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A bus driver shortage today may have an impact on your morning commute. Due to an unusually high number of MetroBus operators already calling off work and declining to work extra assignments, we anticipate that we will not be in position to deliver the normally high quality service the region has come to expect every day. While we will utilize every qualified Metro employee we can to drive a MetroBus vehicle, it will likely not be sufficient to serve all morning rush hour trips.
To assist our MetroBus customers, the Metro Transit Information team will be expanding hours from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.— and are available by phone at 314.231.2345 or text at 314.207.9786.
We’ll make sure to inform you of the latest transit operations here, with the newest updates being published first.
Metro Transit Status Report
Metro Transit Update: Monday, August 19 | 8:06 p.m
Blue Line trains are only operating between the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 and Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Stations, and Red Line and Blue Line MetroLink service will operate on a 20-minute frequency. MetroLink passengers may experience delays of up to 10 minutes until the end of service.
Eastbound Blue Line passengers will need to board a Red Line train at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station to continue their eastbound trips. Westbound Blue Line passengers will need to ride a Red Line train to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station and transfer to a Blue Line train to continue their westbound trips.
Metro Transit Update: Monday, August 19 | 3:14 p.m.
MetroBus
At this time, buses are currently in service on all MetroBus routes. However, due to an unusually high number of MetroBus operators calling off work today, Metro will not be able to serve all afternoon and evening MetroBus trips. Customers should plan ahead for potential delays and are encouraged to allow extra time for their commutes this afternoon and this evening.
MetroLink
Blue Line MetroLink trains have resumed operation between the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 and Fairview Heights MetroLink Station. Red Line and Blue Line MetroLink passengers may experience delays of up to 10 minutes throughout the afternoon.
From 7 p.m. until the end of service tonight, Blue Line trains will only operate between the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 and Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Stations, and Red Line and Blue Line MetroLink service will operate on a 20-minute frequency. MetroLink passengers may experience delays of up to 10 minutes until the end of service.
Eastbound Blue Line passengers will need to board a Red Line train at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station to continue their eastbound trips. Westbound Blue Line passengers will need to ride a Red Line train to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station and transfer to a Blue Line train to continue their westbound trips.
Redbird Express
Due to today’s MetroBus driver shortage, the Redbird Express will not be in service for tonight’s game. MetroLink is an option for baseball fans headed to Busch Stadium.
Metro Transit Update: Monday, August 19 | 9:05 a.m.
Until further notice, Blue Line MetroLink trains are ONLY operating between the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 and Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Stations. Blue Line passengers may experience up to 10 minute delays. This change in MetroLink service is necessary due to a higher number than usual of MetroLink operators calling off work today.
Metro Transit Update: Monday, August 19 | 6:01 a.m.
The Metro Transit Information team is now available to assist your morning commute. They are available until 7 p.m. by phone at 314.231.2345 or text at 314.207.9786.
Metro Transit Update: Monday, August 19 | 6 a.m.
Blue Line MetroLink passengers may experience up to 10 minute delays until further notice, while Red Line MetroLink service remains on schedule at this time.
Metro Transit Update: Monday, August 19 | 5:25 a.m.
At this time, MetroLink operations remain on schedule with no major delays.
Metro Transit Update: Monday, August 19 | 5 a.m.
Metro Transit anticipates it will not be able to serve all morning rush hour trips on MetroBus. Customers are encouraged to allow extra time for their commutes this morning and should plan ahead for possible delays.
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Why are you not updating which Metrobus services are not running. Is it laziness or gross imcompetence ? Do you not care your customers are waiting in the heat for a bus which may or may not arrive. Would it be so difficult to list on the website what isn’t running ?
Andrew, for the most part, we are trying our best to operate bus service on all of our MetroBus routes, albeit with limited frequency due to significant delays. The well-being of our riders is our top priority and we are doing everything we can to sustain service levels with the staff available. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience today.
To the points made here, Metro you should be able to publish what trips were missed and additionally how much man hours and staff you are down. SO therefore, what number and percentage of trips have been missed all day today and broken down by route and time of day. On-time percentage of remaining served trips should also be published. This is for both transparency and for the region to understand the seriousness of this work action. On SCCTD (St Clair County Transit District) website regarding Ballpark service they were told by Metro that 41% of trips are cancelled the public should know this number from Metro so we know the extent of the delays and service interruptions. Saying doing your best is not good enough it would be better to say only half of trips are running so expect to double your wait time.
Shannon, thanks for those detailed questions. I’ve gone ahead and sent them off to our Operations Team for answers. I’ll let you know what I find out.
Is this expected to continue through tomorrow?
Victor, we expect to operate normal MetroBus and MetroLink service tomorrow. However, if that’s not the case, we’ll make sure let you know via our social media channels and other communications tools.
“Not able to deliver normally high quality service?” Does Metro provide high quality service when sufficient number of operators are available? If so, what standards are being used?
We try our best Mike.
I know that you all had a difficult day but if you have an app that is supposed to tell you if the bus is on schedule, the app should tell you that. Otherwise it is useless. I have to leave BEFORE the bus turns at Civic center to make my route. And I stood and waited for the next bus for 40 minutes. If there was no bus that was going to show up the app needs to be better than sending me an alert that says “hurry up” the bus arrives in 12 minutes.
However, shout out to the driver who showed up.
Jean, thank you for providing your feedback and I’m glad to hear your driver showed up. As you said, it was a challenging day for Metro Transit. It was a all-hands-on-deck kind of day in order to sustain service for the region. Thank you for your patience and flexibility. And I totally understand your frustration regarding the app. You want to be armed with the latest and greatest information to better suit your commute. Since we had a significant amount of buses delays today, that messes up our reliability (and thus the credibility of transit tools). That being said, the Transit app was able to broadcast real-time bus data, which proved to be useful even in the midst of significant bus delays. Thank you once again for your patience and adaptability.