Bi-State Development Agency
Encyclopedia
The Bi-State Development Agency is an interstate compact
formed by Missouri
and Illinois
in 1949. Since February 2003 the agency has been doing business as
Metro. It operates with a budget of $160 million, which is funded by sales taxes from the City of St. Louis
and St. Louis County
, the St. Clair County Illinois Transit District
, federal and state grants and subsidies, and through fare paying passengers.
Metropolitan region's public transportation system, which includes MetroLink
, the region's light rail
system; MetroBus
, the region's bus system; with Metro Call-A-Ride
and Metro Call-A-Ride Plus, the paratransit
minibus system. In addition, Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport
(formerly Parks) and the adjoining industrial business park, paddlewheel-style river excursion boats, the tram system leading to the top of the Gateway Arch
, and the Arch's parking garage. Metro has more than 2,400 employees and carries over 55 million passengers each year.
via an abandoned segment of railway; that included abandoned tunnels under downtown St. Louis and the then disused Eads Bridge
lower deck railway.
Collectively, St. Louis County
and St. Louis City (St. Louis City is an independent city not associated with St. Louis County) contribute 1% in sales tax to Metro, while St. Clair County in Illinois contributes 3/4% in sales tax to Metro.
MetroBus operates 75 bus routes throughout Greater St. Louis with 7 transit centers. 60 normal bus routes and 14 express Bus routes operated on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River
. On the Illinois side of the river Metro operated 13 normal bus routes and 4 express bus routes. MetroBus routes are the descendants of streetcar routes. Bus services on the Illinois side of the river are supplemented by Madison County Transit
.
Service changes: on March 30, 2009, twenty-four Missouri MetroBus routes were eliminated. Other routes were be modified and/or will offer less frequent service in Missouri. In Illinois, there were no service cuts for buses because of the state funding is greater than Missouri. In late 2009, they have already restored some temporary routes until May, 3 2010. As of August 30, 2010 restoration of service was completed and teaks took effect starting November 29, 2010.
and Blue Line
which runs through Downtown St. Louis
with 73.3 kilometers (46 miles) of track. The system features 37 stations and carries an average of 67,684 people each weekday (FY 2007). Unlike most light rail systems in the United States, this system runs closely similar to a heavy rail system.
Metro Call-A-Ride is a curb-to-curb paratransit
service that is operated by Metro. It consists of 136 paratransit buses that does not run on normal routes. This service provides over 55,000 trips each month to customers with disabilities in Missouri. This program guarantees mobility for disabled citizens in St. Louis City and County who are unable to drive and cannot use MetroBus or MetroLink. Call-A-Ride provides service within 1/4 of a mile from a bus stop.
(BRT) lines, and creating high speed commuter rail lines. Metro is working with Madison County Transit
and St. Clair County Transit District
in Illinois about this plan. Metro is also educating the public about how the system is funded.
, MetroNorth Corridor
, MetroSouth Corridor
, MetroWest Corridor
, NorthSide Corridor
, SouthSide Corridor
, NorthWest Connector
, and MidAmerica Extension
. Some are considered potential future corridors; St. Charles Corridor
, SouthWest Corridor
, and two Madison County Corridors
.
BRT bus was tested for nine days between late October and late November 2008.
in Forest Park to the Delmar Loop
. The line will have up to 9 stations. A final report for the Loop Trolley Study was completed in January 2010.
Interstate compact
An interstate compact is an agreement between two or more states of the United States of America. Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution provides that "no state shall enter into an agreement or compact with another state" without the consent of Congress...
formed by Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in 1949. Since February 2003 the agency has been doing business as
Doing business as
The phrase "doing business as" is a legal term used in the United States, meaning that the trade name, or fictitious business name, under which the business or operation is conducted and presented to the world is not the legal name of the legal person who actually own it and are responsible for it...
Metro. It operates with a budget of $160 million, which is funded by sales taxes from the City of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
, the St. Clair County Illinois Transit District
St. Clair County Transit District
The St. Clair County Transit District is a transit district that serves the townships of St. Clair County, Illinois and Monroe County, Illinois. It was created in 1981 under the Illinois Mass Transit District Act...
, federal and state grants and subsidies, and through fare paying passengers.
System
Metro owns and operates the St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Metropolitan region's public transportation system, which includes MetroLink
St. Louis Metrolink
MetroLink is the light rail transit system in the Greater St. Louis area of Missouri and the Metro East area of Illinois. The entire system currently consists of two lines connecting Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Shrewsbury, MO with Scott Air Force Base near Shiloh, Illinois through...
