MetroLink (reporting markBSDA) (commonly referred to as "Metro") is the light rail system[1][2] that serves the Greater St. Louis area. It is operated by Metro Transit in a shared fare system with MetroBus.[3] Currently, it is a two-line, 46 mile (74 km) system serving 38 stations operating primarily on separate grade with subway sections in downtown St. Louis, near Forest Park, and in suburban Clayton.
Unlike the majority of LRT systems in the United States, St. Louis MetroLink shares more characteristics of a rapid transit service,[4][5] including a largely independent right-of-way, a higher top speed, and level boarding at all platforms.[5]
About Script error: No such module "convert". of the original Script error: No such module "convert". alignment reused existing railroad right-of-way including historic downtown tunnels. The capital cost to build the initial phase of MetroLink was $465 million, including $348 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).[11]
Construction on the St. Clair County MetroLink extension from the 5th & Missouri station to the College station in Belleville began in 1998 and opened in May 2001. The extension added eight stations and seven park-ride lots. The total project cost was $339.2 million with $243.9 million paid by the FTA and $95.2 million paid by the St. Clair County Transit District (via a 1/2 cent sales tax passed in November 1993).[11]
In May 2003, a Script error: No such module "convert". extension from the College station to the Shiloh-Scott station opened. This $75 million project was funded by a $60 million grant from the Illinois FIRST (Fund for Infrastructure, Roads, Schools, and Transit) Program and $15 million from the St. Clair County Transit District.[11]
The Script error: No such module "convert". Cross County Extension opened on August 26, 2006 and added nine stations from Forest Park-DeBaliviere to Shrewsbury, Missouri. Intermediate stops include service to Washington University, Clayton, the Saint Louis Galleria and Maplewood.[12] The entire project was funded by a $430 million Metro bond issue. Citing repeated delays and cost overruns, Metro fired and then sued its general contractor, Cross County Collaborative, in the summer of 2004. Metro sought $81 million in damages for fraud and mismanagement while the Collaborative counter-sued for $17 million for work that Metro hadn't paid for. On December 1, 2007, a jury awarded the Collaborative $2.56 million.[13]
On October 27, 2008, Metro renamed the Lambert Airport branch the Red Line and the Shrewsbury branch the Blue Line. Blue Line service was also extended from its former terminus at Emerson Park to Fairview Heights. All trains have signs on the front and side that identify the train as a Red or Blue line train, and operators make live announcements identifying lines and stations.[7]
On September 9, 2014, the United States Department of Transportation announced $10.3 million in funding for a new Metrolink station between the Central West End and Grand stations in the Cortex Innovation Community. An additional $5 million in funding was provided by a public-private partnership including Washington University, BJC HealthCare, Great Rivers Greenway and Cortex. The new Cortex station, located just east of Boyle Avenue, opened to the public on July 31, 2018.[14]
On June 15, 2019, MetroLink set its single-day ridership record when more than 100,000 people used the service to attend the parade after the St. Louis Blues won the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.[15][16]
On July 26, 2022, a flash flood shut down MetroLink for nearly 72 hours and caused roughly $40 million in damage.[17][18] The flood damaged nearly Script error: No such module "convert". of track bed, two elevators, two communications rooms, three signal houses and destroyed two MetroLink vehicles.[19] Normal Red Line service resumed in September, but Blue Line service would run under restrictions for nearly two years.[20] On July 31, 2023, Metro received $27.7 million in federal emergency disaster relief funding to help cover the cost of restoration.[21] In March 2024, Blue Line platform and speed restrictions were lifted after repairs on the last signal house were completed.[22]
In May, Metro received a $196.2 million federal grant to purchase new light rail vehicles to replace the remaining SD-400 cars.[23] Six months later, Bi-State's board approved a contract with Siemens Mobility worth up to $390.4 million for as many as 55 new S200 light rail vehicles with delivery expected to begin in 2027.[24][23][25]
In September 2024, turnstiles began initial operation at four Illinois stations as part of Metro's Secure Platform Plan.[26][27] Seven Missouri stations are slated for completion by early 2025[28] with the remaining stations and an upgraded fare collection system expected to be in place by early 2026.[29][30][31]
Chronology
Opening dates of MetroLink segments and stations:
Opening date
Element
Stations
Length
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MetroLink operates 87 Siemens SD-400 and SD-460 light rail vehicles. Each Script error: No such module "convert"., single articulated vehicle has four high-platform doors per side and can hold 72 seated and 106 standing passengers.[38][39] The cars are powered by an electric motor which gets its electricity from an overhead line with a Template:750 V DC supply.[40]
Each car is bi-directional (also known as "double-ended"), meaning it has an enclosed operator cab at each end. This configuration is the most flexible for operations but prevents travel between cars. Bicycles are permitted in the door vestibules adjacent to each unused cab.[41] Each car has separate doors for boarding at station level and track level; in normal operations, the track-level doors (equipped with stairs) are unused.
