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MetroBus (St. Louis)

From Alfawiki
MetroBus
Company typePublic transportation
IndustryPublic transit
Headquarters
St. Louis
,
United States
Area served
Greater St. Louis region (Missouri and Illinois)
ProductsBus service
ParentMetro Transit

MetroBus is a public transportation bus network managed by Metro Transit that serves the Greater St. Louis region. In , it achieved an annual ridership of , with an average weekday usage of as of .

Service

MetroBus operates 58 fixed-route lines, all coordinated with MetroLink fare structures. Among these routes, 44 cater to St. Louis City and County in Missouri, while 14 serve St. Clair County in Illinois. In September 2019, as part of the Metro Reimagined project, Metro revamped Missouri routes by boosting service frequency on heavily traveled corridors, eliminating six routes with low passenger numbers, and modifying over 360 stops out of a total of 5,400.

June 2021 marked the introduction of the region's inaugural electric bus fleet, comprising both 40-foot and 60-foot articulated vehicles; the latter models are assigned exclusively to the #70 Grand route, recognized as the busiest line in the system.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a significant drop in ridership, with projections indicating a multi-year recovery period. Service capacity has also been limited by ongoing labor shortages. In June 2023, weekend operations were curtailed on 26 routes and fully halted on four others due to driver deficits. To combat recruitment difficulties, Bi-State's governing board approved a contract in August 2023 with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788 that included wage increases and signing bonuses; nevertheless, full-time driver positions were reduced by 21% in the 2024 fiscal plan from 811 to 635.

Following successful recruitment drives in early 2024, Metro was able to increase service frequency on 17 Missouri routes as the number of drivers rose from 556 in November 2023 to 618 by January 2024. By late 2024, operator staffing reached 673, facilitating expanded service on 42 routes spanning Missouri and Illinois and enabling the launch of four new routes.

