Green Line (St. Louis MetroLink)

Last updated

Green Line
Green Line MetroLink Logo STL.svg
Overview
Other name(s)Jefferson Alignment
Northside/Southside
StatusPlanned
Owner Bi-State Development Agency
Locale St. Louis, Missouri
Termini
  • Grand Boulevard/Fairground Park
  • Chippewa Street
Stations10
Website metrolinkgreenline.com
Service
Type Light rail
System St. Louis MetroLink
Operator(s) Metro Transit
Depot(s) Ewing Yard and Shops
Technical
Line length5.8 mi (9.3 km)
CharacterAt-grade street running
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification Overhead line,  750 V DC
Route map

Contents

BSicon fexCONTg.svg
potential future extension
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Grand Boulevard/Fairground Park
BSicon fexlBST.svg
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Palm Street/Salisbury Street (option)
BSicon fexBHF.svg
St. Louis Avenue
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Cass Avenue
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Martin Luther King Drive
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Market Street
BSicon fexSKRZ-G4o.svg
BSicon uexCONTgq.svg
BSicon fexuABZg+r.svg
Scott Avenue spur
to Ewing Yard
BSicon CONTgq violet.svg
BSicon fexmTINTo +violet.svg
BSicon CONTfq violet.svg
Scott Avenue/Ewing Yard Red Blue
BSicon vCONTgq.svg
BSicon fxmKRZvo.svg
BSicon vCONTfq.svg
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Park Avenue
BSicon fexlBST.svg
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Russell Boulevard (option)
BSicon fexSKRZ-G4u.svg
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Gravois/Sidney Street
BSicon fexlBST.svg
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Arsenal Street (option)
BSicon fexBHF.svg
Cherokee Street
BSicon fexKBHFe.svg
Chippewa Street
BSicon STRq violet.svg
Red and Blue lines

Wheelchair symbol.svg All stations will be accessible

The Green Line is a planned expansion of the MetroLink light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri. The north/south running line will be at-grade street running with a dedicated lane and will be the system's third line.

History

The need for a north/south MetroLink line was first identified during the East-West Gateway Council of Governments three corridor study in the year 2000. [1] Officials identified a northern locally perfered alternative (LPA) that would have connected downtown St. Louis to St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley that would have cost $485.5 million. [2] Additionally, a southern LPA was recommended to connect downtown St. Louis with Cross County Segment 2 via Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way and a new busway between Chouteau and Loughborough avenues. [2] Despite recommending alternatives, local officials never moved these routes beyond the study phase. However, these suggestions would become the basis for future north/south transit planning in the St. Louis region.

In 2008, staff at East-West Gateway recommended three new LPAs for a north/south MetroLink line. The northern LPA would have run from 14th Street to a park-and-ride lot at Goodfellow Boulevard near Interstate 70. [3] The central LPA would have connected the northern and southern sections with a couplet on 9th and 10th streets in downtown St. Louis. [3] The southern LPA would have run from 14th Street to a park-and-ride lot at Bayless via Jefferson Avenue and Interstate 55. [3] After St. Louis County voters defeated Proposition M in November 2008, all MetroLink expansion plans were shelved. [4]

In 2017, St. Louis City voters passed Proposition 1, a half-cent sales tax estimated to generate about $12 million per year for MetroLink expansion. [5] The following year, East-West Gateway staff recommended an updated north/south LPA that would shorten the route to run between North Grand Boulevard and Chippewa Street via a couplet on 9th and 10th streets in downtown St. Louis. This route would have added 19 stations and cost approximately $667 million. [6]

In 2022, Bi-State Development approved an intergovernmental agreement with St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis allowing the parties to move forward on an expanded Northside-Southside MetroLink corridor study. [7]

In September 2023, Bi-State's board approved a 4-year, $18.9 million contract with the joint venture Northside-Southside Transit Partners to provide consulting services for the design phase of the project. [8] In February 2024, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments approved the updated locally preferred alternative along Jefferson thereby allowing the region to apply for federal funding. [9] [10]

The 5.8-mile (9.3 km) route would serve about 10 stations between Chippewa Street in South St. Louis and Grand Boulevard in North St. Louis running primarily on Jefferson Avenue. It would provide a fixed rail upgrade to Metro's #11 (Chippewa) and #4 (Natural Bridge) bus routes. [11] The 2023 design study estimates 5,000 daily boardings, $8-9 million in annual operating costs, and $1.1 billion in capital costs. [9]

Metro will expand the Ewing Yard and Shops to maintain light rail vehicles for the proposed expansion. [12] [13]

Route

The proposed Green Line and existing rail lines in St. Louis Green Line Map Condensed V2.png
The proposed Green Line and existing rail lines in St. Louis

The 5.8-mile (9.3 km) route would begin at the intersection of Natural Bridge Avenue and Grand Boulevard with a station at Fairground Park. It then continues east along Natural Bridge and then south on Parnell Street with a station at St. Louis Avenue. Continuing south as Parnell turns into Jefferson Avenue the line has stations at Cass Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive before entering downtown St. Louis. Downtown stations include Market Street and Scott Avenue/Ewing Yard where a transfer between the Red and Blue lines can be made. Continuing south on Jefferson the line has four more stations at Park Avenue, Gravois/Sidney Street, Cherokee Street and terminates at Chippewa Street.