, the region's light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system; MetroBus
MetroBus (St. Louis)
MetroBus is the public bus service for the Greater St. Louis Region connected with the MetroLink light rail system. It is managed by the Bi-State Development Agency and uses a shared fare system with the MetroLink rail.-Service:...
, the region's bus system; with Metro Call-A-Ride
Metro Call-A-Ride
Metro Call-A-Ride is the paratransit service that is provided for people who are elderly and/or dissabled in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and St. Clair County, Illinois.-Description:...
and Metro Call-A-Ride Plus, the paratransit
Paratransit
Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
minibus system. In addition, Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport
St. Louis Downtown Airport
St. Louis Downtown Airport is a public-use airport located in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, one mile east of the central business district of Cahokia, in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. It is owned by the Bi-State Development Agency. The airport is located less than 3 miles from...
(formerly Parks) and the adjoining industrial business park, paddlewheel-style river excursion boats, the tram system leading to the top of the Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, or Gateway to the West, is an arch that is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States...
, and the Arch's parking garage. Metro has more than 2,400 employees and carries over 55 million passengers each year.
History
The agency was created on September 20, 1949 through a compact between Missouri and Illinois and ratified by the United States Congress. Metro's broad powers enable it to cross local, county, and state boundaries to plan, construct, maintain, own, and operate specific facilities in its effort to enhance the quality of life in the region. Its service area encompasses 200 municipalities. The agency continued to operate streetcars from the St. Louis Public Service Company in St. Louis until May 1966 with the discontinuation of the Hodiamont line. First public support of transit came to the region in 1974. Buses continued to dominate Metro's fleet until a feasibility study in the late 80's suggested the construction of a light rail line from Lambert St. Louis International Airport to 5th and Missouri in East St. LouisEast St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
via an abandoned segment of railway; that included abandoned tunnels under downtown St. Louis and the then disused Eads Bridge
Eads Bridge
The Eads Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis, connecting St. Louis and East St. Louis, Illinois....
lower deck railway.
Governance
Metro is governed by a 10-member board that is responsible for the overall leadership and policy direction for the Agency. The board has five members from Missouri and five members from Illinois. The Missouri Board members are appointed by the Governor of Missouri. In Illinois, the Chairman of the Board for both St. Clair and Madison Counties appoint their representatives. Members of the Board serve their five-year terms without compensation and must be a resident voter of their state, as well as reside within the bi-state metropolitan region.Missouri commissioners
- Kevin Cahill - Secretary
- Constance Gully
- Lewis L. McKinney Jr.
- Hugh Scott III
- Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr. - Chairman
Illinois commissioners
- Jeffrey K. Watson
- Fonzy Coleman
- David A. Dietzel - Treasurer
- Tadas (Tad) Kicielinski
- Michael Buehlhorn
Funding
| Historical Sales Tax Ballot Initiatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | County | Sales Tax | Result |
| St. Clair St. Clair County, Illinois St. Clair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau placed the mean center of U.S. population in St. Clair County. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 270,056, which is an increase of 5.5% from 256,082 in 2000. Its county seat is... |
0.5% | Passed | |
| City of St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St... |
0.25% | Passed | |
| St. Louis St. Louis County, Missouri St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all... |
0.25% | Passed | |
| St. Charles | 0.5% | Failed | |
| St. Charles | 0.5% | Failed | |
| City of St. Louis | 0.25% | Passed | |
| St. Louis | 0.25% | Failed | |
| Madison Madison County, Illinois Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Madison County is part of the Metro-East region of the St. Louis Metro Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 269,282, which is an increase of 4.0% from 258,941 in 2000. The county seat is Edwardsville, home to... |
0.5% | Failed | |
| St. Louis | 0.5% | Failed | |
| St. Louis | 0.5% | Passed | |
Collectively, St. Louis County
St. Louis County
St. Louis County is the name of two counties in the United States of America:* St. Louis County, Missouri* St. Louis County, Minnesota...
and St. Louis City (St. Louis City is an independent city not associated with St. Louis County) contribute 1% in sales tax to Metro, while St. Clair County in Illinois contributes 3/4% in sales tax to Metro.
