NextStop Blog

With the recent opening of the North County Transit Center and the introduction of a new MetroBus service plan for North St. Louis County, there are a number of new MetroBus routes operating in the region. Over the next several weeks, we’ll take a quick tour of each of these routes so you can get acquainted with these new transit options and see all the places you can go with Metro.

#71 Parker

The new #71 Parker MetroBus route provides a vital connection, not only to retail centers, schools and neighborhoods in North St. Louis County, but also to key job centers and employers like the National Personnel Records Center.

The #71 Parker starts its journey heading west from the new North County Transit Center and crossing Interstate 270 via West Florissant. It then turns east on Dunn Road where it passes by shops and restaurants inside the Clocktower Place shopping center.

However, the view outside soon changes as the #71 Parker weaves through the residential communities of Black Jack via Landseer Drive, Redman Avenue and Old Halls Ferry Road. The bus travels past houses, churches and schools as it makes its way to Parker Road where it shuffles views back and forth between local shops and tightly-knit neighborhoods.

At the intersection of Parker Road and Highway 367, the bus passes by the shopping centers of Mayfair Plaza and Bell Park Plaza. A quick jog to the north and it enters the gated community of Gateway Accessible Housing in the Spanish Lake neighborhood, a community that caters to those 62 years of age or older or who have a physical disability that impairs their mobility.

From there, the #71 Parker returns to Bellefontaine Road and heads south toward Dunn Road where it serves the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), a facility that employs more than 600 NPRC staff and is home to more than a dozen other federal agencies. Heading east on Dunn Road, the bus passes shops and businesses along Interstate 270 and restaurants and Riverview Gardens High School along Lilac Road.

George

Back into residential neighborhoods, the #71 Parker runs along the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. On the left are homes and apartments of Glasgow Village, on the right are scenic views of the mighty Mississippi River and the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

As the bus nears the end of the line, there’s one passenger left on board – George. He missed his stop a few miles back, but he’s left work and the ride is his time to relax. He says he’ll catch his stop on the return trip.

George has been riding MetroBus for three years now and relies on a variety of bus routes to get him to and from work every night. George also rides Metro to go to the mall and to go see his family.

As the #71 Parker makes its way back to the North County Transit Center, George steps off, but even more passengers hop on board as they set off to reach the important destinations in their lives.

To plan your trip on the #71 Parker (or on MetroLink or any MetroBus route) download the Metro On The Go app to your mobile device, use our online Trip Planner or contact Metro Transit Information at 314-231-2345 or 618-271-2345, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.