News
Gateway Go Card Program Offered Young People Access to Regional Opportunities
The initial pilot program for the Gateway Go Card, which allows young people between the ages of 13 and 25 to purchase fares on MetroLink and MetroBus at half price, will be ending on October 31. The pilot project launched in June 2018 in partnership between the City of St. Louis, St. Clair County, the St. Clair County Transit District, St. Louis County, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Metro Transit and Bi-State Development to help area youth reach employment, summer camps, education and other development opportunities around the bi-state region.
“The Gateway Go Card program has helped remove some of barriers to transportation in the community, and we are thrilled to have been able to offer this special program to our young transit riders as part of the pilot project,” said Jessica Mefford-Miller, Executive Director of Metro Transit. “Moving forward, we will continue to work with our partners in the St. Louis region to identify opportunities to support this program on a permanent basis in the future.”
Metro Transit is using the data and feedback collected during the pilot program to collaborate with public and private partners in securing the necessary resources needed to sustain a long-term discounted youth fare program. More than 1,600 Gateway Go Cards were distributed over the summer, resulting in more than 52,000 total MetroLink and MetroBus boardings. A survey of Gateway Go Card users revealed 94 percent of the Gateway Go Card holders said the test program made it possible for them to get to work, and 21 percent said they were first-time Metro Transit riders.
October Monthly Passes that were loaded onto the Gateway Go Cards will be accepted through the end of the transit day on October 31. Customers who have Gateway Go Cards with a cash balance remaining on the card may continue to use their cards on Metro Transit trips until November 15, 2018, or until the cash balance is depleted.
All Gateway Go Cards will be disabled after November 15 and will not be a valid for use on the Metro Transit system. Refunds will not be provided for any non-redeemed cash balance that is still on the card after November 15.
All of the young riders who participated in the pilot program are encouraged to visit the MetroStore, located on the street level of the 8th & Pine MetroLink Station, to transition to a full-fare Gateway Card or a Student Semester Pass. A valid student ID is necessary to purchase a student pass. Gateway Go Card balances are not eligible to be transferred to another Gateway Card.
Gateway Go Card information can be found at MetroStLouis.org/GatewayGo or by contacting the Gateway Card Center at (314) 982-1500. Organizations interested in supporting a long-term discounted youth fare program can contact Michelle Stevens, Bi-State Development Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations at MCStevens@bistatedev.org.
About Metro Transit
Metro Transit operates the St. Louis region’s public transportation system which includes 400 clean-burning diesel buses that serve 83 MetroBus routes in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois. Metro also operates MetroLink light rail vehicles on 46 miles of track serving 38 stations in the two-state area, and operates Metro Call‑A‑Ride, a paratransit fleet of 122 vans. Metro Transit is one of five enterprises operated by Bi-State Development.