Red Line (St. Louis MetroLink)
Encyclopedia
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.
and Wellston on Plymouth St., before crossing the St. Louis City/County boundary line at Skinker Boulevard; and making a stop at Delmar Boulevard, serving the popular Delmar Loop
. The Red Line meets up with the Blue Line
at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station. From this station to the Fairview Heights station in Illinois, it creates the Shared Alignment track with the Blue Line. It terminates in Shiloh next to the Scott Air Force Base and close to the Mid-America Airport in Mascoutah.
due to projections of low ridership. If this extension had been built, it would have 43.3 miles (69.7 km) on this route alone.
- East St. Louis to Alton/Edwardsville: A study in 2005 was performed to investigate the potential costs, ridership, and impacts of extending Metrolink into Madison County, Illinois
. According to the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, there are two recommended alignments for Madison County. Both of the alignments will start from the 5th & Missouri station out of East St Louis in St. Clair County to Granite City
, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, East Alton, Wood River, and Alton in Madison County, Illinois 21 – away. The alignments will junction off in Madison, Illinois
into two alignments. In order to plan out the two alignments, Metro will have to collaborate with Madison County Transit
.
- Lambert Airport to St. Charles County: Possible plans to expand MetroLink 16 – from Lambert Airport northwestward to St. Charles County were abandoned after St. Charles County voters rejected a sales tax in 1996 to fund an extension; subsequently, all MetroBus service was ended. If the extension was funded, the route would have used the Old St. Charles Bridge
(now demolished) as a crossing over the Missouri River
to the City of St. Charles, St. Peters, and O'Fallon. In the near future, it may be considered a potential alignment to study.
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...
is a 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...
service operating between 28 stations
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
in Greater St. Louis. It is the oldest and longest line in the system.
Route description
The 38 miles (61.2 km) Red Line MetroLink alignment begins at Lambert St. Louis International Airport, making stops at the main and east terminal stations. It then proceeds through Kinloch before making a stop in North Hanley near Bel-Ridge. It makes 2 stops (UMSL North & South stations) at the University of Missouri St. Louis located in Normandy. It further follows into 2 stops in Pagedale on St. Charles Rock RoadSt. Charles Rock Road
St. Charles Rock Road is the current name of what was the first road to traverse present-day St. Louis County, Missouri between St. Louis and St. Charles. For most of its length it is also known as Route 180.-Route Description:...
and Wellston on Plymouth St., before crossing the St. Louis City/County boundary line at Skinker Boulevard; and making a stop at Delmar Boulevard, serving the popular 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 Red Line meets up with the 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...
at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station. From this station to the Fairview Heights station in Illinois, it creates the Shared Alignment track with the Blue Line. It terminates in Shiloh next to the Scott Air Force Base and close to the Mid-America Airport in Mascoutah.
Future extensions
Some of these extensions will make the Red Line one of the longest light rail lines in the United States.St. Clair County Extension
St. Clair County Extension Phase 3 - Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica Airport: the St. Clair County Extension Phase III will extend 5.3 miles (8.5 km) to MidAmerica Airport. Although design work for the extension has been completed, funding for construction hasn't been secured. It was originally part of the St. Clair County Extension Phase II project that extended to Shiloh-Scott, but was separated into its own project by the Federal Transit AdministrationFederal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
due to projections of low ridership. If this extension had been built, it would have 43.3 miles (69.7 km) on this route alone.
Madison County Corridors
Madison County CorridorsMadison 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:...
- East St. Louis to Alton/Edwardsville: A study in 2005 was performed to investigate the potential costs, ridership, and impacts of extending Metrolink into Madison County, Illinois
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...
. According to the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, there are two recommended alignments for Madison County. Both of the alignments will start from the 5th & Missouri station out of East St Louis in St. Clair County to Granite City
Granite City
Granite City may refer to:*Granite City, Illinois*St. Cloud, Minnesota*Aberdeen, Scotland...
, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, East Alton, Wood River, and Alton in Madison County, Illinois 21 – away. The alignments will junction off in Madison, Illinois
Madison, Illinois
Madison is a city in Madison County and partially in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,545 at the 2000 census. It is home to Gateway International Raceway and the first Bulgarian Orthodox church in the United States.-Geography:...
into two alignments. In order to plan out the two alignments, Metro will have to collaborate 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...
.
St. Charles Corridor
St. Charles CorridorSt. 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:...
- Lambert Airport to St. Charles County: Possible plans to expand MetroLink 16 – from Lambert Airport northwestward to St. Charles County were abandoned after St. Charles County voters rejected a sales tax in 1996 to fund an extension; subsequently, all MetroBus service was ended. If the extension was funded, the route would have used the Old St. Charles Bridge
Old St. Charles Bridge
The Old St. Charles Bridge once connected St. Louis County to the city of St. Charles.- History :Construction on the bridge began in August, 1902 with the sinking of the piers. Workers who worked inside the piers were called sandhogs. They worked one hour at a time twice a day inside the piers...
(now demolished) as a crossing over the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
to the City of St. Charles, St. Peters, and O'Fallon. In the near future, it may be considered a potential alignment to study.
See also
- List of St. Louis MetroLink stations
- Blue LineBlue 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...
- 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...