MetroBus (St. Louis)

MetroBus is a public bus service operated by Metro Transit that serves the Greater St. Louis area. In , the service had an annual ridership of , or about per weekday as of .

Service

MetroBus currently operates 58 fixed bus routes in a shared fare system with MetroLink. Of its 58 bus routes, 44 of them operate in St. Louis City and County in Missouri with 14 routes in St. Clair County, Illinois. In September 2019, as part of Metro Reimagined, Metro restructured Missouri bus routes to add increased frequency on busy routes but discontinued six low ridership routes. That same year, Metro also removed or relocated more than 360 of the system's 5,400 bus stops.

In June 2021, Metro introduced the region's first electric buses including 40-foot and 60-foot articulated models. The 60-foot articulated buses are used exclusively on the #70 Grand bus line, the region's busiest.

Beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, MetroBus has seen a sharp decline in ridership and it's estimated that full recovery could take several years. In addition, ongoing labor shortages have reduced Metro's ability to offer comprehensive service to its riders. In June 2023, weekend service was reduced on 26 routes and suspended on 4 others. In an effort to recruit more drivers, Bi-State's board signed a contract in August 2023 with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788, which approved a salary increase for each of the next two fiscal years and a $5,000 signing bonus. However, recruitment remains low and Metro slashed the number of full-time bus driver slots in its 2024 budget by 21%, from 811 to 635.

In 2024, after several successful hiring events, Metro increased frequency on 17 bus routes in Missouri as part of its January service adjustment. At the time of the adjustment, driver ranks had increased to 618, up from 556 in November 2023. By the end of 2024, Metro had increased its operator ranks to 673 allowing it to increase frequency or add service on 35 Missouri and 7 Illinois routes, including the addition of four new routes.

Routes

Missouri

Illinois

Fares

MetroBus operates in a shared fare system with MetroLink. When boarding, riders with valid passes present them to the operator and those without are able to pay exact change into the onboard fare box.

Metro also accepts some fares from Madison County Transit (MCT) on its services. MCT's 2-hour regional pass is accepted as full fare on MetroBus and its senior/ADA passes qualify as reduced fare on Metro services. In addition, Metro's 2-hour pass/transfer is valid for a single bus trip on MCT with no additional charge.

Residents called to jury duty in Metro's service area may travel on MetroBus free of charge.

Fleet

Metro Transit operates 308 vehicles for MetroBus, including 276 35- and 40-foot low-emission, low-floor diesel buses made by Gillig; 10 electric 40-foot Gillig buses; and 14 electric 60-foot articulated New Flyer XE60 buses. Electric buses are charged overnight at the Brentwood and DeBaliviere garages, while in-service charging is at the North Broadway Transit Center.

All MetroBus vehicles are equipped with an accessible lift or ramp and include priority seating. Additionally, each vehicle is equipped with a two-bike bike rack, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Facilities

Transit centers

MetroBus serves a total of 25 transit centers with 15 of them located in Missouri and 10 of them located in Illinois. 19 of them have direct connections with MetroLink.

Missouri

*Ballas Transit Center
* Brentwood Transit Center
*Catalan Loop Transit Center
* Central West End Transit Center
* Civic Center Transit Center
* Clayton Transit Center
* Delmar Transit Center
*Hampton–Gravois Transit Center
* Maplewood Transit Center
*North Broadway Transit Center
*North County Transit Center
* North Hanley Transit Center
*Riverview Transit Center
* Rock Road Transit Center
* Shrewsbury Transit Center

Illinois

* 5th & Missouri Transit Center
* Belleville Transit Center
* College Transit Center
* Emerson Park Transit Center
* Fairview Heights Transit Center
* Jackie Joyner Kersee Transit Center
* Memorial Hospital Transit Center
* Shiloh–Scott Transit Center
* Swansea Transit Center
* Washington Park Transit Center

Other connections

At the Civic Center Transit Center, MetroBus passengers can connect with Amtrak, Greyhound and other national services at the neighboring Gateway Transportation Center. MetroBus also connects with Madison County Transit (MCT) bus routes at various stations and transit centers in the core St. Louis area including Civic Center, 8th & Pine, Convention Center and the Emerson Park Transit Center.

Garages

Metro Transit operates three garages for MetroBus in the Greater St. Louis region:
*Brentwood Garage
*DeBaliviere Garage
*Illinois Garage

See also

References

External links

Metro
– Official website for Metro Transit

Bi-State Development
– Official website for Bi-State Development

Citizens for Modern Transit
– St. Louis transit advocacy group

{{Illinois public transit

Metro Transit (St. Louis)
Public transportation in St. Louis
Public transportation in St. Louis County, Missouri
Public transportation in St. Clair County, Illinois
St. Clair County Transit District
Public transportation in Greater St. Louis
Bus transportation in Missouri
Bus transportation in Illinois