Fares
The current fares (as of January 2009) are as follows:| MetroBus Fare | MetroBus Fare with Multi-Use transfer |
MetroLink 1-Ride Ticket |
Metro Two-Hour Pass | Metro Two-Hour Pass from Lambert Airport |
Metro One-Day Pass | Metro Weekly Pass | Metro Monthly Pass | MetroBus Fare Jefferson County Surchange | Metro 10 Ride Student Tickets with Multi Use Transfer |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | $2.00 | $2.75 | $2.25 | $2.75 | $3.75 | $7.50 | $23.50 | $68.00 | $1.00 | $19.00 |
| Seniors Children (ages 5–12) & Disabled |
$1.00 | $1.35 | $1.10 | $1.35 | $1.85 | $7.50 | $23.50 | $34.00 | $0.50 | $19.00 |
MetroBus
MetroBus operates 75 bus routes throughout Greater St. Louis with 7 transit centers. 60 normal bus routes and 14 express Bus routes operated on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. On the Illinois side of the river Metro operated 13 normal bus routes and 4 express bus routes. MetroBus routes are the descendants of streetcar routes. Bus services on the Illinois side of the river are supplemented by Madison County Transit
Madison County Transit
Madison County Transit, or MCT for short, is a bus and bike trail transportation system that serves the citizens of Madison County, which is located in Illinois approximately northeast of St. Louis. It was created in 1980 by the Madison County Board to improve transportation in Madison County, and...
.
Service changes: on March 30, 2009, twenty-four Missouri MetroBus routes were eliminated. Other routes were be modified and/or will offer less frequent service in Missouri. In Illinois, there were no service cuts for buses because of the state funding is greater than Missouri. In late 2009, they have already restored some temporary routes until May, 3 2010. As of August 30, 2010 restoration of service was completed and teaks took effect starting November 29, 2010.
MetroLink
MetroLink is the light rail transit system in the Greater St. Louis area of Missouri and Illinois that opened on July 31, 1993. The system currently consists of two lines, Red LineRed Line (St. Louis MetroLink)
The Red Line of the St. Louis MetroLink is a light rail service operating between 28 stations in Greater St. Louis. It is the oldest and longest line in the system.-Route description:...
and Blue Line
Blue Line (St. Louis MetroLink)
The Blue Line of the St. Louis MetroLink is a light rail service operating between 24 stations in Greater St. Louis. It is the newest line in the system.-Route description:The Blue Line branch starts in Shrewsbury just west of River des Peres...
which runs through Downtown St. Louis
Downtown St. Louis
Downtown St. Louis is the central business district of St. Louis, Missouri, the hub of tourism and entertainment, and the anchor of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The downtown is bounded by Cole Street to the north, the river front to the east, Chouteau Avenue to the south, and Jefferson Avenue...
with 73.3 kilometers (46 miles) of track. The system features 37 stations and carries an average of 67,684 people each weekday (FY 2007). Unlike most light rail systems in the United States, this system runs closely similar to a heavy rail system.
Metro Call-A-Ride
Metro Call-A-Ride is a curb-to-curb paratransit
Paratransit
Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
service that is operated by Metro. It consists of 136 paratransit buses that does not run on normal routes. This service provides over 55,000 trips each month to customers with disabilities in Missouri. This program guarantees mobility for disabled citizens in St. Louis City and County who are unable to drive and cannot use MetroBus or MetroLink. Call-A-Ride provides service within 1/4 of a mile from a bus stop.
Security
Security for the Metro System is provided by uniformed police officers along with uniformed and security officers. A comprehensive security system is in place that includes well-lit stations and cars, closed-circuit television monitoring, emergency telephones, continuous police patrol of rail cars and stations, security personnel at park-ride lots, and constant radio communication between vehicle operators and MetroBus and MetroLink Central Control.Plans
"Moving Transit Forward" is a long-range planning process that will create a thirty-year transit plan for the St. Louis region. The Moving Transit Forward is made up of group of people who bring a broad range of transit experience and perspectives to the planning process. It is headed by Metro's CEO John Nations, COO Ray Friem, Senior Vice President of Engineering & New Systems Development Christopher C. Poehler, and Chief of Planning & System Development Jessica Mefford-Miller. This plan will consist of focusing on service expansion and create jobs for its citizens. It will consists on planning potential MetroLink expansion, considering flex transit, enhance express bus services, developing express bus corridors into bus rapid transitBus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT) lines, and creating high speed commuter rail lines. Metro is working with Madison County Transit
Madison County Transit
Madison County Transit, or MCT for short, is a bus and bike trail transportation system that serves the citizens of Madison County, which is located in Illinois approximately northeast of St. Louis. It was created in 1980 by the Madison County Board to improve transportation in Madison County, and...
and St. Clair County Transit District
St. Clair County Transit District
The St. Clair County Transit District is a transit district that serves the townships of St. Clair County, Illinois and Monroe County, Illinois. It was created in 1981 under the Illinois Mass Transit District Act...
in Illinois about this plan. Metro is also educating the public about how the system is funded.
