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Take Metro to Fair Saint Louis in Forest Park

Fair Saint Louis returns to Forest Park this year, and Metro transit is a great option for fairgoers, workers and volunteers who are looking for a safe and convenient way to get to the festivities. To accommodate fairgoers, Metro will provide additional MetroLink service on Thursday, July 2, Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in anticipation of large crowds at the annual celebration.

Fairgoers who are taking MetroLink to the Fair are encouraged to use one of two designated stations to access Fair Saint Louis. Both the Skinker MetroLink Station and the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station are approximately a half-mile from the fairground entrances. Because of the Loop Trolley construction zone adjacent to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station, it is even more important this year for passengers arriving from and returning to Illinois as well as all Missouri Blue Line passengers to use the Skinker MetroLink Station to access and depart from the fair. If Missouri Red Line passengers mainly use the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station to go to the fair and then return to that station after the fair, it will help speed up the process of getting the large crowds onto the MetroLink trains at both stations and headed home after the fireworks end each night.  

MetroBus is another option for fairgoers. Most MetroBus routes connect with MetroLink. To plan your trip to Fair Saint Louis on Metro transit, use the Trip Planner feature at metrostlouis.org. The #3 Forest Park Trolley will not be in service for the duration of the fair, July 2-4.

Metro employees and public safety officers will be working hard to safely and efficiently transport fairgoers during and after the fair. Trains will be crowded, especially after the fireworks shows each night, so passengers are asked to be patient and respectful of others. No eating, drinking or smoking (including e-cigarettes) is allowed on Metro vehicles and Metro property. For those bringing strollers on the MetroLink, please be prepared to fold them up before boarding the train. Alcohol and firearms are prohibited on Metro vehicles and Metro property, and no alcohol or coolers are allowed at the fair. Pets are not permitted on Metro vehicles, except for service animals. 

Free Park-Ride Lots

Metro customers can park for free at 20 Park-Ride lots at MetroLink stations in Missouri and Illinois and ride MetroLink to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere or Skinker Stations to get to the fair. In Missouri, free Park-Ride lots are located at the North Hanley, UMSL South, Rock Road, Wellston, Delmar Loop, Grand, Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44, Sunnen, Brentwood I-64 and Richmond Heights MetroLink Stations. In Illinois, free Park-Ride lots are located at the East Riverfront, 5th & Missouri, Emerson Park, Washington Park, Fairview Heights, Memorial Hospital, Swansea, Belleville, College and Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Stations.

A total of more than 10,000 free parking spaces are available, with approximately 1,200 available on July 3 and July 4 at the Brentwood I-64 Meridian garages. Metro customers will be able to park on all levels of the garage as well as all levels of the adjoining garage thanks to the generosity of DCM Group. Other Park-Ride lots with large numbers of free parking spaces include the North Hanley MetroLink Station with 1,700, Fairview Heights Station with 850, Emerson Park Station with 800 and Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Station with 800. The Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station Park-Ride lot will be closed for the duration of the fair.

Transit Schedules

On Thursday, July 2, Metro transit will operate on a normal weekday schedule, running extra MetroLink trains to accommodate normal weekday riders, baseball fans and Fair Saint Louis crowds. On Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, transit service will operate on a Saturday schedule with extra MetroLink trains added as needed to accommodate fair attendees, parade-goers and baseball fans.   

Purchasing Tickets

Metro employees and ticket agents will be at high volume MetroLink stations along the system to assist fairgoers all three days. For only $5 for a round trip, fairgoers can ride MetroLink to Fair Saint Louis. To help reduce delays in their return trips, passengers are encouraged to purchase two one-ride tickets and to validate one ticket before boarding the train to the fair and to validate the other ticket when boarding MetroLink for the ride home.

Passengers With Bicycles

Metro customers can transport their bicycles on MetroBus or MetroLink. Bicycle racks are located on the front of all MetroBus vehicles. On MetroLink, Bicycle Parking Zones are located in the doorways at the rear of the first train car, as well as the front and rear of the second train car. Two bicycles are permitted per Bike Parking Zone, as well as an additional bicycle belonging to a child accompanied by an adult. Due to large fair crowds taking MetroLink, there may be a lack of room in the designated bicycle areas, and passengers with bicycles may be instructed to wait for a less crowded train. Metro customers bringing bicycles on board are urged to allow all other passengers to board before loading their bicycles on the train car. Passengers must remain with their bicycles at all times and cannot park their bicycles on the steps inside the MetroLink cars. Metro operators cannot leave the bus or train to assist passengers with loading or unloading their bicycles.

More Information

Additional information is available at metrostlouis.org or by calling Metro Transit Information, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 314-231-2345 (Missouri) or 618-271-2345 (Illinois). Transit Information will be closed July 3 and July 4.

About Bi-State Development Agency

The Bi-State Development Agency (BSDA) is the operator of the Metro public transportation system for the St. Louis region, which includes the 87 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; 379 MetroBus vehicle fleet that operates on 77 MetroBus routes; and Metro Call‑A‑Ride, a paratransit fleet of 120 vans. BSDA also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and its surrounding industrial business park, and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center and Gateway Arch Transportation System. The region’s new freight district also will be operated by BSDA.