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Metro to Temporarily Modify Access to Three MetroLink Stations
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Citizens for Modern Transit and Metro Transit will launch a special pilot project on Monday that’ll look at the impact of MetroLink station designs and passenger movement on the light rail system.
As part of the MetroLink Access Project, temporary fencing will be put in place at three MetroLink stations that’ll alter how riders access station platforms.
“Safety and security on the Metro Transit system requires a well-defined and coordinated approach, including personnel presence, partnership with regional law enforcement, technology, and station design,” said Jessica Mefford-Miller, interim Executive Director of Metro Transit. “This pilot project will help us better understand the role that station design plays in this approach.”
The MetroLink Access Project will run for about four weeks at the North Hanley, Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Fairview Heights MetroLink Stations. During the project, Metro Transit security officers and Metro Public Safety officers will check fares and monitor MetroLink passengers as they arrive at the modified platform access points. Each of the three stations will have designated platform entrance and exit areas, so MetroLink riders are asked to follow the directional signage to help cut down on delays.
MetroLink riders using these project stations are also encouraged to have their passes, tickets and valid fares out before they arrive at the checkpoints so they are ready to show them to the officers. This will help keep lines moving during peak commute times and speed up the process of riders getting to the platform to catch their trains. Metro Ambassadors will be at the three stations on Monday and Tuesday to assist riders during the morning and evening rush hour commute.
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This is much better. The lack of security has been one of the top major complaints on the system. I am glad that something is being done about it. And it needs to be done right now. This is so that we can get more people to ride.
So in summary all fares will be checked at these 3 stations. I’d like to observe how this actually works since there is already just 1 entry point at North Hanley and Fairview Heights. I can just see Forest Park to have some entry points possibly Exit only but other than that this is a complete waste of time. There just needs to be more fare checks system wide. Let’s see if I will be proven wrong. Also there is no link to fare payment and crime. Mostly all light rail systems in America are barrier free and use a process of of payment system that STL people call the honor system.
Shannon, thank you for providing your feedback about this four-week pilot program. In this four-week window, we will observe how temporary fencing at the North Hanley, Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Fairview Heights Transit Centers impact station design and passenger movement. In addition to these additions, Metro Transit security officers and Metro Public Safety officers will be checking transit fare on a more active basis, enforcing the proof of payment system you mention.
The Forest Park station has a stair on the same side of DeBaliviere as the parking lot. As of this week, these stairs have been designated exit ONLY by the guards on the platform. I acknowledge that the path under the street is marked “exit”, albeit with signage solely at the platform level. It is not marked “exit only”. Crossing the street, either at Forest Park or at Pershing, is fraught with hazards. Pedestrians risk being hit by drivers turning right on red. As a result, metro passengers are parking on the street on the east side of Pershing preferentially to the lot. Why can’t the stairs on the west side of the station be for entry as well?
H, thank you for providing feedback regarding the MetroLink Access Project. Since this is a pilot project, we are constantly accepting feedback like this to better understand how modifying passenger movement can alter the passenger experience.