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Blue Line (St. Louis MetroLink)

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For other routes of the same name, see Blue Line.
Blue Line
A Blue Line train passing through Clayton in 2024
Overview
Other name(s)Cross County Extension
StatusOperational
OwnerBi-State Development Agency
LocaleGreater St. Louis, Missouri–Illinois, U.S.
Termini
Stations25
Websitemetrostlouis.org/metrolink
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemSt. Louis MetroLink
Operator(s)Metro Transit
Depot(s)Ewing Yard and Shops
29th Street Yard and Shops
History
OpenedAugust 26, 2006
Previous namesShrewsbury Branch
Technical
Line length24 mi (39 km)
CharacterElevated, subway, at-grade
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 750 V DC
Route map
Map Blue Line highlighted in blue
Legend
 Shrewsbury–Lansdowne I-44
Parking
I-44.svg I-44
BNSF Railway
Union Pacific Railroad
 Sunnen
Parking
 Maplewood–Manchester
Brentwood I-64
Parking
I-64.svg I-64
 Richmond Heights
Parking
 Clayton
Parking
 Forsyth
University City–Big Bend
Skinker
Red Line
to Lambert Airport Terminal 1
 Forest Park–DeBaliviere
Loop Trolley Parking
 Central West End
Cortex
I-64.svgUS 40.svg I-64 / US 40
 Grand
Parking
Ewing Yard
I-64.svgUS 40.svg I-64 / US 40
 Union Station
Civic Center
Amtrak
 Stadium
8th & Pine
Convention Center
I-44.svg I-44
Laclede's Landing
Eads Bridge over
the Mississippi River
MO
IL
 East Riverfront
Parking
 5th & Missouri
Parking
I-64.svg I-64
 Emerson Park
Parking
 Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center
I-64.svg I-64
29th Street Yard
 Washington Park
Parking
I-255.svgUS 50.svg I-255 / US 50
 Fairview Heights
Parking
Red Line
to Shiloh–Scott
Tracks shared with the Red Line
Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible
This diagram:

The Blue Line is the newer and shorter line of the MetroLink light rail service in Greater St. Louis. It serves 25 stations across three counties and two states.

History

[edit]
A #14 University-Clayton streetcar in the 1960s. Today, the Blue Line operates in this right of way.

Much of the Blue Line follows former railroad right of way. Starting north from Shrewsbury, the alignment crosses BNSF's Southeastern Junction and follows former Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis right of way to Clayton, briefly along Interstate 170. The stretch running eastward along Forest Park Parkway between Clayton and the Forest Park–DeBaliviere station was a Rock Island railroad right of way until it was abandoned in 1931. The section between Pershing and DeBaliviere avenues carried the #1 Kirkwood and the #14 University-Clayton streetcar lines until 1963.[1][2]

The westbound platform at University City-Big Bend on the Blue Line.

In 1999, East-West Gateway staff members submitted an updated conceptual design for Segment 1 of the Cross County extension between Forest Park and Shrewsbury.[3] Metro did not seek federal funding, instead issuing $430 million in bonds against Proposition M sales taxes.[4] After several delays and design changes, construction began on April 9, 2003 with an estimated cost of $550 million.[5]

Citing repeated delays and cost overruns, Metro fired and then sued its general contractor, Cross County Collaborative, in the summer of 2004. Metro sought $81 million in damages for fraud and mismanagement while the Collaborative counter-sued for $17 million for work that Metro hadn't paid for. On December 1, 2007, a jury awarded the Collaborative $2.56 million.[6]

The 8-mile (12.9 km) Cross County extension opened on August 26, 2006 with a final cost of $676 million[7] and added nine stations between Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Shrewsbury–Lansdowne I-44.[4] From its 2006 opening until October 27, 2008, the Blue Line was known as the Shrewsbury branch.[8]

In 2013, the St. Louis County Council authorized loaning Metro $400 million of surplus Proposition A funds to pay off debt related to the Cross County extension.[9]

On July 26, 2022, portions of the Blue Line were impacted by a flash flood that shut down the system for nearly 72 hours and caused roughly $40 million in damage.[10][11] Damages included two elevators, two communications rooms and three signal houses.[12] By that September, normal Red Line service had resumed while restricted service continued on the Blue Line.[13] On July 31, 2023, Metro received $27.7 million in federal emergency disaster relief funding to help cover the cost of flood damage.[14]

In March 2024, Blue Line platform and speed restrictions were lifted with the last damaged signal house now operational.[15]

Route

[edit]
A view of the viaduct carrying the Blue Line over Manchester Road in Maplewood, Missouri.

