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MoDOT has now CLOSED I-64 from Ballas Rd. to I-170 In Both Directions. This is a Total Highway Closure, not just lane restrictions.

How Bad will traffic get?

Who will be affected?

What can you do to get to work on time?

Why should you ride Metro and how do you do it?

Will you still be able to get around to your favorite places?

The 2008 closure of Interstate 64/40 from Ballas Rd. to I-170 has many concerned about the inevitable traffic jams and congestion throughout the St. Louis area. Even those who do not travel on I-64 are likely to experience delays on their commute, as portions of the highway are shutdown for two years and more than 100,000 automobile trips may be diverted to other routes, further clogging already crowded roads. No one really knows how bad traffic will get as commuters will continue to try and find different ways to get around town.

The St. Louis region needs a plan – and Metro is positioned to be a major part of the solution. On a typical weekday, Metro takes 45,000 automobiles off the region's highways and streets during peak travel hours. Not everyone is able to use MetroBus or MetroLink every day, but everyone wins each time Metro takes any vehicles off the streets. In addition, automobiles idling in bumper-to-bumper traffic worsens our air quality and already accounts for about one-third of the region's air pollution emissions. The cost of that idling also affects our pocketbooks, with gasoline prices at all-time highs.

Ask your employer to offer Metro’s PERC at Work, a transit benefit program that can save money for you and your employer! Here’s how it works. Your employer can subsidize all or part of the cost of a Metro Monthly Transit Pass. They can also give you the opportunity to pay for the pass with pre-tax dollars. And they get tax benefits for doing so! It is a true Win-Win for you and your employer! Be the Office Hero; Offer to be a part of the program implementation team; Save Money for your employer (and yourself), and get them to offer PERC at Work.

Convenience. Affordability. Worry-Free. These are just some of the many Reasons to Ride Metro, according to existing riders. And another major reason to ride Metro: THE I-64 SHUTDOWN BEGINNING THIS JANUARY. MetroLink is not affected by road construction and many MetroBus routes connect to MetroLink to get you around town without the hassles. SO HOW DO YOU LEARN TO USE THE METRO SYSTEM? Metro provides an easy tool to plan your trip. Simply enter your starting point, your destination, and the day and time you wish to travel, and TRIPfinder will plan your trip and provide you several options to get you there in a snap!

Metro has excess capacity to be a viable solution for the region. MetroLink averages 68,000 passengers per weekday. MetroLink can carry nearly 3,600 passengers per hour eastbound at peak capacity and nearly 3,600 passengers per hour westbound at peak capacity. This is similar to four lanes of interstate highway capacity! There is passenger capacity remaining on MetroLink during the peak period and there is major capacity at off peak times. However, prospective passengers are encouraged to try the service now to become familiar with the schedules and operating characteristics before the highway construction and closures occur. The MetroBus system averages 110,000 daily boardings, which is more than MetroLink. The capacity of the system can accommodate 25,000 additional passengers during peak hours and the daily capacity of the system could most likely accommodate 100,000 additional boardings over all hours.

Riding Metro is easy! Simply hop on a convenient neighborhood MetroBus route and connect to MetroLink or drive to a nearby commuter park-ride lot or MetroLink station and park in one of our region’s convenient free Park-Ride lots. Greater than 50% of MetroLink riders access the system through the MetroBus system, and Metro is adding several new bus routes and re-routing buses that will be affected by MoDOT’s construction to ensure your bus-train connections work as effectively as possible!

Getting around to your favorite places will still be a snap. In addition, Metro has established an exciting program to encourage you to get around town even when I-64 is closed. Many businesses are participating in Metro’s Destination Deal$ program, where they offer a discount or deal to patrons who flash valid Metro fare. Whether you travel by MetroBus or MetroLink, you can still get to your destination, and participating businesses will reward you with a deal for keeping your car off the road! You can see if your favorite business is participating in Destination Deal$, and if not, encourage them to take advantage of this no-cost program!

Other strategies to help keep cars off the roads include flexing work hours, carpooling, and tele-commuting.

Now is the time to Try Transit. Don't forget, from our homepage, you can also access important information, such as fares and schedules for MetroBus and MetroLink, Rider Alerts, and Places to Go.