Allow Extra Time for MetroLink Commutes This Weekend
Return to BlogWeekend MetroLink customers, convention participants, Forest Park visitors, and concert-goers should allow extra time for their MetroLink commutes this weekend due to construction activity.
Starting at 8 p.m. on this Friday, September 16 through 4:30 a.m. on Monday, September 19, MetroLink will operate on a special construction schedule to accommodate work crews east of the Eads Bridge. Red Line trains will operate on a single track at the East Riverfront MetroLink Station.
Blue Line trains will run from the Civic Center MetroLink Station to the Shrewsbury MetroLink Station ONLY during single track operations. There will be no Blue Line service from the Civic Center MetroLink Station to the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station during the weekend.
Westbound Blue Line passengers travelling between the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station and the Civic Center MetroLink Station should board a Red Line train. Westbound customers may transfer to a Blue Line train at Civic Center. Eastbound Blue Line passengers travelling between the Civic Center MetroLink Station and the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station should board a Red Line train at Civic Center and continue eastbound. The transfers may add as much as 20 minutes to the commute.
Only one side of the platform at the East Riverfront MetroLink Station will be used during this period. Passengers should look for signs at the entrance to the platforms indicating which platform is being used.
Single track operations will also be in effect Thursday evening, September 15, starting at 8 p.m. to accommodate construction crews. MetroLink customers and convention participants who take the Red Line trains will not be impacted. Blue Line passengers should plan on their commutes being extended by up to 10 minutes.
I will be in town Sept. 28 through Oct. 1 for a conference, staying in Brentwood and taking MetroLink downtown. Will there be similar delays that weekend?
Yes, the construction is ongoing and there will be modified MetroLink schedules when you are in St. Louis at the end of the month. MetroLink will operate normal service during the day Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. But, if it’s after 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday night when you head back to Brentwood, you will need to take a Red Line train to the Civic Center MetroLink Station and transfer to a westbound Blue Line train to ride to the Brentwood I-64 MetroLink Station. There will be signs posted at MetroLink stations at night to help you. Allow an extra 10 minutes or so those nights for your commute to Brentwood. From 8 p.m. Friday (Sept. 30), until 8 a.m. Saturday, the modified schedule will be back in effect. Allow a few extra minutes for your MetroLink commute Friday night and early Saturday morning. Hope you enjoy your stay in St. Louis and thanks for supporting public transit.
Thanks for your prompt and informative reply!
My apologies – one more question that just came to mind: Does this affect the time when the last westbound train will leave the Covention Center station? I saw the schedules on the website, but let me know if they’re inaccurate because of the construction. I’d hate to get stranded downtown or at Civic Center at 11:30 or midnight.
Happy to help, Jon. The schedules on the website are correct. The last westbound Red Line train leaves the Convention Center MetroLink Station around midnight every night. If you keep that in mind, you’ll be fine. Just remember to transfer to the westbound Blue Line at the Civic Center MetroLink Station to get to the Brentwood/I-64 Station or you’ll ride out to the airport!
Is there a special shuttle from Forest Park-DeBaliviere or CWE stations into Forest Park for the balloon glow and race this weekend?
Charles, there is not a special shuttle for the balloon glow and race. The Forest Park Trolley is being rerouted due to street closures in the park. The Trolley will operate every 40 minutes until 12:30 a.m. tonight and it will operate every 20 minutes tomorrow. The Trolley will travel between the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station Bus Stop and the Pagoda Circle ONLY during the balloon glow and during the race. Also, beginning at 5 p.m. tonight, the #90 Hampton WILL NOT enter Forest Park due to the road closures and congestion in the park. Tomorrow, the #90 will not enter Forest Park between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Since the balloon glow is a walk through event only– no driving through– you may consider taking MetroLink to the Central West End MetroLink Station and walking west to get to the balloon glow at Central Field in Forest Park. See the map and reroute schedule for the Forest Park Trolley for tonight and tomorrow at:
https://www.metrostlouis.org/PlanYourTrip/ServiceUpdates.asp
Thanks for the quick response, Patti!
You are very welcome, Charles. Have a great time at the balloon glow and the race.