Blue Line (St. Louis MetroLink)

Blue Line (MetroLink)

Company type	Light rail line
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	August 26, 2006 (2006-08-26)
Headquarters	St. Louis , United States
Area served	Greater St. Louis region
Products	Light rail transit service
Website	www.metrostlouis.org

The Blue Line represents the more recent and shorter route within the MetroLink light rail network serving the Greater St. Louis region. It encompasses 25 stations spanning three counties and crossing two states.

Though designated as light rail, the Blue Line functions with characteristics commonly found in a light metro or rapid transit system. These include a fully grade-separated right of way, elevated maximum speeds, and uniform level boarding across all stops.

History

The majority of the Blue Line's route traces former railroad corridors. Beginning at Shrewsbury to the north, it intersects with the BNSF Southeastern Junction before following a previously owned Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis right of way heading toward Clayton, briefly paralleling Interstate 170. The segment running east along Forest Park Parkway between Clayton and the Forest Park–DeBaliviere station was once part of the Rock Island railroad until its abandonment in 1931. Additionally, the stretch between Pershing and DeBaliviere avenues previously accommodated the #1 Kirkwood and #14 University-Clayton streetcar routes until 1963.

In 1999, updated conceptual plans for Segment 1 of the Cross County extension—connecting Forest Park to Shrewsbury—were submitted by staff from the East-West Gateway. Rather than pursuing federal funding, Metro issued $430 million in bonds backed by Proposition M sales tax revenues. Following delays and design revisions, construction commenced on April 9, 2003, with an initial projected cost of $550 million.

Due to ongoing delays and escalating expenses, Metro terminated its contract with Cross County Collaborative, the general contractor, during summer 2004 and filed a lawsuit alleging fraud and mismanagement seeking $81 million. The contractor responded with a counterclaim for $17 million owed for completed work. Ultimately, on December 1, 2007, a jury awarded Cross County Collaborative $2.56 million.

The Cross County extension officially opened on August 26, 2006 at a final expenditure of $676 million, introducing nine new stations between Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Shrewsbury–Lansdowne I-44. From its inauguration until October 27, 2008, this route was referred to as the Shrewsbury branch.

In 2013, the St. Louis County Council approved a loan of $400 million from surplus Proposition A funds to assist Metro in managing debt associated with the Cross County extension.

On July 26, 2022, severe flash flood conditions forced MetroLink to suspend operations for nearly three days, resulting in approximately $40 million in damages affecting elevators, communication centers, and signal facilities. While Red Line services resumed in September, Blue Line operations remained restricted for close to two years. On July 31, 2023, Metro secured $27.7 million through federal emergency disaster relief grants to fund repairs. By March 2024, restoration work on the final damaged signal house was completed, allowing removal of Blue Line platform limitations and speed restrictions.

Route

Spanning 24 miles (39 km), the Blue Line starts at the Shrewsbury, Missouri station known as Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44, located just west of the River des Peres. From there, it crosses over Interstate 44 and heads northward to serve two stops in Maplewood, Missouri—Sunnen and Maplewood/Manchester. Continuing its northbound trajectory, the line reaches Brentwood, Missouri at the Brentwood I-64 stop, situated just south of Interstate 64. Afterward, it passes beneath Interstate 64 via a tunnel to arrive at the Richmond Heights station, which provides access to the Saint Louis Galleria shopping center.

The line then veers eastward toward the Clayton station, positioned in the Forest Park Parkway median and serving the Central Business District of St. Louis County. It proceeds to the Forsyth stop before entering a tunnel that leads to the subway station at University City-Big Bend. Upon entering St. Louis City limits, the Blue Line halts at the Skinker subway stop near Washington University. At Forest Park-DeBaliviere, it intersects with the Red Line, sharing tracks until reaching its endpoint at the Fairview Heights station in Illinois.

