Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), AARP in St. Louis, Metro Transit and UMSL leaders invite the community to celebrate the unveiling of a new bus bench at the entrance to the University of Missouri – St. Louis on Natural Bridge on July 8.
As part of CMT’s placemaking program, The Story of a Bench, the event will kick off at 9 a.m. at MetroBus Stop #9160, at University Drive and Natural Bridge at the entrance to UMSL. This event will include the unveiling of one of CMT’s Bus Benches. Partners, stakeholders and riders will be gathering to celebrate the new amenity and share “The Story of a Bench,” highlighting the importance of comfort, accessibility and community connections in public transit spaces.
This program aims to gather and share narratives on how a bench can 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 was to place five benches each year at bus stops that lack existing amenities. The benches are 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 bench 12. An additional six benches are in the works in Missouri and Illinois.
