News

Metro Transit Offers Special Mardi Gras Service February 9

Dianne Williams
Director of Communications
314-982-1440

Metro Transit is offering special MetroBus shuttle service for Mardi Gras revelers to safely and conveniently get in and out of Soulard in St. Louis for the 2013 parade and celebration on Saturday, February 9. Mardi Gras shuttle passes will be valid from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. for travel on designated shuttles providing service between Soulard and the Civic Center MetroLink Station, located at the corner of South 14th Street and Spruce Street in Downtown St. Louis. The shuttles will run every 15 minutes or less and will drop off and pick up riders at 10th Street and Marion Street near Soulard Market.

The roundtrip passes can be purchased for $5 and feature commemorative Mardi Gras artwork suspended from a festive lanyard, making it easy for riders to wear them while they enjoy the festivities. A coupon good for $2 off an adult ticket for the Journey to the Top of the Arch tram ride is printed on the back of the 2013 Mardi Gras Shuttle Pass.

“If you are going to Mardi Gras events, we encourage you to park your car at one of our free Park-Ride lots and leave navigating through the crowds to us,” says John Nations, Metro President & CEO. “Customers can avoid closed streets, traffic jams and trying to find that elusive parking space. What’s more, the passes are already a great value at $5. The $2 off coupon to the top of the Gateway Arch is an added bonus.”

Mardi Gras passes will be sold in advance starting February 1 at the MetroRide store located at 7th Street and Washington Avenue in Downtown St. Louis. They will also be available for purchase on the day of the official Mardi Gras celebration – February 9 – starting at 9 a.m. at the following Metro transit center locations: North Hanley, Delmar Loop, Central West End, Skinker, University City-Big Bend, Clayton, Brentwood, Shrewsbury, Grand, Civic Center, East Riverfront, 5th and Missouri, Fairview Heights, Memorial, Swansea, College and Shiloh-Scott.

You must purchase a Mardi Gras MetroBus pass to ride on the special shuttles. Regular Metro tickets and passes are not valid on the Mardi Gras MetroBus Shuttle and Mardi Gras MetroBus Shuttle Pass is not valid for regular MetroBus or MetroLink service. Mardi Gras shuttles will run every 15 minutes through 11:00 p.m. No alcohol is permitted on the shuttles, MetroLink trains, Metro vehicles, or Metro property.

In addition to the Special Mardi Gras MetroBus Shuttle Service, extra MetroLink service will be provided that day. Trains will run every seven and a half minutes from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. between the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station and the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station. Fifteen-minute service will be provided from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. on the MetroLink system outside of that area– west of the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station to Lambert Airport Main Terminal, west of the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station to the Shrewsbury MetroLink Station, and east of the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station to the Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Station.

After 10 p.m., MetroLink will operate regular Saturday night service. At the end of the evening, the last eastbound train from the Civic Center MetroLink Station to the Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Station will depart at 11:41 p.m., and the last eastbound train to the Fairview Heights station will leave at 12:38 a.m. with MetroBus shuttle service to Shiloh-Scott Station.
Westbound, the last train from the Civic Center MetroLink Station to the Shrewsbury MetroLink Station will depart at 12:13 a.m., and the last train to the Lambert Airport Main Terminal will leave at 12:21 a.m.

For more information on the MetroBus Shuttle Pass or the Mardi Gras shuttle schedule, you can call 314-231-2345. For Mardi Gras parade information and other event times, visit www.mardigrasinc.com.