will be achieved.