Stations

From Grand/Fairground Park to Chippewa (north to south)

StationTransfer
Grand/Fairground Park__
Palm/Salisbury (Option)
St. Louis Avenue
Cass
Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
Market
Scott Avenue/Ewing Yard Red Blue
Park__
Russell (Option)
Gravois/Sidney
Arsenal (Option)
Cherokee
Chippewa

Future extension

An extension of the Green Line into North St. Louis County had been explored. In 2023, four alternatives were proposed that would have continued the line from the Grand/Fairground station along Natural Bridge Avenue toward the county. [14] By 2024, County leadership had rejected all four routes primarily due to the unfunded 3-mile (4.8 km) gap between the Grand/Fairground station and the county line. [15] Additionally, concerns were raised about federal funding, ridership, right-of-way constraints and other factors. [15] Instead, county leaders are exploring alternatives for North County such as light rail branching off the existing Red Line near the University of Missouri–St. Louis, rapid bus service or a hybrid of the four 2023 alternatives. [15]

Those 2023 alternatives were: [16]

  1. Goodfellow/West Florissant. This route would continue along Natural Bridge Avenue, turn north on Goodfellow Boulevard and then head northwest along West Florissant Avenue ending at the North County Transit Center.
  2. Jennings Stations/Halls Ferry. This route would continue along Natural Bridge Avenue, turn north on Jennings Station Road and then head northwest along Halls Ferry Road ending at the North County Transit Center.
  3. Lucas-Hunt/Halls Ferry. This route would continue along Natural Bridge Avenue, turn north on Lucas-Hunt Road and then head northwest along Halls Ferry Road ending at the North County Transit Center.
  4. Natural Bridge/Florissant. This route would continue along Natural Bridge Avenue with a transfer to the existing Red Line at the UMSL–North station. The route would then continue north through Ferguson on Florissant Road ending at Hereford Avenue.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MetroLink (St. Louis)</span> Light rail system in Missouri, US

MetroLink is a light rail system with semi-metro features that serves the Greater St. Louis area. Operated by Metro Transit in a shared fare system with MetroBus, the two-line, 38-station system runs from St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Shrewsbury in Missouri to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Intermediate destinations include downtown Clayton, Forest Park, and downtown St. Louis. It is the only U.S. light rail system to cross state lines.

The Metro East is an urban area in Southern Illinois, United States that contains the eastern and northern urban, suburban, and exurban areas on the Mississippi River in Greater St Louis. It encompasses eight Illinois counties and constitutes the second-most populous metropolitan area in Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Transit (St. Louis)</span> Public transit operator in the St. Louis metropolitan area

Metro Transit is an enterprise of the Bi-State Development Agency and operates public transportation services in the St. Louis region. In 2023, the system had an annual ridership of 19,528,200, or about 64,600 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delmar Loop station</span> Station in St. Louis MetroLink light rail system, Missouri, USA

Delmar Loop station is a light rail station on the Red Line of the St. Louis MetroLink system. This below-grade station is adjacent to Delmar Boulevard and Des Peres and Hodiamont avenues and serves the popular Delmar Loop area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Park–DeBaliviere station</span> Station in St. Louis MetroLink light rail system, Missouri, USA

Forest Park–DeBaliviere station is a light rail station on the Red and Blue lines of the St. Louis MetroLink system. This below-grade station is located at the northeast corner of Forest Park Parkway and DeBaliviere Avenue in St. Louis and is designated as the primary transfer point between the two lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civic Center station (MetroLink)</span> Station in St. Louis MetroLink light rail system, Missouri, USA

Civic Center station is a light rail station on the Red and Blue lines of the St. Louis MetroLink system. This below-grade station is located near 14th and Spruce streets near Interstate 64. It is also the primary transfer station for MetroBus and serves bus routes operated by Madison County Transit. Additionally, the station adjoins the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center which has intercity services provided by Amtrak, Greyhound, and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in St. Louis</span>

Transportation in Greater St. Louis, Missouri includes road, rail, ship, and air transportation modes connecting the bi-state St. Louis metropolitan area with surrounding communities throughout the Midwest, national transportation networks, and international locations. The Greater St. Louis region also supports a multi-modal transportation network that includes bus, paratransit, and light rail service in addition to shared-use paths, bike lanes and greenways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury–Lansdowne I-44 station</span> MetroLink station in Shrewsbury and St. Louis, Missouri

Shrewsbury–Lansdowne I-44 station is a light rail station on the Blue Line of the St. Louis MetroLink system. This station is located on an embankment near Lansdowne Avenue and River Des Peres Boulevard in St. Louis near its boundary with Shrewsbury in St. Louis County. The city limits between the two communities runs through the northern portion of the 800 space park and ride lot.