In 2026, Metro plans to begin phasing out the original SD-400 cars and to refurbish the SD-460 cars for continued use.[42] In May 2023, Metro received a $196.2 million federal grant to purchase up to 48 Siemens S200 high-floor light rail vehicles to replace 25 of the oldest cars.[23] Six months later, Bi-State's board approved a contract with Siemens Mobility worth up to $390.4 million for as many as 55 new light rail vehicles.[24]
Metro operates two storage and maintenance facilities. Ewing Yard sits between the Grand and Union Station stops just west of downtown St. Louis; 29th Street Yard is located between the JJK Center and Washington Park stops in East St. Louis.
MetroLink uses a proof-of-payment system. Tickets can be purchased at ticket-vending machines at the entrance to all stations and must be validated before boarding the train. Single-ride tickets are good for up to two hours in the direction that a passenger initially boards.[7] Some fares, such as monthly or weekly fares, do not need to be validated, but passengers must have the pass in their possession while riding and must show the pass to security personnel upon request. Reduced fares can be purchased by seniors ages 65+, people with disabilities, and children ages 5–12. Up to three children under 5 may ride free with a fare-paying rider. Proof of age may be requested of all people riding with reduced fares. Other types of passes include a Semester Pass for full-time students.[45]
In 2018, Metro introduced the Gateway Card, a multi-use smart card that was intended to eliminate most paper passes and tickets. In 2023, Metro announced that it would replace the Gateway Card—one Bi-State official called it a "failed system"—with a new fare collection system as part of the Secure Platform Plan.[46]
since 2024[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., the base fare is $2.50 when paid in cash or $3 for a two-hour pass with a transfer that can be purchased on the Transit app.[47]
Projects in progress
MidAmerica Airport extension
In 2019, the St. Clair County Transit District was awarded $96 million in Illinois infrastructure funding to build a Script error: No such module "convert". extension of the Red Line from Shiloh–Scott to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah.[48] This extension will include two Script error: No such module "convert". segments, a double-track and a single-track segment, along with a station at the airport.[49] Construction of the extension began in 2023,[50][51][52] and its opening is forecast for the summer of 2026.[53]
Beginning in 2025, Metro will start rehabilitating the Union Station tunnel[59] with rehabilitation of the Cross County tunnels beginning in 2026.[60] The latter will include the renovation of the Skinker and University City–Big Bend subway stations and the construction of a storage siding near the Richmond Heights station.[60][61] In 2026, Metro expects to complete upgrades to the Supervisory Control Automated Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Public Address/Customer Information (PA/CIS) systems.[62] The upgraded SCADA/PA/CIS will operate as an integrated system that monitors and controls operations and will allow Metro to provide real-time arrival information to passengers, such as live displays at stations.[63]
In 2024, Metro Transit began adding turnstiles at all MetroLink stations as part of its $52 million Secure Platform Plan (SPP). Stations will also receive a new fare collection system, more fences, passenger-assist telephones, and more than 1,800 cameras to be monitored at a center opened in November 2022 at Metro's Central Garage.[64][65]
The SPP will be implemented in three "packages" with full operation expected to begin in 2026.[66] In September 2023, Bi-State awarded a $6.4 million contract to Millstone Weber LLC for the first package covering four Illinois stations.[67] The gates at these first four stations began operating in September 2024.[68][26] However, due to delays in implementing a new fare collection system, Metro staff will operate the fare gates manually at first.[66] The second package covers seven Missouri stations and is also slated for completion by early 2025.[69] The remaining stations and the upgraded fare collection system are expected to be operational by early 2026.[70][64][66]
Projects in planning
North-South expansion
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In 2022, Metro proposed the Green Line,[71] a north-south on-street light rail line that would have lacked the rapid transit-like characteristics of the existing MetroLink system, instead resembling other U.S. on-street light rail lines.[72][73] Running Script error: No such module "convert". primarily on Jefferson Avenue, the line would have served about 10 stations between Chippewa Street in South St. Louis and Grand Boulevard in North St. Louis.[74] The 2023 design study estimated 5,000 daily boardings, $8–9 million in annual operating costs, and $1.1 billion in capital costs.[75]
