Madison County light rail corridors extend from East St. Louis, Illinois, to both Alton and Edwardsville in Madison County, Illinois.  Originally conceived as two separate corridors – to Alton as "Northeast" and to Edwardsville as "Madison" – the two have since progressed together in subsequent planning. A 1991 Systems Analysis prioritized the then separate Madison and Northeast corridors each as Tier IV priorities. Most recently, the combined Madison County
corridors haves been analyzed as part of the 2005 Madison County Light Rail Feasibility Study. The purpose of the 10-month feasibility study completed in 2005 was to explore the potential costs, ridership, and impacts of extending light-rail into Madison County. East-West Gateway managed this
recent study, which was funded by the Madison County Transit District. Supporting the study team was a Policy Advisory Committee made up of 18 community leaders. The purpose of the Feasibility Study was not intended to lead to the selection of a particular route. Instead, valuable technical information and public input was collected then reviewed to examine the general
feasibility of implementing light rail in Madison County. The study identified very loose conceptual build options and examined the financial feasibility of the associated costs. A range of Three early-concept build options was examined, from a minimum build route to the Tri-Cities area to a full build route that would terminate in Alton or Edwardsville. All of the options examined connect to the existing MetroLink line in East St. Louis. The capital cost
estimates ranged from $150 to $650 million, with costs estimated in 2005 dollars: - Minimum build option to Tri-Cities area would run a length of about 4 miles, $150-165 million to build, $1.5 million annually to operate, and carry a projected 7,000 daily riders.
- Moderate build options to I-270 or I-255 would run a length of about 10 to 13 miles, cost $300-400 million to build, $6-9 million annually to operate, and carry between 8
,000 and 11,000 projected daily riders.
- Full build options to either Alton or Edwardsville would run a length between 21 and 23 miles, cost $500-650 million to build, $14-15 million annually to operate, and carry a projected 14,000 daily riders.
In order to build any future MetroLink extension, federal funds would be needed, and a local match of roughly 50 percent is required to compete for federal funding. To be considered for
federal funding, specific guidelines need to be followed. One federal requirement is to conduct a planning study that analyzes alternatives and evaluates impacts in detail, such as an AA/DEIS . Click here to see a chart of the complete federally mandated planning process. This step of the process has not yet taken place for a MetroLink extension to Madison County. | 
