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Metro Transit to Adjust Service in Response to COVID-19
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Updated 3/30/2020: MetroBus and Metro Call‑A‑Ride cash fares are temporarily waived until April 14, 2020.
Updated 3/29/2020: Metro is shifting its available personnel and transit vehicles in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Beginning Monday, March 30, Metro Transit will temporarily suspend service on four Missouri MetroBus routes: #1 Gold | #5 Green | #17 Mackenzie | #59 Oakland. Click to here learn more.
Update – 3/24/2020: The Transit Access Center and MetroStore are currently closed to visitors, but are still serving customers remotely. To reach the Transit Access Center, call 314-982-1510 or email [email protected]. For MetroStore, call 314-982-1495 or email [email protected].
Update – 3/22/2020: An eastbound 6:02 a.m. trip from the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station has been added to the modified schedule of the #12 O’Fallon-Fairview Heights bus route. This trip will not appear on schedules. It’s being added to serve employees commuting to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.
Update – 3/20/2020: Service on the #174X Halls Ferry Express is not being suspended. It will operate on its Saturday schedule on weekdays, providing service between the North County and North Broadway Transit Centers.
Metro is making several adjustments to transit services and operations for the safety of transit riders and Metro employees, and to minimize the spread of COVID-19 through the bi-state region.
Service Adjustments to MetroLink and MetroBus
Beginning Monday, March 23, Metro Transit will begin operating a modified weekend service on weekdays until further notice. Transit service will be adjusted for most MetroBus routes currently served, but with reduced frequency and a shorter service day on some routes. These adjustments include:
- MetroLink will operate the normal weekend schedule seven days a week until further notice.
- MetroBus routes will operate on Saturday schedules, with the exception being routes that currently do not operate on Saturdays and Express routes in Missouri (see below).
- Several MetroBus routes that currently do not operate on Saturdays will operate their normal weekday schedule on weekdays. These routes include the #17 Mackenzie (MO); #101 Fenton Connector (MO); #14 Memorial Hospital-Westfield Plaza (IL); #15 Belleville-O’Fallon (IL); #17 Carlyle Plaza-17th Street (IL); #21 Scott AFB-Main Base Shuttle (IL); #21X Scott AFB-East Base Shuttle (IL). Service on select Express routes in Illinois – #2X Waterloo-Columbia and #17X Lebanon-Mascoutah – will run on weekday schedules until further notice.
- Service on Express MetroBus routes in Missouri is temporarily suspended. The #57X Clayton Road, #58X Twin Oaks Express, #73X I-55 Express, #79X North County Express, and #410 Eureka Express routes will be out of service until further notice.
- The #174X Halls Ferry Express will operate on a Saturday schedule on weekdays. It will provide service between the North County and North Broadway Transit Centers.
- Metro Call‑A‑Ride will operate the same span of service and the same geographic area that it currently operates on weekdays.
These service adjustments will allow Metro maintenance teams to increase the frequency of the enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols implemented for trains, buses and vans. To support social distancing, Metro will be closely monitoring service and will assign additional buses to high-volume MetroBus routes as needed to ensure there is sufficient capacity to safely serve all riders.
Customers who need assistance are encouraged to contact Metro Transit Information for schedule and trip-planning support. Metro Transit Information is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. by text at 314.207.9786 and by phone at 314.231.2345.
Fare Enforcement Waived on MetroBus and Metro Call‑A‑Ride
To minimize personal interactions and exposure to COVID-19, Metro is temporarily waiving enforcement of cash fares on MetroBus and Metro Call‑A‑Ride. Customers using all other fare types can also refrain from using the farebox. This policy will be effective beginning March 21 and continuing through April 14. All MetroBus customers will be required to board and exit buses using the rear doors, except in cases where customers require an accessible entrance at the front of the bus.
Fare enforcement will continue on MetroLink, and all MetroLink passengers need to have a valid fare in their possession when riding the light rail system.
In addition, to ensure safe social distancing between Metro Transit operators and riders, new orange lines are being installed on MetroLink train floors near the operator cab and yellow lines on the floor of MetroBus vehicles near the operator cab. Riders will not be allowed to stand within those zones.
