MetroLink Is Study in Cooperation

St. Louis Mayor Freeman R. Bosley, Jr.

Cities across the nation are grappling with major transportation issues be it the expansion of an airport, start-up of a light rail system or developing commuter transportation.

The success of MetroLink, our St. Louis light rail system, offers a glimpse of the kinds of challenges and opportunities created when we invest in public transportation projects; it is also a study in cooperation between local and federal government.

Just three short years ago, St. Louis launched its 18-mile regional light rail system, aptly named MetroLink. As with any major undertaking, there were those critics who said our train would never leave the station. But MetroLink has become a tremendous success. Original ridership was predicted to be 4.8 million in its first year of operation but we nearly doubled that number with more than 7 million users in the first year. In 1995 ridership soared to 65 percent or nearly 12 million commuters and we're on track for a record number of users this year.

MetroLink's 31-vehicle fleet operates at capacity nearly every day and transports as many as 100,000 people to and from the City for major events such as St. Louis Rams football games at the new Trans World Dome or St. Louis Blues Hockey games at the fabulous 20,000-seat Kiel Center. MetroLink has also become the preferred method of transportation for fans attending St. Louis Cardinal baseball games at Busch Stadium. All of these major centers are along the 18-stop MetroLink route. Other key stops include historic Laclede's Landing, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, the Gateway Arch, Forest Park including the art museum and the Zoo, and major shopping centers. MetroLink has also become a popular transportation option for students attending Washington University Medical Center and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

MetroLink's early success has accelerated plans for expansion. The Bi-State Development Agency, our region's public transit operator for MetroLink, buses and para-transit service, is on a fast track working with planning organizations and government officials to expand the light rail system into other areas of the region. In 1994, the residents of St. Louis City and County overwhelmingly approved a one-quarter cent sales tax that will generate more than $37 million a year to support MetroLink expansion and other public transit infrastructure improvements.

MetroLink is a study in success but it also serves as an example of regional political cooperation. As Mayor of the City of St. Louis I recognize that if the city is to thrive then the surrounding areas must also thrive; there is an interdependent relationship that demands regional cooperation. MetroLink's success can be attributed in part to the joint efforts by the region's political leadership as well as a broad range of support from the civic and corporate leaders throughout the region.

Citizens have been reluctant to approve sales tax measures. However, because of the united position presented by the region's elected officials, we were successful in sharing the message about the benefits of the light rail system with the public which overwhelmingly approved the tax. The investment is paying off for the entire region in the form of job creation and attendant economic development opportunities. Before the first train rolled out MetroLink had created jobs in the region and its expansion will pump millions of dollars into the local economy.

MetroLink is an example of cooperation between local and federal governments. The light rail system has benefited from a unique marriage of local and federal partnering and a shared vision that has made the project a resounding success. When funding for MetroLink was being sought, planners realized that the local match to federal funds could be found right in the City's backyard. Fourteen miles of abandoned rail right-of-way, structures, tunnels in the downtown area and the rail deck of the historic Eads Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River connecting the Missouri and Illinois region, were assessed at a value of more than $110 million and accepted as the local match of federal funding for this multi-million dollar infrastructure investment. Local political leadership working together with the federal government was the key to creating such a unique funding strategy. As a result, the St. Louis regions has a 21st century transportation system that is enjoying strong community support.

As chairman of the transportation committee of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (our regional planning and development agency) I am committed to strengthening the kind of regional and federal government cooperation demonstrated on the MetroLink project to assure that St. Louis and the entire region can benefit fully from the leadership of the current Administration on transportation and infrastructure improvements. Cooperation, commitment, and shared vision are the keys to success for MetroLink and for the country.