In September 2025, Metro and St. Louis officials cancelled the Green Line project primarily due to cost concerns.[76] That month's Bi-State Development board meeting meeting saw commissioners vote to update the Program Management Consultant contract to evaluate alternative options for the project, with a focus on bus rapid transit.[77] In that same meeting commissioners approved a study for bus rapid transit in the Jefferson corridor, a project that could cost between $400 and $450 million.[78][79]
Previous proposals
Many of these extensions were proposed between the year 2000 and in 2010 when Metro released its 30-year long range plan, Moving Transit Forward.[80] The Green Line was cancelled in 2025.[76]
North-South
Northside/Southside (2008): This Script error: No such module "convert". expansion was planned in two separate locally preferred alternatives (LPA). In 2008 a Script error: No such module "convert". Northside LPA was selected that would have traveled between downtown St. Louis and St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley via North City and County.[81] That same year, a Script error: No such module "convert". Southside LPA was selected that would have traveled between downtown St. Louis and Bayless Avenue via South City and County.[82]
Northside/Southside (2018): In 2018, an updated Northside/Southside LPA was approved that shortened the expansion to an approximately Script error: No such module "convert". alignment between Grand in North St. Louis and Chippewa in South St. Louis via a loop on 9th and 10th streets in downtown St. Louis.[83]File:Green Line MetroLink Logo STL.svgGreen Line project logo
Green Line: This Script error: No such module "convert". north-south expansion was announced after a design study was completed in 2023.[84] In 2024, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments approved the updated locally preferred alternative along Jefferson Avenue.[85] The project was cancelled in 2025 primarily due to cost concerns.[76] An extension of the Green Line into North St. Louis County had been explored. In 2023, four alternatives were proposed that would have continued the line from the Grand/Fairground station along Natural Bridge Avenue toward the county.[86] By 2024, County leadership had rejected all four routes primarily due to the unfunded Script error: No such module "convert". gap between the Grand/Fairground station and the county line along with concerns about federal funding, ridership, right-of-way and other factors.[87]
Cross County
MetroSouth: This Script error: No such module "convert". extension was envisioned as Cross County Segment 2 and would have extended the current Blue Line from its terminus in Shrewsbury further south beyond Interstates 270/255 to Butler Hill Road. A third alternative would have ended at Watson Road.[88] An environmental impact study was completed in 2004; however, selection of an LPA was deferred due to the lack of local funding sources as well as other factors.[89]
MetroNorth: This approximately Script error: No such module "convert". extension was envisioned as Cross County Segment 3 and would have extended the current Blue Line from Clayton towards Florissant, Missouri. Some of this segment would have followed the former Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis' Central Belt right-of-way paralleling Interstate 170.[90]
Daniel Boone: This Script error: No such module "convert". extension would have branched off the Cross County corridor near Olive Boulevard along disused Rock Island Railroad right-of-way. It would then turn west and follow existing trackage operated by Central Midland Railway to Page Avenue where the line would continue to Westport Plaza.[91][92] An approximately Script error: No such module "convert". extension to Chesterfield would have been a potential Phase 2 of the Daniel Boone branch. The alignment would have continued west following Page Avenue and Highway 364 then turning towards Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park. From there it would have headed to Spirit of St. Louis Airport in the Chesterfield Valley.[90] This alignment has not been given serious consideration because of its perceived low ridership potential.
St. Charles County
A plan to expand MetroLink Script error: No such module "convert". from St. Louis Lambert International Airport northwest to St. Charles County was abandoned after St. Charles County voters twice rejected a sales tax for the extension in 1996; subsequently, all MetroBus service was ended.[93] Had the extension been funded, the route would have used the Old St. Charles Bridge (now demolished) over the Missouri River to access the county.
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