Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Talks Public Transit Investment, North-South Metrolink Expansion with Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg During Visit to St. Louis Region

On the 30th anniversary of MetroLink, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones joined Senator Dick Durbin, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-1), Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern, East St. Louis Mayor Charles Powell III, and Bi-State Development President and CEO Taulby Roach to welcome Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to the St. Louis region. The visit comes during a time when the City is taking major steps to expand light rail service along the north-south corridor.

“As a former mayor, Secretary Buttigieg understands the importance of promoting and protecting public transit in our cities,” said Mayor Jones. “Thanks to the hard work of his Department of Transportation, Congresswoman Cori Bush, and fellow regional leaders, Bi-State Development will receive substantial investment to modernize its fleet and recover from last year’s devastating floods. While the City takes action on North-South Metrolink, I spoke with Secretary Buttigieg about the importance of expanding light rail to help connect St. Louis communities to good jobs, affordable healthcare, and better opportunities.”

The 2023 updated North-South MetroLink extension travels completely along Jefferson Avenue from Fairground Park on the north to Chippewa on the south. The current plan includes about 14 stations and would connect to the existing Red/Blue MetroLink lines at a new Red/Blue Transfer Station near Jefferson Avenue. Streamlining the alignment will provide faster travel times, reduce downtown conflicts and impacts, like sharp turns and stations, and offset increasing costs. Currently in the design phase, this is still a locally controlled process in which modifications can be incorporated.

Secretary Buttigieg announced a major investment of $27.6 million in Disaster Relief Transit Funding to support Metro Transit’s ongoing recovery following last summer’s historic floods. This comes after the DOT directed $196 million of investment to Bi-State Development to replace 48 light rail vehicles that have exceeded or are near the end of their useful life.