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Metro Transit

Company type	Public transit agency
Industry	Public transportation
Predecessor	15 private transit companies (merged)
Founded	1963
Headquarters	St. Louis , United States
Area served	Greater St. Louis (Missouri and Illinois)
Products	Bus, light rail, streetcar, microtransit, paratransit services
Owner	Bi-State Development Agency
Number of employees	673 (MetroBus operators as of late 2024)
Parent	Bi-State Development Agency

Metro Transit serves as the leading public transportation provider within the Greater St. Louis region, covering areas in both Missouri and Illinois. Its range of services encompasses bus, light rail, streetcar, microtransit, and paratransit options.

The agency operates throughout St. Louis city, St. Louis County (MO), and St. Clair County (IL), under the administration of the Bi-State Development Agency, an interstate compact established in 1949. In , the system achieved an annual ridership totaling , with an average weekday patronage of as of .

History

The inception of Metro Transit dates back to 1963 when the Bi-State Development Agency utilized a $22.5 million bond to acquire and merge 15 private transit companies, thereby securing streamlined public transportation across the area. The system remained under Bi-State’s management until 2003 before adopting the Metro brand. In 2015, Bi-State Development resumed its role as the parent entity, with the transit operations continuing under the Metro Transit name.

During the 1960s, Bi-State unified various bus lines and discontinued St. Louis’s final streetcar route, the Hodiamont line, substituting it with bus service. In 2018, Great Rivers Greenway initiated plans to transform this former transit corridor into a greenway.

By the 1970s, Metro was among the earliest U.S. transit systems to introduce buses equipped with wheelchair lifts. Confronted with a financial crisis in 1973 that nearly halted all bus operations, Bi-State was aided by Missouri’s enactment of the Transportation Sales Tax Act, which permitted a half-cent sales tax in St. Louis city and county to fund public transit. This measure stabilized finances and enabled fare reductions.

In the 1980s, Metro Call-A-Ride launched demand-responsive transportation tailored for individuals with disabilities. Established in 1986, Arts in Transit, Inc. integrates local artwork into transit infrastructure. A 1987 study advocated for a regional transit expansion combining light rail and bus networks.

Construction commenced on St. Louis’s inaugural light rail line in 1990, utilizing former railroad rights-of-way and tunnels. The initial 13.9-mile segment opened in 1993 between North Hanley and 5th & Missouri stations, extending by 1994 to Lambert Airport Main station. Additional stations added later included East Riverfront (1994), Lambert Airport East (1998), and Cortex (2018). MetroLink saw major expansions with a 17.4-mile extension to Southwestern Illinois College (2001), a 3.5-mile stretch to Shiloh (2003), and an 8-mile Cross County extension reaching Shrewsbury (2006).

Following voter rejection of Proposition M in St. Louis County in 2008, Metro eliminated 24 Missouri bus routes and postponed expansion initiatives. The passage of Proposition A in 2010 reinstated funding through a half-cent sales tax increase aimed at restoring and expanding services. In 2013, St. Louis County provided Metro with a $400 million loan from surplus funds to retire debt associated with the Cross County extension. City voters approved Proposition 1 in 2017 to generate $12 million annually dedicated to MetroLink expansion efforts. In 2019, Illinois allocated $96 million via the St. Clair County Transit District to extend MetroLink from Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport; construction began in 2023 with operations projected for spring 2026.

In 2021, Metro introduced its first articulated electric buses into service. By February 2022, Bi-State agreed for Metro to assume operation of the financially troubled Loop Trolley; service resumed later that year supported by $1.26 million for seasonal operation funding. As of November 2024, ridership had increased by 44% while maintaining budget compliance.

A flash flood in July 2022 disrupted MetroLink service for nearly three days and caused roughly $40 million in damage affecting track beds, elevators, signal houses, vehicles, and equipment. Normal Red Line operations resumed by September; however, Blue Line service remained limited until March 2024 when repairs were finalized.