MetroLink Expansion
Light rail has been the most favorable transportation in the Greater St. Louis region. According to Metro, there are over 80 miles of corridors being studied for analysis: Daniel Boone CorridorDaniel Boone Corridor
The DanielBoone Corridor is a proposed light rail route for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed route:...
, MetroNorth Corridor
MetroNorth Corridor
The MetroNorth Corridor is a proposed light rail alignment for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed route:...
, MetroSouth Corridor
MetroSouth Corridor
The MetroSouth Corridor is a proposed light rail alignment for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The proposed alignment would extend the Blue Line southwards from its current terminus at Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 to as far as Butler Hill Rd.-History:Planning for...
, MetroWest Corridor
MetroWest Corridor
The MetroWest Corridor is a proposed light rail alignment for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed route:...
, NorthSide Corridor
NorthSide Corridor
The NorthSide Corridor is a proposed light rail route for the St. Louis Metrolink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed route:...
, SouthSide Corridor
SouthSide Corridor
The SouthSide Corridor is a proposed light rail route for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed route:...
, NorthWest Connector
NorthWest Connector
The NorthWest Connector is a proposed light rail alignment for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed route:...
, and MidAmerica Extension
St. Clair Extension
The St. Clair Extension is an extension for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri and St. Clair County, Illinois, USA.-Proposed route:...
. Some are considered potential future corridors; St. Charles Corridor
St. Charles Corridor
The St. Charles Corridor is a proposed light rail route for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed route:...
, SouthWest Corridor
SouthWest Corridor
The SouthWest Corridor is a proposed light rail line for the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed route:...
, and two Madison County Corridors
Madison County Corridors
The Madison County Corridors are two proposed light rail routes for the St Louis MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.-Proposed routes:...
.
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit has been also a favorable option for St. Louis. Metro will consider bus rapid transit to be highway based on I-64, I-44, I-55, I-70, or major arterials such as Grand Boulevard, North County, and Kingshighway Blvd. A NABINabi
Nabi may refer to:* Prophets of Islam, humans who, in the Islamic faith, have been chosen as prophets by God**Nabi * Butterfly in the Korean language** Nabi , a 2001 South Korean film** The Korean language title of Mr...
BRT bus was tested for nine days between late October and late November 2008.
Commuter rail
According to studies, the routes may run from Downtown St. Louis to Alton, Illinois, Festus, and Pacific, Missouri. There are 80 miles of routes being considered. Commuter rail lines were in Metro's plans in 1994 when voters approved a one-fourth cent transit sale tax, but officials dropped them later because the cost was not worth the benefit and the fare would be expensive.Streetcar
The Delmar Loop Trolley is a 2.2 mile trolley line that will connect from the Missouri History MuseumMissouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum is located in St. Louis, Missouri in Forest Park. The museum is operated by the Missouri Historical Society and was founded in 1866...
in Forest Park to the Delmar Loop
Delmar Loop
The Delmar Loop is an entertainment, cultural and restaurant district in University City, Missouri and the ajoining western edge of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its attractions are located in the streetcar suburb of University City, but the area is expanding eastward into the Skinker-Debaliviere...
. The line will have up to 9 stations. A final report for the Loop Trolley Study was completed in January 2010.
Urban bus
Some MetroBus routes are being analysed with the thirty-year plan. It may require a new fleet of metro buses. In late September 2008, an Alexander Dennis Enviro500 bus was tested for nine days.See also
- MetroBusMetroBus (St. Louis)MetroBus is the public bus service for the Greater St. Louis Region connected with the MetroLink light rail system. It is managed by the Bi-State Development Agency and uses a shared fare system with the MetroLink rail.-Service:...
- MetroLink
- List of rail transit systems in the United States
- List of tram and light-rail transit systems
- List of rapid transit systems
- St. Clair County Transit DistrictSt. Clair County Transit DistrictThe St. Clair County Transit District is a transit district that serves the townships of St. Clair County, Illinois and Monroe County, Illinois. It was created in 1981 under the Illinois Mass Transit District Act...
- Bi-State Development Agency fleet
External links
- Metro – Official website for the Bi-State Development Agency
- NextStop STL| Official blog for Metro
- Moving Transit Forward website – Official transit planning study
- Citizens for Modern Transit - St. Louis transit advocacy group
- Arts in Transit Website
- State of Agency Final Report 2010
- Tracking Progress Website