Emerson Park station is a light rail station on the Red and Blue lines of the St. Louis MetroLink system. This at-grade station is located near 15th Street and Bowman Avenue in East St. Louis, Illinois. It also serves as a transfer for MetroBus and Madison County Transit and features 841 park and ride spaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiloh–Scott station</span> St. Louis MetroLink station located adjacent to Scott Air Force Base in Shiloh, IL

Shiloh–Scott station is a light rail station and current terminus of the Red Line of the St. Louis MetroLink system. This at-grade station is located in Shiloh, Illinois, adjacent to Scott Air Force Base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Hill, St. Louis</span> Neighborhood of St. Louis in Missouri, United States

College Hill is a neighborhood of the City of St. Louis, Missouri. The name College Hill was given to this area because it was the location of the Saint Louis University College Farm. This area, bounded generally by Warne Ave., O'Fallon Park, I-70, Grand Boulevard, and W. Florissant Ave., was acquired by the University for garden and recreation purposes in 1836. It was subdivided in the early 1870s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Line (St. Louis MetroLink)</span> Light rail line in the Greater St. Louis area

The Red Line is the older and longer line of the MetroLink light rail system in Greater St. Louis. It serves 29 stations across three counties and two states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Line (St. Louis MetroLink)</span> Light rail line in the Greater St. Louis area

The Blue Line is the newer and shorter line of the MetroLink light rail service in Greater St. Louis. It serves 25 stations across three counties and two states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loop Trolley</span> Streetcar service in St Louis, Missouri

The Loop Trolley is a 2.2-mile (3.5 km), 10-station heritage streetcar line in and near the Delmar Loop area of greater St. Louis, Missouri. It opened for service in 2018, then shut down in 2019 after revenue fell far short of projections. Service resumed in 2022 under the Metro Transit division of the Bi-State Development Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streetcars in St. Louis</span>

Streetcars in St. Louis, Missouri, operated as part of the transportation network of St. Louis from the middle of the 19th century through the early 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Call-A-Ride</span>

Metro Call-A-Ride is a paratransit service operated by Metro Transit that serves parts of Greater St. Louis. In 2023, the service had an annual ridership of 278,900, or about 1,400 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MetroBus (St. Louis)</span>

MetroBus is a public bus service operated by Metro Transit that serves the Greater St. Louis area. In 2023, the service had an annual ridership of 12,531,400, or about 41,400 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bi-State Development Agency</span>

The Bi-State Development Agency is an interstate compact established between Missouri and Illinois in 1949. This compact created an organization that has broad powers in seven county-level jurisdictions. Bi-State operates five enterprises, including the Gateway Arch Riverfront, Metro Transit, the St. Louis Downtown Airport, the St. Louis Regional Freightway and the Bi-State Development Research Institute.

References

  1. "Major Transportation Investment Analyses; Daniel Boone, Northside and Southside Study Areas" (PDF). East-West Gateway Council of Governments. May 31, 2000. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Major Transportation Investment Analyses/ Daniel Boone, Northside and Southside Study Areas" (PDF). East-West Gateway Council of Governments. May 31, 2000. p. 33. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Northside Study Final Report: Volume 1". East-West Gateway Council of Governments. October 10, 2008. pp. 405–407. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  4. "How Prop M went off the track -- and what Metro plans to do about it". STLPR. November 26, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  5. Faulk, Mike (April 4, 2017). "MetroLink yes, soccer stadium no, and a win for St. Louis County police". STLtoday.com. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  6. "Northside-Southside Executive Summary" (PDF). East-West Gateway Council of Governments. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  7. Vallely, Jerry (June 10, 2022). "Northside-Southside MetroLink Corridor Study Agreement Approved". BSD. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  8. "Board of Commissioners 9/22/23" (PDF). Bi-State Development Agency. pp. 196–197. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Cella, Kim (February 28, 2024). "East-West Board Adopts Jefferson Ave. Alignment as the Locally Preferred Alternative for Light Rail Expansion in Northside-Southside Corridor". Citizens For Modern Transit. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  10. "EWG Gateway Board Approves North-South MetroLink Green Route – East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGCOG)". March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  11. "Northside-Southside TAA" (PDF). East-West Gateway Council of Governments. Aecom. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  12. Schlinkmann, Mark (January 18, 2024). "Cost of MetroLink expansion in St. Louis now predicted to be $1.1 billion". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  13. "About". MetroLink Green Line. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  14. Schlinkmann, Mark (February 18, 2023). "Bi-State reveals possible North County MetroLink routes". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 Schlinkmann, Mark (June 6, 2024). "New St. Louis MetroLink line connecting to North County may not happen". STLtoday.com. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  16. Schlinkmann, Mark (February 18, 2023). "Bi-State reveals possible North County MetroLink routes". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.