In March 2023, Bi-State authorized collaboration with St. Louis City officials to plan the Green Line MetroLink expansion. Later that year, an $18.9 million contract was awarded for design consulting services related to this project. East-West Gateway endorsed the preferred alignment along Jefferson Avenue in February 2024. Additionally, in May 2023, Metro secured a $196.2 million federal grant for new light rail vehicles intended to replace aging SD-400 models. By November, Bi-State contracted Siemens Mobility for up to $390.4 million to deliver as many as 55 battery-hybrid S200 light rail cars, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2027.

Starting September 2024, turnstile installations began at four Illinois stations as part of Metro’s Secure Platform Plan; seven Missouri stations are slated for completion by early 2025 with full fare system upgrades anticipated by early 2026.

MetroBus

Metro Transit has been delivering bus transportation throughout the Greater St. Louis area since 1963, managing 44 fixed routes within Missouri and 14 routes in Illinois. In September 2019, the agency implemented Metro Reimagined, a comprehensive overhaul of Missouri routes aimed at boosting frequency on high-demand corridors while eliminating six routes with low ridership. That year, more than 360 bus stops out of the system’s total 5,400 were either removed or repositioned. In June 2021, Metro introduced the region’s inaugural electric buses, featuring both 40-foot and 60-foot articulated models, with the latter dedicated exclusively to the #70 Grand route, which is the system’s busiest line.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a steep drop in passenger numbers alongside a shortage of drivers, which collectively constrained service levels. To combat these staffing challenges, Bi-State’s board approved a new contract in August 2023 with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788, incorporating wage increases and signing bonuses. By late 2024, MetroBus expanded its operator workforce from 556 to 673 employees, facilitating enhanced frequency or additional service on 35 Missouri routes and 7 Illinois routes, as well as introducing four new routes.

MetroLink

Since its inception in 1993, Metro Transit has operated light rail services across Greater St. Louis. The network consists of two lines—the Red Line and Blue Line—serving 38 stations along of track. The Red Line stretches from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to Shiloh, Illinois, near Scott Air Force Base. The Blue Line, which began service in 2006, links Shrewsbury, Missouri, to the Red Line at Forest Park-DeBaliviere station. Construction began in 2023 on an extension of the Red Line from Shiloh-Scott station to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, with an anticipated completion date around 2026. In Missouri, development plans are underway for a Green Line that will connect North and South St. Louis.

Although designated as light rail, MetroLink operates with characteristics typical of a light metro or rapid transit system, including an entirely separate right-of-way, faster maximum speeds, and level boarding at every platform.

Metro Call-A-Ride

Since 1987, Metro Transit’s Call-A-Ride service has provided demand-responsive transportation for individuals who have limited access to MetroBus or MetroLink services as well as for passengers with disabilities unable to use those fixed-route options. In April 2023, due to a shortage of drivers, Metro reduced the geographic coverage of Call-A-Ride primarily affecting areas in southwest and far north St. Louis County—a move that received criticism from some community members.

Via Metro STL

Via Metro STL is an app-based microtransit service operated through a partnership between Via Transportation and Metro Transit. Launched in June 2020, it serves suburban parts of St. Louis County where bus stops and MetroLink stations are scarce. The service operates across three zones: North, South, and West. In 2024 alone, Via Metro STL completed over 277,000 rides.

Loop Trolley

The Loop Trolley is a heritage streetcar service that links City Hall in University City with the Missouri History Museum and Forest Park in St. Louis. This line features 10 stops along its path, traveling via Delmar Boulevard through the Delmar Loop and DeBaliviere Avenue, with transfer options to MetroLink at both the Delmar Loop and Forest Park–DeBaliviere stations.

Following financial difficulties and temporary shutdowns, on February 18, 2022, Bi-State's board approved Metro Transit to assume operational control. The trolley resumed service in August 2022, supported by a $1.26 million grant from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, enabling seasonal operations over multiple years. By November 2024, Metro announced the trolley concluded its season within budget while experiencing a 44% increase in ridership, suggesting that no additional funding would be required to maintain current service levels.

Fares

Metro Transit utilizes a proof-of-payment system mandating passengers to carry valid fare media for verification. Riders on MetroBus presenting valid passes show them to drivers; those without passes must pay exact fare onboard. Beginning in 2024, MetroLink will introduce a paid access framework as part of its Secure Platform Plan.