Missouri

No. Name Notes
1 Gold Connects Central West End and Mallinckrodt transit centers. Initially operated as a Washington University shuttle between its medical campus and Hilltop; Metro assumed control in 2006.
2 Red Runs between Rock Road and Brentwood I-64 transit centers, with stops at Delmar Loop, Skinker, and Mallinckrodt. Also transferred from Washington University in 2006.
4 Natural Bridge Primarily follows Natural Bridge Avenue linking North Hanley and Civic Center transit centers; includes stop at UMSL–South.
5 Green Operated under contract with Washington University; forms a loop from Mallinckrodt Transit Center through Skinker and University City–Big Bend MetroLink stations.
8 Shaw-Cherokee Connects Central West End and Catalan transit centers via Taylor, Chouteau, Tower Grove, Shaw, Grand Boulevard, Cherokee, Jefferson, and South Broadway.
9 Oakville Links Shrewsbury Transit Center with Oakville’s Telegraph and Baumgartner roads; serves Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
10 Gravois-Lindell Operates between Central West End and Gravois–Hampton transit centers; northern section follows Olive/Lindell to Civic Center, southern section runs along Gravois to Hampton.
11 Chippewa Connects Civic Center and Shrewsbury transit centers via Chouteau, South Jefferson, Chippewa, and Lansdowne.
13 Union Runs along Taylor, Lindell, and Union between Central West End Transit Center and Union/West Florissant in North St. Louis.
16 City Limits Travels between Riverview and Shrewsbury transit centers via Jennings Station Road, Skinker/Kienlen, Jamieson Avenue, and Lansdowne Avenue.
18 Taylor Links Central West End Transit Center with O'Fallon Park, operating along Taylor, Newstead, and Pope streets.
19 St. Louis Ave Connects Civic Center and Rock Road transit centers via Tucker Boulevard, 13th Street, St. Louis Avenue, and St. Charles Rock Road.
21 Watson Road Runs between Shrewsbury Transit Center and St. Louis Community College–Meramec, following Watson Road, Kirkwood Road (Lindbergh Boulevard), and Big Bend Boulevard.
30 Arsenal Links Civic Center and Shrewsbury transit centers via Chouteau, South Broadway, Arsenal, Watson, and Chippewa; excludes National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency during snow conditions.
31 Chouteau Operates between Civic Center Transit Center and Maplewood Commons shopping center via Chouteau and Manchester; includes stop at Maplewood–Manchester station Transit Center.
32 M.L. King Connects Civic Center and Rock Road transit centers along 14th Street, Olive Street, Tucker Boulevard, Cole Street, Cass Avenue, and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
33 Midland Runs along Dorsett and Midland roads between Clayton station Transit Center and Westport Plaza.
34 Earth City Links North Hanley Transit Center with Riverport business parks via Interstate 70 and Route 141 (Earth City Expressway).
35 Rock Road Operates along St. Charles Rock Road between Rock Road Transit Center and DePaul Medical Center.
40 Broadway-Halls Ferry Connects North County and Civic Center transit centers mainly via Broadway north of Olive Street and Halls Ferry north of Riverview Transit Center; downtown routing uses Locust and Olive streets.
41 Lee Travels primarily along Riverview Boulevard, Lee Avenue, and 20th Street between Riverview and Civic Center transit centers; rerouted during snow events.
42 Sarah Links Central West Transit Center with O'Fallon Park along Sarah Street in North St. Louis.
49 Lindbergh Operates between North Hanley Transit Center and South County Mall via Lindbergh Boulevard and Natural Bridge Avenue.
56 Kirkwood-Webster Connects Shrewsbury Transit Center with St. Louis Community College–Meramec using Big Bend Boulevard, Berry Road, and Lockwood Avenue.
57 Manchester Runs mainly on Manchester Road between Maplewood Transit Center and Wildwood Town Center; limited service extends to St. Louis Community College–Wildwood.
58 Chesterfield Valley Links Clayton Transit Center with Chesterfield Valley along Interstate 64; stops include Ballas Transit Center, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, and Chesterfield shopping destinations.
59 Oakland Connects Central West End Transit Center with Highland Terrace at St. Mary's Hospital via Oakland and Clayton avenues.
60 Shepley-Lilac Begins at Riverview Transit Center serving Glasgow Village primarily along Chambers Road and Lilac Avenue.
61 Chambers Runs between North Hanley and Riverview transit centers following Hanley Road, Airport/Chambers Road, and Bellefontaine Road.
64 Lucas Hunt Travels mainly on Lucas-Hunt and Halls Ferry roads connecting Rock Road and Riverview transit centers.
70 Grand Primarily follows Grand Boulevard between North Broadway Transit Center and Loughborough Commons; noted as Metro's busiest route operated using 60-foot battery electric articulated buses.
73 Carondelet Connects Civic Center Transit Center to South County Mall via 12th Street, South Broadway, Virginia & Michigan avenues, plus Lemay Ferry Road.
74 Florissant Mainly runs on West & North Florissant avenues linking North County with Civic Center transit centers; limited service extends to St. Louis Community College–Florissant Valley.
76 North Hanley Shuttle Starts at North County Transit Center serving industrial parks near St. Louis Lambert International Airport as well as locations in Florissant & Hazelwood.
77 Village Square Operates primarily along Hanley Road, Dunn Road, Lindbergh Boulevard, New Halls Ferry Road connecting North County & North Hanley transit centers.
78 Bellefontaine Links North County & Riverview transit centers via New Halls Ferry Road, Parker Road & Bellefontaine Road; serves Christian Hospital Northeast & National Personnel Records Center.
79 Ferguson-Clayton Connects Clayton & North County transit centers mainly on Hanley Rd., Florissant Rd., Dunn Rd., Pershall Rd.; includes stop at North Hanley Transit Center.
90 Hampton Runs along Goodfellow Blvd., DeBaliviere Ave., Hampton Ave., Germania/Marceau avenues serving Forest Park attractions within St. Louis.
91 Olive Travels on Olive Boulevard from Delmar Transit Center to Chesterfield Village.
94 Page Operates along Page connecting Civic Center Transit Center & Westport Plaza; includes Wellston Transit Center stop.
95 Kingshighway Primarily runs on Kingshighway Blvd. between North Broadway & Gravois–Hampton transit centers; intermediate stops include Central West End & Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
97 Delmar Operates mainly on Delmar Boulevard linking Civic Center & Clayton transit centers; includes stop at Delmar Loop Transit Center.
98 Ballas-North Hanley Connects North Hanley & Ballas transit centers following New Ballas Rd., serving Mercy & Missouri Baptist medical facilities then interstates 270 & 70 corridors.
100 Hazelwood Links North Hanley Transit Center with business parks located within the Hazelwood area.


