Where would you like to see MetroLink go in the future? St. Louis area residents can give their feedback on plans to expand MetroLink in the City of St. Louis and in North St. Louis County by taking an interactive online survey released today by Bi-State Development. The goals of light rail expansion are to provide new access to growing and established job centers for residents with limited transportation options and to invest in historically underserved neighborhoods. The survey can be found at GrowingMetroLink.com and will be available through Monday, May 15th, 2023.
The interactive survey is a continuation of the previous Northside-Southside Study that looked at light rail expansion in the City of St. Louis. Due to changing commuter patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic, growing Downtown West and Midtown employment hubs and escalating construction costs, the City of St. Louis is pursuing a modified preferred MetroLink expansion alternative called the Jefferson Alignment. This MetroLink line would travel completely along Jefferson Avenue from Chippewa Street to Grand Boulevard and west on Natural Bridge. The new line on Jefferson Avenue would connect to the existing Red and Blue MetroLink lines at a new Transfer Station near Jefferson Avenue. The Jefferson Alignment is currently in the design phase. This stage of the project planning also includes determining cost and ridership estimates.
The public is also being asked to provide input on four potential MetroLink expansion alternatives in St. Louis County that would extend light rail into North County. The St. Louis County expansion phase is called the North STL County Community Connector and it would connect with the Jefferson Alignment on Natural Bridge and travel into North County. The goal for this alternatives analysis phase is to select one of the four proposed routes or a combination of routes that best meets the needs of the community.
The format being studied for the Jefferson Alignment and the North STL County Community Connector would utilize low-floor MetroLink vehicles in the street operating within a dedicated right-of-way area (no cars allowed) separated from traffic by a curb. This will enhance safety and improve train travel times. Coordinated public engagement for the Jefferson Alignment and North STL County Community Connector will continue through this summer. Public meetings will be held later this spring.
More information
Interested in learning more about MetroLink expansion, including extension to MidAmerica Airport in Illinois? Check out the CMT Talking Transit presentation from earlier this year below: