The bi-state region is fortunate to have access to a safe, integrated public transit system, but the luck doesn’t stop there. On Friday, March 14 – just a few days prior to St. Patrick’s Day – Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), in conjunction with the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) and Metro Transit, have the golden opportunity to surprise and delight transit riders during the morning commute as part of the partners’ “Transit is a Lucky Charm” campaign.
From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. that morning, a likeable leprechaun will be onboard select buses and trains. He’ll be greeting passengers and handing out a mix of $5 Metro Adventure Tickets, good for unlimited rides on any given day, and free month passes for use in April 2025. There will also be “pots o’ gold” hidden in plain sight throughout the system. These pots will be filled with gold-coin chocolates, free transit passes, an Amazon gift card, a t-shirt and other prizes. If a transit rider finds one, they are free to take it with them and enjoy.
During this same timeframe, “Top of the Morning” street teams will be at the Central West End, Shrewsbury – Lansdowne I-44, Emerson Park and Belleville transit centers distributing Lucky Charms cereal bars. Each treat will have a sticker on it, encouraging transit riders to register for CMT’s FREE Guaranteed Ride Home program and to be on the lookout for the leprechaun and his pots o’ gold. The Guaranteed Ride Home program offers commuters subsidized access to more immediate transportation options through local ride-hailing services, taxicab companies or Enterprise Rent-A-Car should a personal need arise.
“We are lucky to have access to MetroBus and MetroLink as both offer a safe, convenient and affordable way to get people where they need to go,” stated Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “We are grateful to the thousands of area residents who understand this and regularly choose to take transit. This effort is a fun-filled means to demonstrate our appreciation. It will be a fun morning full of surprises.”