Inside MetroLink

MetroLink is the St. Louis metropolitan region's light rail system and is operated by Metro as part of a fully integrated regional transportation system.

MetroLink has 37 stations and stretches 46 miles. It serves several municipalities in St. Louis County, Missouri, St. Clair and Monroe Counties in Illinois, and the City of St. Louis.

Construction on the initial MetroLink alignment from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to the 5th & Missouri station in East St. Louis, IL began in 1990. The initial alignment opened in July 1993. The capital cost to build the initial phase of MetroLink was $464 million. Of that amount, the Federal Transit Administration supplied $348 million.

Construction on the St. Clair County MetroLink extension from the 5th & Missouri station to the College station in Belleville, IL began in 1998. The St. Clair County MetroLink extension opened in May 2001. Eight new stations and seven park-ride lots were added to the extension.

The total project value for the extension to Southwestern Illinois College was $339.2 million with the Federal Government and St. Clair County Transit District sharing the burden at 72% ($243.9 million) and 28% ($95.2 million), respectively. Local funding was provided by the St. Clair County Transit District as a result of a ½ cent sales tax passed in November 1993.

In June 2003, a 3.5-mile extension from Southwestern Illinois College to Shiloh-Scott station opened. Construction funding is being sought for an additional 5.3-mile extension from Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica Airport, which would complete a system-wide airport-to-airport connection.

Funding for the $75 million extension of MetroLink to Shiloh-Scott is provided 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. Construction began in spring 2003 on the Cross County MetroLink Extension. This 8-mile, nine-station alignment begins at MetroLink's existing Forest Park station, travels west to Clayton and south to Shrewsbury. The Cross County extension opened for service on August 28, 2006.

As a part of an innovative investment program designed to finance the Cross County MetroLink Extension, Metro has issued more than $430 million in bonds with smaller denominations offered to individual investors, as well as marketed to traditional institutional investors.

The bond issuance, the largest in Metro's history, is an efficient and cost-effective financing structure that enables the Agency to finance, construct, operate and maintain the project. The Prop M sales tax, approved by voters in 1994, will be used for debt service requirements on the bonds.

Average weekday ridership on MetroLink in FY 2007 was 67,684.

MetroLink's fleet consists of 87 light rail vehicles.

MetroLink light rail vehicles are bi-directional, operated by one driver and travel at a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour.

There are 18 free park-ride lots adjacent to MetroLink stations, which can accommodate over 8,900 vehicles. Many MetroBus routes connect to MetroLink stations providing convenient transfers between bus and rail. MetroLink light rail vehicles have a capacity of 72-seated passengers and more than 100 standing passengers.

MetroLink's fleet and all of its stations are accessible to customers with disabilities. Each light rail vehicle has four wheelchair-designated positions on board, and the floors are level with the station platform. Ticket vending machines are equipped with audio features and Braille for customers with visual impairments.

The base fare for riding MetroLink is $2.00. A reduced fare of $1.00 is available for customers with disabilities, seniors (people 65 years and over), and children ages 5 to 12. Children 4 and under ride free. A Metro Two-Hour Pass is $2.25 for adults and $1.10 for seniors, customers with disabilities, and children.

MetroLink service operates daily. The first train begins service at approximately 4:00 a.m. while the last train completes service at about 12:30 a.m.