metrosouth - overview

The Metro South Study is the next step by East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC) and its partners (Metro and the Missouri Department of Transportation) to expand MetroLink into St. Louis metropolitan areas currently not being served. In the mid to late1990’s, EWGCC identified transportation problems and potential solutions in the north-south and east-west areas surrounding mid St. Louis County known as the Cross-County Corridor. Out of that came a number of possible improvements including an extension of light-rail into South County. At that time, a conceptual alignment using an existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe right-of-way was suggested.

The purpose of the Metro South Study is to determine exactly where a rapid transit alignment, along with station locations and park and ride facilities, should travel in south St. Louis County. The alignment selected during the Cross-County analysis will be reviewed again along with several other potential alignments that will be developed during the study. At this point, the only definite is where a Metro South extension will begin – at the Shrewsbury station where the current Cross-County MetroLink
alignment ends.

A key element of this study is that EWGCC’s consulting team, led by HNTB, will coordinate transit planning with land use and transit-oriented development. This means it will look at ways for rapid transit to stimulate and/or continue economic development. In addition, the study team will take into consideration the environmental impact, ridership numbers, the cost to build, operate and maintain an extension, and your input.

No matter what alignment is selected at the end of the study, one thing is for sure – that in order to build Metro South federal funds will be needed. To be considered for federal funding, specific guidelines must be followed. One federal requirement is to conduct this planning study. Please click here to see a chart of the complete federally mandated planning process. Once the Metro South Study is completed, EWGCC will be able to submit the rapid transit plan to the Federal Transit Administration for approval and entrance into its New Starts funding program.

East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, in consultation with Metro and MoDOT, has hired a team of consultants to conduct the Metro South Study. The following companies are leading the study:

Primary Consultant: HNTB
Technical Consultant: Jacobs
Public Engagement and Communications: Vector Communications

Click study area map to see the complete Metro South study area.

For a complete look at what will happen when during the Metro South Study click Timeline.