Employee Temperature Screening
Beginning on Monday, March 23, all Bi-State Development and Metro Transit employees – including all MetroBus, MetroLink and Metro Call‑A‑Ride operators – will be required to have their temperature screened when they report to work. This policy will be implemented to reduce potential exposure for Metro Transit riders and other employees. Any employee who has a temperature above 100.4 will be sent home and asked to contact their doctor. Employees will be allowed to return to work once they are fever-free and have a medical statement from their physician.
Learn about all that we are doing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 here: https://www.metrostlouis.org/health/
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So bus riders will have no contact with the fare box if they have a transfer or pass?
Correct – all MetroBus customers will avoid the farebox and use the rear doors to enter/exit the bus. The exception is for individuals who need to use the lifts/kneeling feature of the bus to board; they can continue to use the front doors.
So fares suspended on busses means we can ride busses for free to limit contact with the driver. If not how do we get the 2 hour pass from the driver?
Cash fares are currently being waived for MetroBus – so a transfer isn’t needed.
WHAT ABOUT BUSS PASSES, DO YOU JUST SHOW IT TO BUSS. DRIVER INSTEAD OF SWIPING IT ON BOX I HAVE A REDUCE FARE ONE , I ALSO HAVE MY METRO ID.
You do not need to show your pass. When your bus arrives, simply board the bus using the rear doors and maintain a good distance from the operator and your fellow passengers. Only use the front door if you need to use the wheelchair lift/ramp or bus kneeling feature.
Metro
Will the busses be running stating monday on a Saturday schedules
Starting on Monday, March 23, buses will be operating Saturday schedules on weekdays. There are a few exceptions – please check the post for more information.
Thank you for your precautions and helping people get to their job
We all can not be on top of each other
Since the COVID-19 crisis first impacted the St. Louis region, we’ve seen about a 40 percent reduction in ridership. We expect ridership to continue to decline substantially as Illinois, St. Louis City and St. Louis County has put Shelter in Place orders. With substantially less riders on the system, we are able to provide service and maintain social distancing on trains and buses. Also, we will be monitoring bus routes and will add extra vehicles as needed to address overcrowding and allow social distancing.
The # 9 Oakville North Bound is always overly crowded people standing in regards to that picking up at Morganford and Germania at around 6:45 AM is it still running then and how crowded will it be?
The #9 is operating on its Saturday schedule on weekdays: https://www.metrostlouis.org/route/9-oakville/. Since the COVID-19 crisis began in the region, we’ve seen about a 40% reduction in ridership – and we anticipate that to increase with the recent Shelter in Place orders from Illinois, and St. Louis City and County. This reduction will allow us to maintain safe social distancing on buses. However, we will also be closely monitoring service and will add extra vehicles as needed to address potential overcrowding.
Will Metro consider a reduced fare monthly pass for all riders say $30 per month or free fare on Metrolink to match Metrobus for April?
Not sure if there have been discussions about that yet, but will forward your suggestion to our planning team.
So the 22x and 2x will not run in Illinois there are people who work that needs to get there
The #2X in Illinois is still in service, operating its normal weekday schedule. Service on the #22X has been temporarily suspended. We continue to evaluate service, and will make changes as needed to ensure essential trips and industries are served.
This makes no sense, with fewer trips MORE people will be crammed onto the busses and trains. Seems like that defeats the whole purpose, especially in the instance on eliminating the 79x. All those people will now be on the regular #79
Since the COVID-19 crisis began in the region, we’ve seen about a 40% reduction in ridership. That was before the recent Shelter in Place orders from Illinois, and St. Louis City and County; so we expect to see a continuing decline in riders on the system. With less riders, we can maintain safe social distancing on buses. However, we will also be closely monitoring service and will add extra vehicles as needed to address potential overcrowding.
Someone said you will be stopping at 6pm for city buses like the #73 is this true?
We are running a normal Saturday schedule on the weekdays right now. You can see what that looks like by picking your normal route here: https://www.metrostlouis.org/metrobus-schedule/
Can we ride bus for free or we still got payto get on
Metro is temporarily waiving enforcement of cash fares on MetroBus and Metro Call-A-Ride. Customers using all other fare types can also refrain from using the farebox.