Certain fares from Madison County Transit (MCT) are accepted by Metro. MCT’s regional two-hour pass is honored as full fare on both MetroBus and MetroLink services; senior and ADA passes qualify for discounted fares. Likewise, Metro’s two-hour pass or transfer can be used for one MCT bus trip at no additional cost.

Individuals summoned for jury duty within Metro’s coverage area are entitled to complimentary travel on both MetroBus and MetroLink.

Metro Transit Fare Structure
Fare Category	Service Mode	Price
Cash Base Fare	Bus	$1.00
Cash Base Fare	Rail	$2.50
Cash (Reduced Fare)*	Bus	$0.50
Cash (Reduced Fare)*	Rail	$1.25
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
Metro Call-A-Ride	Call-A-Ride	$2.00

• Eligibility for reduced fares requires a Metro reduced fare permit

† Two-hour passes are exclusively available through the Transit app mobile fare platform

Buses

Metro Transit’s fleet includes 308 vehicles dedicated to MetroBus operations, comprising 276 low-emission diesel buses from Gillig, available in both 35- and 40-foot low-floor models; 10 all-electric 40-foot Gillig buses; and 14 electric 60-foot articulated buses manufactured by New Flyer (New Flyer Xcelsior#XE60). Overnight charging for electric buses takes place at the Brentwood and DeBaliviere garages, with additional charging during service hours at the North Broadway Transit Center. Each bus is equipped with a two-bike rack provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition, Metro operates a fleet of 123 Call-A-Ride vans. All vehicles within the MetroBus and Call-A-Ride services are outfitted with accessibility features such as lifts or ramps and include priority seating accommodations.

Trains

At its height, Metro Transit managed a total of 87 Siemens light rail vehicles serving MetroLink, which included both SD-400 and SD-460 models. By 2024, the fleet comprises 22 SD-400 units and 50 SD-460 units; two SD-460 vehicles were lost due to flooding in July 2022. Maintenance and repairs for the trains take place at the Ewing and 29th Street rail yards. Every light rail vehicle meets ADA requirements, featuring designated priority seating and spaces for mobility devices. Bicycles are allowed in specific sections of the train cars.

In May 2023, Metro was awarded a $196.2 million federal grant aimed at procuring new Siemens S200 light rail vehicles to replace the remaining SD-400 fleet. Half a year later, Bi-State’s board authorized a contract with Siemens Mobility valued at up to $390.4 million for as many as 55 battery-hybrid LRVs capable of traveling roughly 5 miles without overhead electrical wires. The delivery schedule is projected to begin in 2027. Meanwhile, refurbishment efforts are underway for many of the SD-460 cars to extend their operational lifespan.

Metro also operates two replica streetcars from Portland, Oregon, built by Gomaco, modeled after the Council Crest design and adapted for ADA compliance to serve the Loop Trolley route. Previously, the agency owned three W2-type streetcars originally from Melbourne, Australia, which had been used in Seattle; these were returned to Gomaco in 2024.

Liveries

Metro Transit applies a uniform livery across most of its services, with exceptions for its battery-electric buses and the Loop Trolley. A new vehicle design was introduced in 2019. Before this update, MetroLink’s livery featured a white base color with a red stripe running beneath the windows that transitioned into a dashed blue stripe near the operator’s cab, accompanied by Metro’s "M" logo on the front. MetroBus and Metro Call-A-Ride shared a similar scheme, with the red stripe wrapping around the rear of the vehicles.

The refreshed livery utilizes a blue base complemented by white highlights. On MetroLink vehicles, the stripe was repositioned lower to include the word "metro," while rooftops were painted black. Metro Call-A-Ride adopted this new look as well, whereas MetroBus displays two prominent white circles on each side and has minimized horizontal striping except around the "metro" branding. The front-facing "M" logo remains consistent across all services.