The 24-mile (39 km) Blue Line alignment starts in Shrewsbury, Missouri (Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44) just west of the River des Peres. It crosses over Interstate 44 and continues north to the next two stations located in Maplewood, Missouri (Sunnen and Maplewood/Manchester). The line then continues north to the Brentwood I-64 station, located in Brentwood, Missouri just south of Interstate 64. It then proceeds north in a tunnel underneath Interstate 64, continuing to the Richmond Heights station serving the popular Saint Louis Galleria shopping mall. The line then proceeds through a sharp turn east to the Clayton station in the median of Forest Park Parkway in Clayton, Missouri where it serves the Central Business District of St. Louis County. It heads further east to the Forsyth station where it then enters a tunnel traveling to the University City-Big Bend subway station. After crossing the St. Louis City/County boundary, the Blue Line makes its last stop at the Skinker subway station serving nearby Washington University. At the following station, Forest Park-DeBaliviere, the Blue Line meets the Red Line. From this station the two services share a track alignment with each other until the Blue Line terminates at the Fairview Heights station in Illinois.

Shared Alignment

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Blue Line tracks near the Maplewood-Manchester station.

From the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station, the Blue and Red lines share the same set of tracks for the next 16 stations.[16] Continuing east, the Central West End and Cortex stations serve the popular Central West End neighborhood, Washington University Medical Center and Cortex Innovation Community. The Grand station transfers with the busy #70 MetroBus line and serves Saint Louis University and its hospital. Next, the Union Station, Civic Center, Stadium, 8th & Pine, Convention Center and Laclede's Landing stations serve downtown St. Louis and its many popular attractions. Crossing the historic Eads Bridge into Illinois, the line serves the East Riverfront, 5th & Missouri, Emerson Park, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, and Washington Park stations in East St. Louis, Illinois. At the next station, Fairview Heights, the Blue Line terminates and the shared alignment ends.

Stations

[edit]

From Shrewsbury−Lansdowne I-44 to Fairview Heights (west to east)

Station Transfer City/town served County Opening date
Shrewsbury–Lansdowne I-44 Shrewsbury St. Louis County August 26, 2006[17]
Sunnen Maplewood
Maplewood–Manchester
Brentwood I-64 Brentwood
Richmond Heights Richmond Heights
Clayton Clayton
Forsyth
University City–Big Bend University City
Skinker Independent city of St. Louis
Forest Park–DeBaliviere Red July 31, 1993[18]
Central West End
Cortex July 31, 2018[19]
Grand July 31, 1993[18]
Union Station
Civic Center
Stadium
8th & Pine
Convention Center
Laclede's Landing
East Riverfront East St. Louis St. Clair County May 14, 1994[20]
5th & Missouri July 31, 1993[18]
Emerson Park May 5, 2001[21]
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center
Washington Park
Fairview Heights Fairview Heights

Public artwork

[edit]

In 2002, Metro's Arts in Transit program commissioned a group of artists to join architects and engineers during the design phase of the Cross County extension. This practice of artist participation during system design began during the design and construction of the initial 1993 MetroLink alignment.[22] The work of these artists involved exploration of landscape alternatives, designing the paving patterns for concrete adjacent to stations, and creating the “flow”-patterned retaining walls running along the tracks in the below-grade stretches of the alignment.[22]

In 2006, the Arts in Transit program commissioned a work made for at-grade stretches of the alignment. An overlay of lacy aluminum silhouettes, titled A Walk in the Park, embellishes the concrete privacy fence, called the Catlin Wall, which runs parallel to the tracks between the Skinker and Forest Park-DeBaliviere stations. Created by Andy Cross, Carl Harris, and Ty de LaVenta, the work is a series of cut metal panels depicting trees, vines, leaves, and trellises.[23]

Projects in progress

[edit]

System rehabilitation

[edit]

In 2023, Metro began a system-wide rehabilitation program that will last up to two years.[24] Work on the Blue Line will include the rehabilitation of the Cross County tunnels and stations between Forsyth and Skinker and will include the construction of a storage siding near the Richmond Heights station.[25] Elsewhere, curve tracks, catenary wire, system conduit, staircases and retaining walls are to be upgraded or replaced.[26]

In 2024, Metro expects to complete upgrades to the Supervisory Control Automated Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Public Address/Customer Information (PA/CIS) systems. The upgraded SCADA/PA/CIS will operate as an integrated system that monitors and controls operations and will allow Metro to provide real-time arrival information to passengers, such as live displays at stations.[27]

Previous proposals

[edit]

Previously proposed extensions of the Blue Line are defunct; regional leaders have said their priorities are proposed expansions in the city of St. Louis and North St. Louis County.[28]

