Transformation Site Chosen Out of Dozens of Nominations
Citizens for Modern Transit and AARP in St. Louis are pleased to announce that the MetroBus stop located at 13th St. and Gravois Ave. near Soulard in the City of St. Louis has been selected as the site for the next “Transit Stop Transformation Project.” It will be transformed into an active, engaging corridor with vibrant colors, seating, shading, green space and more. Transit riders, residents, elected officials and other stakeholders are encouraged to weigh in on the changes they would like to see at the site by completing an online survey.
The MetroBus stop at 13th St. and Gravois Ave. was selected out of 44 nominations received through the “Build a Better Bus Campaign” launched in early October, inviting people from around the region to nominate a bus stop within the St. Louis City limits for revitalization. A selection committee featuring representatives from Citizens for Modern Transit, AARP in St. Lous, the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis REALTORS® chose the MetroBus stop based on various metrics that include assessment of the space and the availability of community partners that could help bring the transformation to life. Public input will play a key role in determining what design concepts will be incorporated into the bus stop. Once initial input is received from residents, design concepts will be created, and residents will be able to weigh in one more time before the design is finalized and construction begins. The project is expected to be completed by January 2025.
“We are excited to be moving forward on the MetroBus stop at 13th and Gravois in the City of St. Louis,” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “Out of the nominations received, partners felt this stop offered the greatest opportunity for change and an opportunity to provide a template for other stops. We look forward to bringing this project to life.”
Similar transformations have been completed at a MetroBus Stop in Maplewood, the Emerson Park and 5th & Missouri Transit Centers in East St. Louis, the Belleville Transit Center in Belleville, and the North Hanley Transit Center in North St. Louis County. Construction is also underway for the transformation at the Fairview Heights Transit Center. The goal of all “Transit Stop Transformation Projects” is to transform places that people typically pass through on their way to their next destination into community amenities that improve safety and security, build ridership and increase engagement around transit. Each showcases a deep understanding of and commitment to equitable development around transit, the impact and possibility of play, the ability for creative interventions to produce long-term impact in neighborhoods accessible for residents of all ages, and the need for collaboration to succeed.