Battery-electric buses feature lime green coloring on their front and rear sections with blue panels in the center adorned by a green leaf motif. A white stripe near the bottom includes "metro" along with an image of a power plug, symbolizing collaboration with Ameren Missouri.

In January 2024, Metro discontinued exterior advertising on its buses and trains, removing 144 ad placements that had generated up to $1.5 million annually through contractor Vector Media. This move prioritized visual appeal over advertising revenue.

Leadership

The executive leadership of Metro Transit is headed by President and CEO Taulby Roach alongside Chief Operating Officer Charles A. Stewart. As a division of the Bi-State Development Agency, its leadership is accountable to Bi-State’s Board of Commissioners. As of 2024, Metro employs close to 2,000 personnel.

Security

Metro Transit’s security operations are overseen by a combination of contracted uniformed police officers and internal security personnel, commonly referred to as "bumblebees" due to their distinctive neon-yellow and black attire. These security staff are responsible for fare enforcement, conducting train patrols, and providing assistance to riders. Additional law enforcement support is provided through agreements with the St. Louis County Police Department, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, and St. Louis City Sheriff’s Office.

The security system incorporates features such as enhanced lighting, surveillance cameras, emergency communication phones, routine police patrols, and continuous radio contact between train operators and the control center.

Kevin Scott holds the position of General Manager of Security at Metro Transit.

Funding

Metro’s operational finances predominantly derive from sales tax revenues collected within the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County, and the St. Clair County Transit District, complemented by federal and state grants alongside income from passenger fares. For the fiscal year 2025, Metro’s operating budget amounts to $328,980,534, supported by a three-year capital budget totaling $1,037,311,983. The combined sales tax income from these jurisdictions is projected at $312 million, with federal grants contributing $4.2 million and Missouri state funds adding $750,000. Passenger fare revenue is estimated at $21.8 million.

This funding structure originated from the 1973 Transportation Sales Tax Act enacted by the Missouri General Assembly, which authorized St. Louis city and county to impose a sales tax of up to half a cent for transit purposes. Subsequently, in 1981, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Local Mass Transit District Act permitting counties to levy up to a quarter-cent sales tax dedicated to public transportation.

Sales tax ballot initiatives
Ballot measure	Year	County	Sales tax	Outcome
Transportation Sales Tax Act	1973	City of St. Louis	0.5%	Approved
	1973	St. Louis County	0.5%	Approved
Local Mass Transit District Act	1981	St. Clair County	0.25%	Approved
Proposition M	1993	St. Clair County	0.5%	Approved
	1994	City of St. Louis	0.25%	Approved
	1994	St. Louis County	0.25%	Approved
	1996	St. Charles County	0.5%	Rejected
	1996	St. Charles County	0.5%	Rejected
	1997	City of St. Louis	0.25%	Approved†
	1997	St. Louis County	0.25%	Rejected
	1997	Madison County	0.5%	Rejected
	2008	St. Louis County	0.5%	Rejected
Proposition A	2010	St. Louis County	0.5%	Approved
Proposition 1	2017	City of St. Louis	0.5%	Approved
† The approval of Proposition M in St. Louis City in 1997 was contingent on a similar measure passing in St. Louis County; sales tax collection commenced after Proposition A was approved in the county in 2010.

MidAmerica Airport extension

In 2019, the St. Clair County Transit District obtained $96 million from Illinois infrastructure funds to construct an extension of the Red Line from Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport located in Mascoutah. This project consists of two parts: a double-track segment and a single-track segment, along with a new station serving the airport. Construction commenced in 2023, with service anticipated to begin in early 2026.

MetroLink system rehabilitation

In 2023, Metro initiated a comprehensive, multi-year rehabilitation effort spanning the entire system. The initial phase targets improvements to the downtown subway tunnels, including upgrades at Laclede's Landing, Convention Center, and 8th & Pine stations. Additional enhancements will focus on catenary systems, curved track sections, platforms, retaining walls, stairways, and conduit infrastructure.

