Business Enterprises

The Gateway Arch

Metro's Business Enterprises Division in cooperation with the National Park Service operates the Gateway Arch Tram and ticket center, the Arch Parking Facility and Gateway Arch Riverboats.

At 630 feet, the Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made national monument in the United States and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.

Nearly one million guests took the journey to the top in FY 2007. The trams have been in operation for 40 years, and carried over 30 million passengers to the top for the spectacular view of St. Louis, Western Illinois, and the Mississippi River.

Two unique trams, one in each leg of the Arch, consists of eight barrel-shaped capsules with a seating capacity of five passengers each. The trams carry 40 passengers to the top in 4 minutes up and 3 minutes down.

The tram and the Tucker and Odyssey Theatres, Museum Store, Ticket Center and Museum of Westward Expansion, was financed through fees generated at the Arch. Groups of 20 or more are encouraged to make advance reservations. For information or advance reservations, call 314-982-1410 or visit www.gatewayarch.com.

Gateway Arch Parking Facility

In 1986, Metro constructed a 1,250-space parking facility located on the northern boundary of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial grounds, the site of the Gateway Arch.

The parking facility contains three levels of parking. Metro operates and maintains the garage. Vehicle transactions (the number of cars exiting the garage) for FY 2007 totaled over 287,803.

An administrative complex combining the offices of Arch Parking Facility staff and National Park Service Law Enforcement and Safety Division personnel, who patrol the Arch grounds, is located at the Arch Parking Garage.

Gateway Arch Riverboats

In 2001, Metro purchased the Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher riverboats. Established in 1891, the Gateway Arch Riverboats is the oldest excursion boat company to operate on the Mississippi. Its homeport has been located in St. Louis since 1917.

The Gateway Arch Riverboats complement the existing educational venue at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Through historic interpretations provided by National Park Service Rangers, the riverboats will allow guests to enjoy river views and experience the flavor of historic river life.

The Riverboats were purchased with funds that represent a portion of the fees paid to Metro for the management of its Business Enterprises entities, including the Gateway Arch tram, ticket center, and parking facility.

In FY 2007, 140,290 passengers cruised on the Gateway Arch Riverboats.

The Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher riverboats are available for charter cruises, sightseeing cruises, school field trip cruises, Lock-n-Dock cruises, Blues cruises or dinner cruises. For more information or advance ticket reservations, call 314-621-4040 or visit www.gatewayarchriverboats.com.

St. Louis Downtown Airport

The St. Louis Downtown Airport is a full service aviation center offering a complete line of general aviation services.

Metro purchased the airport in 1964 for $3.4 million. The airport is the busiest airport in Southern Illinois, third in the Metro Area, and is located in Cahokia/Sauget, IL, just minutes from downtown St. Louis.

The airport sits on a 1,013-acre site and includes an industrial-business park.

The airport has 90 T-hangars, 31 mid-sized, and 22 large hangars.

During FY 2007, 128,530 airplanes landed or took off from St. Louis Downtown Airport and fixed-base operators sold 2,233,119 gallons of fuel to aircrews using the airport's facilities.

Visit www.stlouisdowntownairport.com for more information about the airport and its services.