Illinois

No. Name Description
1 Main Street-State Street Primarily serves the corridor along State and Main streets, connecting the 5th & Missouri and Belleville transit centers, with stops including Fairview Heights and downtown Belleville.
2 Cahokia Heights Links the 5th & Missouri Transit Center to Cahokia Heights by way of Mississippi Avenue, Falling Springs Road, and Camp Jackson Road, providing access to St. Louis Downtown Airport and Cahokia High School.
3 Sauget-Water Street Travels between 5th & Missouri Transit Center and Prairie Du Pont via Mississippi Avenue and Water Street, serving the Sauget Business Park area.
4 19th & Central Connects 5th & Missouri Transit Center with the intersection of 19th and Wilford, following Broadway, Bond Avenue, 19th Street, Wilford Avenue, and 17th Street.
5 Missouri Avenue-ML King Provides service from 5th & Missouri Transit Center to central East St. Louis through Missouri and St. Louis avenues.
6 Rosemont Operates between Emerson Park and Fairview Heights transit centers, including stops at Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center and Washington Park MetroLink stations.
8 Alta Sita Runs from Emerson Park Transit Center to Cahokia Village along 25th Street, Bond Avenue, and Route 157.
9 Washington Park Connects Emerson Park and Washington Park transit centers with a stop at Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center MetroLink station.
12 O'Fallon-Fairview Heights Links Fairview Heights and Shiloh-Scott transit centers while serving O'Fallon areas such as St. Clair Square.
13 Caseyville Connects Fairview Heights Transit Center to Collinsville via Main Street and Morrison Avenue.
14 Memorial Hospital-Westfield Plaza Provides service between Memorial Hospital Transit Center and 74th Street at Westchester, stopping at Memorial Hospital, Country Club Plaza, and Westfield Plaza.
15 Belleville-O'Fallon Connects Belleville Transit Center with downtown O'Fallon, including stops at Green Mount Crossing and Memorial Hospital.
16 St. Clair Square Links College Transit Center with downtown Collinsville via Route 159, serving Belleville, Swansea transit centers, and St. Clair Square.
23 Belleville-College Operates primarily along State Route 161 between Belleville and College transit centers.

Fares

MetroBus operates under a unified fare system shared with MetroLink. Passengers holding valid passes present them to the driver; those without must pay the exact fare onboard.

Certain Madison County Transit (MCT) fares are accepted on Metro services: MCT’s 2-hour regional pass is honored as full fare on MetroBus routes, while MCT senior and ADA passes qualify for reduced Metro fares. Additionally, Metro’s 2-hour pass/transfer can be used for one MCT bus ride without additional cost.

Individuals summoned for jury duty within Metro’s service region may ride MetroBus at no charge.

MetroBus Fare Details
Fare Type Service Mode Price
Cash Base Fare Bus $1.00
Cash Reduced Fare* Bus $0.50
2-Hour Pass/Transfer† Bus/Rail $3.00
2-Hour Pass/Transfer Reduced Fare*† Bus/Rail $1.50
2-Hour Pass (from Lambert Airport)† Bus/Rail $4.00
(10) 2-Hour Passes† Bus/Rail $30.00
One-Day Adventure Pass Bus/Rail $5.00
Weekly Pass Bus/Rail $27.00
Monthly Pass Bus/Rail $78.00
Monthly Pass Reduced Fare* Bus/Rail $39.00
Combo Pass Bus/Rail $98.00
University Semester Pass Bus/Rail $175.00
* Reduced fares require a Metro reduced fare permit
† Two-hour passes are exclusively available through the Transit app as mobile tickets


Fleet

Metro Transit’s MetroBus fleet consists of 308 vehicles, including 276 low-emission diesel buses manufactured by Gillig, available in 35- and 40-foot lengths. The fleet also incorporates 10 electric 40-foot Gillig buses and 14 electric 60-foot articulated New Flyer XE60 buses. Overnight charging for the electric buses takes place at the Brentwood and DeBaliviere garages, while in-route charging is provided at the North Broadway Transit Center.

Each bus is equipped with accessibility features such as lifts or ramps and designated priority seating. Additionally, all vehicles have two-bike racks, which operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Transit centers

MetroBus operates a total of 25 transit centers, with 15 located in Missouri and 10 in Illinois. Of these, 19 provide seamless transfers to MetroLink services.

Missouri

Illinois

Additional connections

At the Civic Center Transit Center, MetroBus provides connections to national rail and bus services including Amtrak, Greyhound, and other providers located at the nearby Gateway Transportation Center. Furthermore, MetroBus integrates with routes from Madison County Transit (MCT) at prominent stops such as Civic Center, 8th & Pine, Convention Center, and Emerson Park.

Garages

Within the Greater St. Louis area, Metro Transit maintains three MetroBus garages:

  • Brentwood Garage
  • DeBaliviere Garage
  • Illinois Garage

External links

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