MetroBus and MetroLink: A good Alternative around I64-40

MoDOT will make “the switch” on December 15th. The eastern section of "Highway 40" will be shut down and re-constructed with significant improvements. This portion of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) I-64/40 Highway construction project will have a major impact on creating new traffic patterns for a significant portion of the St. Louis metropolitan region.

Located along the corridor are key elements to a healthy region, such as Hospitals and Universities, countless businesses, plus shopping, and sports and entertainment venues. Many folks will not be able to avoid using I-64/40, but the region will benefit if more folks explore and use other means to travel to their destination. Some alternatives include:

Now is the time to plan, and give Metro a try and see if MetroLink and/or MetroBus can help you get to work (and play) and help you avoid the sure-to-happen traffic snarls along

(During the Popular Street Bridge paving project in 2006, Illinois MetroLink Ridership increased by 21%. Many of those riders have continued to ride MetroLink despite the completion of the road construction.)

What capacity can MetroLink provide for the Region?

MetroLink averages 66,000 to 70,000 passengers per weekday. Peak directional capacity is nearly 1,800 riders per hour per direction on the Lambert Branch (Red Line) and nearly 1,800 riders per hour per direction on the Shrewsbury Branch (Blue Line). In other words, MetroLink could carry nearly 3,600 passengers per hour eastbound at peak capacity and nearly 3,600 passengers per hour westbound at peak capacity. This is similar to four lanes of interstate highway capacity, so Metro will make a difference!

There is passenger capacity remaining on MetroLink during the peak period and there is major capacity at off peak times. However, prospective passengers are encouraged to try the service now to become familiar with the schedules and operating characteristics before the highway construction and closures occur.

Sufficient Park-Ride Spaces Exist

The Lambert branch has 2,600 spaces with 1,000 available for new customers. The Shrewsbury branch has 2,400 spaces with a considerable percentage of these currently available. Park Ride Capacity in Illinois exceeds 5,000 spaces with over 1,600 available.

What capacity can MetroBus provide for the Region?

The MetroBus system averages 110,000 daily boardings, which is more than MetroLink. The capacity of the system can acommodate 25,000 additional passengers during peak hours and the daily capacity of the system could most likely accommodate 100,000 additional boardings over all hours. Historically, MetroBus ridership has not been dramatically impacted by road construction primarily because oftentimes, the buses get caught in the same road construction delays as the automobiles. However, greater than 50 % of MetroLink riders access the system through the MetroBus system, so if Metro can provide effective bus routing to MetroLink, the number of commuters who can avoid the roads will be significant. Metro corresponds regularly with MoDOT officials, and the two entities will coordinate prior to Metro determining a plan to re-route buses that will be affected by MoDOT’s construction.

How Convenient is Using Metro?

Use TripFinder, Metro’s free, easy-to-use route planning tool to plan your trip on MetroLink, MetroBus, or both. Simply enter your starting point, your destination, and the day and time you want to travel, and let TripFinder find the most convenient trip for you to get you there, in a snap.

Are you offered PERC at Work?

Metro has designed a Transit Benefit Program called PERC (Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters), valid for unlimited monthly travel aboard MetroLink and/or MetroBus. PERC is a supplemental benefit for area employers to offer its employees. And PERC is really catching on throughout the region!

PERC is a cost-free benefit, or perk, that costs nothing to implement and can help organizations save money. Designed in accordance with federal tax code guidelines, PERC also helps employees reduce the cost of the commute to work.

PERC is a win-win. As an employee benefit, PERC can help employers attract and retain superior talent. Furthermore, transit subsidies to employees can be written off, and if offered on a pre-tax basis, they can reduce payroll taxes. Employees, of course, will benefit by paying less for transit - - whether it be because their employer subsidizes the cost of transit or because it is offered as a benefit on a pre-tax basis. Additionally, employees will save on the cost of automobile maintenance, gasoline, and parking expenses.

There are no implementation costs for an organization to offer PERC at Work! Plus, PERC is easy to implement. Ask your Human Resources Department to consider getting PERC at Work. For more information on PERC, please visit our PERC Information page.

The Impact of the Construction project on the community and Metro

Metro will be working with MoDOT so we can plan any route adjustments due to the impact of the highway construction project. In order to maintain existing travel frequencies on MetroBus, the addition cost, due to construction-related traffic delays will likely cost $7M during the course of the construction project. However, Metro is not currently considering a fare increase.

When I-64’s construction begins, the community will lose approximately six lanes of Interstate Highway capacity in one of the most important corridors of the region. More than 100,000 automobile trips may be diverted to other routes, further clogging already crowded roads. I-64/40 is perhaps the region’s most important economic travel artery as it provides access to a large percentage of the region’s jobs, major universities, major hospitals, and numerous sports, entertainment, and shopping venues.

On a typical weekday, Metro takes 45,000 automobiles off the regional highways and streets during peak travel hours. Without Metro’s services, the St. Louis region would need up to 10 additional lanes of highways and streets during peak travel hours to replace what it provides.

Not everyone will be able to use MetroBus or MetroLink, but everyone wins each time that Metro takes any automobiles off the streets. So wherever you live, if you can take Metro, you will contribute to an easier commute for everyone.

So give it a try and Go Metro.
See how easy your commute will be with TripFinder.

A Metro Monthly Pass only costs $60* and allows you one full month of unlimited rides aboard regular MetroBus and MetroLink service. Not sure where to purchase your fare? Take a look at the various retail outlets Metro where fares can be purchased. Better yet, ask your employer to offer PERC at Work - - that will allow your commute to cost even less.

* other Fare Types and prices are available for Seniors, Customers with Disabilities, and Children. For a comprehensive list of fare types, take a look at our Fares chart.

 

©2008 Bi-State Development Agency