NextStop Blog

Metro transit is offering special MetroBus shuttle service for parade-goers and celebrants to safely and conveniently travel to Mardi Gras festivities and the 2015 Grand Parade in the Soulard neighborhood on Saturday, February 14.

The special Mardi Gras shuttle buses will operate from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. between Soulard and the Civic Center MetroLink Station, located at the corner of Spruce Street and 14th Street in downtown St. Louis. The shuttles will run every 15 minutes and will drop off and pick up passengers in Soulard on 10th Street between Carroll Street and Marion Street.

Roundtrip passes for the Mardi Gras shuttle are $6 and can only be purchased on Saturday, February 14, at the Civic Center MetroLink Station, starting at 9 a.m. The passes feature commemorative Mardi Gras artwork suspended from a festive lanyard, making it easy for riders to wear while they enjoy the festivities. A special offer from McDonald’s is printed on the back of the 2015 Mardi Gras Shuttle Pass.

“We encourage everyone to park their cars at one of our free Metro Park-Ride lots, take MetroLink to the Civic Center Station, buy a Mardi Gras shuttle pass and head to the celebration on one of our special shuttles,” said Ray Friem, Chief Operating Officer for Metro Transit Services at the Bi-State Development Agency. “Instead of navigating the street closures and traffic, and competing for limited parking spaces, let Metro do the driving.”

Mardi Gras shuttles will run every 15 minutes through 11 p.m. Regular Metro tickets and passes are not valid on the Mardi Gras MetroBus Shuttle. The Mardi Gras MetroBus Shuttle Pass is not valid for regular MetroBus or MetroLink service.

Revelers also can reach Mardi Gras festivities using regular MetroBus routes. The #8 Bates-Morganford, #10 Gravois, #30 Soulard, #40 Broadway and #73 Carondelet MetroBus routes serve the Soulard area, and even though some will be rerouted  on Saturday (see below), will still get riders close to the celebration.

MetroLink trains will operate every 20 minutes on the Red Line and Blue Line on Saturday, February 14, with trains arriving every 10 minutes at stations between the Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Fairview Heights MetroLink Stations. Metro will monitor platforms throughout the day and will add extra service if needed.

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 final Blue Line train from the Civic Center MetroLink Station to the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 MetroLink Station will depart at 12:12 a.m., and the last Red Line train to the Lambert Airport Terminal #1 Station will leave at 12:22 a.m.

Customers are asked to leave their backpacks and coolers at home since they are not allowed at Soulard Mardi Gras festivities. No food, drink or alcohol is permitted on MetroLink, MetroBus or on Metro property.

For more information about the Mardi Gras shuttles visit our website or call 314-231-2345 from Missouri or 618-271-2345 from Illinois. Learn more about Mardi Gras parade information and other event times, here.

MetroBus Reroutes

Due to Mardi Gras festivities and the 2015 Grand Parade taking place on Saturday, February 14, several MetroBus lines operating in the Soulard area will be rerouted, including: the #8 Bates-Morganford, #30 Soulard, #40 Broadway and the #73 Carondelet.