Shared Alignment

The Blue and Red lines operate on common tracks through sixteen stations. Prominent shared stops include Central West End and Cortex, which cater to the Central West End neighborhood, Washington University Medical Center, and the Cortex Innovation Community. The busy #70 MetroBus line connects at the Grand station, which also serves both Saint Louis University and its affiliated hospital. The downtown St. Louis area is served by multiple stations: Union Station, Civic Center, Stadium, 8th & Pine, Convention Center, and Laclede's Landing.

Crossing over the historic Eads Bridge into Illinois, this route continues through East St. Louis with stops including East Riverfront, 5th & Missouri, Emerson Park, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, and Washington Park. The shared track section concludes at the Blue Line’s final destination at the Fairview Heights terminal.

Stations

From Shrewsbury−Lansdowne I-44 moving eastward to Fairview Heights

Station	Transfer	City/town served	County	Opening date
		Shrewsbury	St. Louis County	August 26, 2006
		Maplewood
		Brentwood
		Richmond Heights
		Clayton
		University City
		Independent city of St. Louis
	Template:Rcb			July 31, 1993
				July 31, 2018
				July 31, 1993
		East St. Louis	St. Clair County	May 14, 1994
				July 31, 1993	- || rowspan = "4" | May 5, 2001	-	-	- || Fairview Heights

Operations

The Blue Line operates with trains every 20 minutes, commencing service eastbound at 5:08 A.M. from Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 and westbound starting at 4:13 A.M. from Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center. The final six eastbound trips conclude at various stops between 11:40 P.M. and 1:07 A.M., whereas the last westbound train terminates at Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 at 12:33 A.M.

Public artwork

Since 2002, Metro's Arts in Transit initiative has incorporated artistic collaborations into the transit system’s design, beginning with the Cross County extension and building upon efforts started during the original 1993 MetroLink development. Artists have contributed to elements such as landscaping, paving designs, and retaining walls along sections of track situated below ground level.

In 2006, the program introduced A Walk in the Park, a collection of intricate aluminum panels created by Andy Cross, Carl Harris, and Ty de LaVenta. These decorative panels adorn the Catlin Wall privacy barrier between Skinker and Forest Park-DeBaliviere stations, adding an aesthetic enhancement to the transit environment.

System rehabilitation

In 2023, Metro initiated a comprehensive, multi-year system rehabilitation effort. Upgrades to the Blue Line include refurbishment of the Cross County tunnels and renovations at both Skinker and University City–Big Bend stations. Construction is also underway on a new storage siding near Richmond Heights.

Further improvements encompass replacement or enhancement of catenary wires, curve tracks, platforms, retaining walls, stairways, and system conduits. By 2026, Metro plans to finalize upgrades to Supervisory Control Automated Data Acquisition (SCADA) alongside Public Address/Customer Information systems (PA/CIS). These integrated enhancements will support real-time passenger information displays at stations, boosting operational effectiveness and customer satisfaction.

Previous proposals

Earlier plans for Blue Line extensions have been discontinued; current regional focus has shifted toward expanding the Green Line within St. Louis.

Cross County

1. MetroSouth. Known as Cross County Segment 2, this proposal aimed to extend the Blue Line southward from its Shrewsbury endpoint beyond Interstates 270/255 to Butler Hill Road, with an alternate terminus at Watson Road. Although an environmental impact study was completed in 2004, selection of a locally preferred alternative (LPA) was postponed due to funding shortages and other considerations.
2. MetroNorth. Identified as Cross County Segment 3, this roughly extension would have stretched the Blue Line from Clayton toward Florissant, Missouri, partially following the former Terminal Railroad Association's Central Belt corridor running parallel to Interstate 170.
3. Daniel Boone. This proposed extension would have branched near Olive Boulevard using abandoned Rock Island Railroad right-of-way before heading west along Central Midland Railway tracks to Page Avenue and Westport Plaza. A potential second phase of approximately would have extended service westward to Chesterfield via Page Avenue, Highway 364, Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park, and the Spirit of St. Louis Airport located in Chesterfield Valley.

External links

• Metro – Official website for Metro Transit
• Bi-State Development – Official site for Bi-State Development
• Citizens for Modern Transit – Advocacy organization for transit in St. Louis
• Arts in Transit