Thirty years ago today, on July 31, 1993, a MetroLink train left the new Union Station MetroLink Station to officially open the region’s first light rail system. Since then, MetroLink trains have traveled more than 152 million miles, carrying nearly a half billion passengers to work, school, Cardinals games, shopping, healthcare and other important destinations throughout the bi-state area.

Thank you to all of our riders for choosing Metro Transit over the last 30 years, and to the entire St. Louis region for the privilege of serving our communities and neighborhoods. The best is yet to come, and we are excited to see what the next 30 years has in store!

MetroLink Fun Facts

• MetroLink construction began in 1990.
• When the system opened on July 31, 1993, it opened with 16 stations: North Hanley, UMSL North, UMSL South, Rock Road, Wellston, Delmar Loop, Forest Park, Central West End, Grand, Union Station, Kiel Center, Stadium, 8th & Pine, Convention Center, Laclede’s Landing and 5th & Missouri.
• The East Riverfront MetroLink Station and Airport Main MetroLink Station at Lambert Airport would not open until 1994. The Airport East MetroLink Station opened in 1998.
• In MetroLink’s first year, it recorded an average of 35,000 weekday riders and more than 9 million riders annually – doubling ridership expectations.
• Since July 31, 1993, MetroLink has carried more than 425,187,000 passengers.
• On June 24, 1994, President Bill Clinton became the first president in office to ride an American light rail system.
• In 1993, a gallon of gas cost about $1.16.
• When MetroLink first traveled across the Eads Bridge, there were no cars traveling above it. The road deck to the Eads Bridge closed in 1991 and would not reopen until July 4, 2023, after its reconstruction.

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Speaking of Cherokee Street, this weekend marks the annual Cherokee Street Cookie Spree. Ride MetroBus (#8, #11 & #73) to Antique Row and enjoy Santa, cookies, cakes, music, hot cider, popcorn and other enchantments.

Have a great weekend!

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Pictured here is a Rams Express MetroBus on Cole Street in 2011 — an era in which the blue and gold were, sadly, perpetual cellar dwellers.

Have a great weekend!

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This photo was taken in spring 1996. The “Grass Bus” was an Arts in Transit project, done in partnership with artist Gene Pool, aka Bill Harding, who was known for creating grass-covered clothes and vehicles during the 1990s.

We don’t have all of the information, but we believe this project was launched in part to commemorate the return of grass to the old Busch Stadium in 1996, which was using artificial turf since 1970 – hence the St. Louis Cardinals decal on the front of the bus and an appearance of Fredbird (and Weatherbird!) on the transit system with the artist.

If you have any more information, please let us know. Have a great weekend.

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This view is looking northbound on Skinker Boulevard from what was then Millbrook Avenue, now Forest Park Parkway. The date is March 3, 1949.

The building on the right with the dry cleaners would later house Talayna’s for many years. Now Kayak’s and the underground Skinker MetroLink Station is there.

Happy Friday! Hope you have a great holiday weekend.

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UPDATE: The answers are in!

This is a photo of the Levee Line, outside of Union Station on Market Street, in 1986. The Levee Line operated in the mid to late 1980s as a downtown circulator that traveled along the riverfront, through Laclede’s Landing, and on Washington, Broadway and Market.

Have a great weekend!

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Now comes the hard part – how good is your bus knowledge? The bus shown in this photo is a 1988 Flxible bus model with the old red, orange and yellow paint scheme. However, this particular bus series (8455) didn’t go into service until 1989. So…this photo shows a MetroBus on Broadway in 1989.

Thanks for guessing St. Louis!

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The post Flashback Friday appeared first on Metro Transit – Saint Louis.

Pictured are fans taking the MetroLink home after a day game in the Summer of 2002. The Redbirds won 97 games that year and reached the NLCS, falling three wins short of a pennant.

The post Flashback Friday appeared first on Metro Transit – Saint Louis.

The terminus of the Old St. Charles Bridge was on the north end of the Old St. Charles Main Street business district at 2^nd and Adams Streets. The combination highway and streetcar bridge opened in the spring of 1904 just in time for the world’s fair in St. Louis.

This bridge was closed to traffic in 1992 and demolished in 1998.

Have a great weekend!

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