Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), the City of Maplewood, AARP in St. Louis and Metro Transit invite the community to celebrate the unveiling of two new bus benches in Maplewood on Tuesday, May 19.
As part of CMT’s placemaking program, The Story of a Bench, the event will kick off at 3 p.m. at MetroBus Stop #1850, 7170 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63143. This event will include the unveiling of two benches – one at 7170 Manchester Road on the southside of the street and MetroBus Stop #1980, 7169 Manchester Road on the northside of the street. Partners, stakeholders and riders will be gathering to celebrate these new amenities 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 these benches 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 benches 10 and 11. An additional six benches are in the works in Missouri and Illinois.