Cross County

[edit]
  1. MetroSouth. This 6–12-mile (9.7–19.3 km) extension was envisioned as Cross County Segment 2 and would have extended the current Blue Line from its terminus in Shrewsbury further south beyond Interstates 270/255 to Butler Hill Road. A third alternative would have ended at Watson Road.[29] An environmental impact study was completed in 2004; however, selection of an LPA was deferred due to the lack of local funding sources as well as other factors.[30]
  2. MetroNorth. This approximately 12-mile (19 km) extension was envisioned as Cross County Segment 3 and would have extended the current Blue Line from Clayton towards Florissant, Missouri. Some of this segment would have followed the former Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis' Central Belt right-of-way paralleling Interstate 170.[31]
  3. Daniel Boone. This 8–10-mile (13–16 km) extension would have branched off the Cross County corridor near Olive Boulevard along disused Rock Island Railroad right-of-way. It would then turn west and follow existing trackage operated by Central Midland Railway to Page Avenue where the line would continue to Westport Plaza.[32][33] An approximately 12-mile (19 km) extension to Chesterfield would have been a potential Phase 2 of the Daniel Boone branch. The alignment would have continued west following Page Avenue and Highway 364 then turning towards Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park. From there it would have headed to Spirit of St. Louis Airport in the Chesterfield Valley.[31] This alignment has not been given serious consideration because of its perceived low ridership potential.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Andrew D. Young (1988). The St. Louis Streetcar Story. Glendale, CA: Interurban Press. p. 205.
  2. ^ Andrew D. Young (1988). The St. Louis Streetcar Story. Glendale, CA: Interurban Press. p. 9.
  3. ^ "Cross County MetroLink Extension, Conceptual Design 1999" (PDF). East-West Gateway Council of Governments. June 30, 1999. pp. 2–3. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Metro Announces August 26 Grand Opening Date for Cross County MetroLink Extension" (PDF) (Press release). Metro. August 7, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2007. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
  5. ^ "Metro Breaks Ground on Cross County MetroLink Extension". STLPR. April 9, 2003. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  6. ^ American, Jessica Bassett Of the St Louis (December 6, 2007). "Metro loses suit against Cross County Collaborative". St. Louis American. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "MetroLink Cross-County Extension". RailWorks. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  8. ^ "World.nycsubway.org: St. Louis, Missouri". Nycsubway.org. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  9. ^ "St. Louis County Council Approves Economic Development Merger, $400 Million Loan To Metro". STLPR. June 19, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Lindsey (August 16, 2022). "MetroLink Flood Damage Update". metrostlouis.org. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Schrappen, Colleen (August 21, 2022). "MetroLink to resume full service, but cost for flood repairs could double". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  12. ^ Wanek-Libman, Mischa (July 29, 2022). "Metro St. Louis estimates flood damage between $18-$20 million". Mass Transit. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  13. ^ Jerry (September 1, 2022). "MetroLink Changes Starting September 5: Blue Line Service to Operate Between Shrewsbury and Forest Park". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Schlinkmann, Mark (August 1, 2023). "Metro gets nearly $28 million in federal aid to cover repairs after 2022 flood". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  15. ^ "Upcoming Schedule Changes". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "MetroLink Schematic Map" (PDF). Metro St. Louis.
  17. ^ "Next Stop: Shrewsbury". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 20, 2006. p. C2. Retrieved April 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. ^ a b c Lindecke, Fred W. (August 1, 1993). "Area Riders Throng to Try MetroLink". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 1A, 6A. Retrieved April 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  19. ^ "Metro Marks Opening of Cortex Station". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 1, 2018. p. A12. Retrieved April 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. ^ Goodrich, Robert (April 27, 1994). "E. St. Louis Starring in MetroLink". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. B1. Retrieved April 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ^ Leiser, Ken (April 30, 2001). "MetroLink Extension Opens This Weekend With Parking to Spare". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. A9. Retrieved April 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  22. ^ a b "Cross County Design Collaboration". Arts in Transit, Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  23. ^ "A Walk in the Park". Arts in Transit, Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  24. ^ "MetroLink Improvements". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "MetroLink Improvement Projects". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  26. ^ "MetroLink Improvement Projects". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  27. ^ "MetroLink Improvement Projects". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  28. ^ Schlinkmann, Mark (November 17, 2021). "St. Louis County back in picture for north-south MetroLink expansion". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  29. ^ "St. Louis Metro South MetroLink Extension: DEIS" (PDF). East-West Gateway Council of Governments. November 1, 2005. p. 2-19. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  30. ^ "East-West Gateway Board Defers Selection of MetroLink Alternative for Metro South Study Area" (PDF). East-West Gateway. November 3, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 15, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  31. ^ a b "LPAs for Daniel Boone, Northside and Southside Study Areas" (PDF). East-West Gateway Council of Governments. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  32. ^ "MetroLink Planning – Daniel Boone". East-West Gateway. Archived from the original on March 20, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
  33. ^ "St. Louis RR Maps". Railsandtrails.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
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