So am I able to make an appointment for metro call a ride and this ride will be free? How do I do this?
We are temporarily waiving enforcement of cash fares on Metro Call-A-Ride. For Metro Call-A-Ride reservations, call 314-652-3617 or toll free at 888-652-3617. If you are hearing impaired, call Relay Missouri at 711. The reservation lines are answered every day, including holidays, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
During this time, does transit service end at 6pm? I want to be sure because I’m having a dispute with my employer.
We are operating on a normal Saturday schedule during the weekdays. You can find the current schedule for your bus route here: https://www.metrostlouis.org/metrobus-schedule/
With fares being waved, the #73 was packed yesterday which destroys social distancing. It wasn’t like this last week and no longer feel safe with 20+ people on one bus.
Hi Brandon – can you let us know what time and from which stop you got on the #73 yesterday? Our Planning team is monitoring busy routes so that we can add additional buses and limit overcrowding.
Lots of long waits on multiple routes and trips last night as much as 45 min wait on the 70 Grand and 2 hour waits on hourly buses. Was there an operator shortage?
Yesterday several routes experienced delays today due to a shortage of available operators.
What about those who ride Call-A-Ride? Is there still a fee or is the ride free as well?
We are temporarily waiving enforcement of cash fares on Metro Call-A-Ride.
I don’t understand why Metrolink fare isn’t waved also
The adjustments made to fare enforcement were implemented to minimize interactions and encourage limiting travel to essential trips. Fare enforcement on MetroLink may require displaying fare but no physical exchange of fare media. We are constantly reviewing and evaluating transit operations at this time. We will let everyone know if there are any other adjustments.
Will be nice to alert riders to any missed trips and anticipated delays and long waits. I use a different site: https://www.transsee.ca/routelist?a=stlouis so can better see but Transit app and the real-time map on this site doesnt really show you the extent of the issue. Maybe also point riders to this site to see buses and history as well as predictions so they know if a bus will be coming or not.
What’s going on with #95? Yesterday I waited for ~40 min before a bus showed to get home from work. Today I was there for an hour until my gf came to pick me up. Two buses should have come by, and a lady waiting said she was there in time for the next one before that.
Our apologies for the inconvenience yesterday – due to the COVID-19 crisis, we have had a reduction in our available workforce and we were not able to serve all scheduled MetroBus trips. Ongoing delays are possible in the days and weeks ahead as our region continues to address this crisis – more information on what’s going on with MetroBus is available here: https://www.metrostlouis.org/nextstop/covid-19-update-metrobus-riders-encouraged-to-plan-ahead-for-delays/
I honestly think metro should keep up with the suspension of fares until this whole crisis is over or at least cash fates
To whom may concern: 2 questions. How long are the fares going to be waived and how about the reduced fare bus passes that was sold at the Market Street Location.
Fare enforcement will be waived until further notice. We will notify our passengers through social media, our website and the Transit app with any changes to our current fare enforcement policy. If you would like assistance with passes you purchased, you can contact passenger revenue at 314-982-2589.
How long will they waive the bus fares?
Fare enforcement will be waived until further notice. We will notify our passengers through social media, our website and the Transit app with any changes to our current fare enforcement policy.
I ride the #10 bus which is Gravois-Lindell bus and for 4 nights after 10:30 pm didn’t come down Lindell heading Southbound
Due to reduced workforce resources, not all scheduled trips are going out on time. As such, delays and missed trips are possible on all MetroBus routes – our sincere apologies for these significant inconveniences.
Is the #9 on a reduced scheduled. I had 3 employees at Jefferson Barracks waiting at 8:22pm no bus.
Our sincere apologies – due to reduced workforce resources, not all scheduled trips are going out on time. As such, delays are possible on all MetroBus routes.
Does Metro have an idea on when Bus routes and schedules will be returning to normal? Especially in returning service to Chesterfield Valley area and on weekends?
I’m just asking for employees.
Our planning team is continuing to evaluate transportation needs in the region and hopes to restore service on some of the temporarily suspended routes in the coming weeks. We will let you know as soon as any details are available.