Beginning in 2025, work will expand to include the Union Station tunnel, followed by renovations of the Cross County tunnel scheduled for 2026. These efforts encompass refurbishing the Skinker and University City–Big Bend stations and building a storage siding adjacent to the Richmond Heights station. By 2026, Metro intends to finalize upgrades to its Supervisory Control Automated Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Public Address/Customer Information (PA/CIS) systems. The integrated SCADA/PA/CIS platform will improve operational oversight and provide real-time passenger information displays throughout the network.

Secure Platform Plan

In 2024, Metro Transit began deploying turnstiles at every MetroLink station as part of its $52 million Secure Platform Plan (SPP). This program also includes installation of a new fare collection system, enhanced fencing, passenger-assist telephones, and over 1,800 surveillance cameras monitored from a control center inaugurated in November 2022 at Metro’s Central Garage.

The SPP rollout is divided into three phases ("packages"), with full implementation expected by 2026. In September 2023, Bi-State awarded a $6.4 million contract to Millstone Weber LLC for the initial package covering four Illinois stations. Turnstiles at these locations began operation in September 2024; however, due to delays in launching the new fare system, staff are manually managing gate operations initially. The second package targets seven Missouri stations with completion aimed for early 2025. The final phase will encompass remaining stations and full integration of the upgraded fare system by early 2026.

North-South MetroLink

The proposed North-South light rail line for MetroLink, known as the Green Line, is designed differently from the existing Red and Blue lines by adopting an on-street light rail style similar to Houston’s METRORail or Phoenix’s Valley Metro Rail. It will link to current lines through an infill transfer station.

This corridor is planned to include approximately 10 stations stretching from Chippewa Street in South St. Louis to Grand Boulevard in North St. Louis, primarily following Jefferson Avenue. It will replace Metro’s #11 and #4 bus routes with fixed rail service. In September 2023, Bi-State Development approved an $18.9 million contract over four years with Northside-Southside Transit Partners for design consulting services. By February 2024, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments endorsed an updated locally preferred alternative along Jefferson Avenue. The design study conducted in 2023 forecasts around 5,000 daily boardings with annual operating costs between $8 and $9 million and capital expenditures estimated at $1.1 billion.

A northern extension into North St. Louis County was evaluated with four alternatives proposed in 2023 extending from the Grand/Fairground station along Natural Bridge Avenue. However, by 2024 county officials rejected these options due to an unfunded gap between that station and the county boundary, concerns regarding federal funding eligibility, ridership levels, and right-of-way challenges. Current considerations include branching off near the University of Missouri–St. Louis on the Red Line corridor, implementing rapid bus service, or adopting a hybrid solution based on proposals developed in 2023.

Previous proposals

Following the approval of Proposition A in 2010, Metro Transit unveiled its comprehensive 30-year strategy, Moving Transit Forward. Although numerous initiatives were suggested at that time, most have since been discontinued. Current regional priorities focus on extending MetroLink services within St. Louis city and North St. Louis County.

MetroLink

Moving Transit Forward outlined five prospective MetroLink extension corridors: North-South, Daniel Boone, MetroSouth, MetroNorth, and Madison County. The initial segment of the North-South extension is presently under design development, whereas the remaining projects are still in preliminary assessment phases, hindered by funding limitations, uncertain ridership forecasts, and varying levels of community backing.

Bus Rapid Transit

The plan also included five potential bus rapid transit (BRT) routes. Four of these would traverse major highways linking downtown St. Louis to surrounding suburban areas: I-44 toward Eureka, I-64 to Chesterfield, I-55 leading to South County, and I-70 extending into St. Charles County. The fifth route was proposed along Grand Boulevard within St. Louis city limits.

Commuter Rail

Initially proposed were two commuter rail lines covering longer distances, both departing from the Gateway Transportation Center in downtown St. Louis and connecting to Alton, Illinois, and Pacific, Missouri. While these corridors are currently served by Amtrak for intercity travel, they have not undergone evaluation for potential local commuter rail operations.

External links

• Metro – Official site for Metro Transit
• Bi-State Development – Official portal for Bi-State Development
• St. Clair County Transit District – Official site for St. Clair County Transit District
• Citizens for Modern Transit – Advocacy organization supporting transit in St. Louis
• Arts in Transit Website