St. Louis, Missouri Metropolitan Area/St. Clair County, Illinois Corridor

St. Clair County, Illinois Corridor

St.Louis, Missouri Metropolitan Area

(November 1998)

Description

The Bi-State Development Agency (Bi-State) is planning a 26-mile light rail line between downtown East St. Louis, Illinois, and the Mid America Airport in St. Clair County. The project would extend the MetroLink light rail project that opened in July 1993. The adopted alignment generally follows the former CSXT railroad right-of-way from East St. Louis to Belleville, IL, serving the Belleville Area College (BAC) and Mid America Airport / Scott Air Force Base. A 17.4 mile "Minimum Operable Segment" (MOS), which is covered in this profile, would terminate at BAC. The MOS includes 8 stations (seven with park and ride lots), 20 new light rail vehicles, and a new light rail vehicle maintenance facility in East St.  Louis, Illinois.

The full project will cost $426.7 million (1996 dollars) and is projected to carry 16,000 riders per day in the year 2010. The "Minimum Operable Segment" (MOS) is estimated to cost $339.2 million (escalated dollars).

Phase IIB covers the remaining 8.6 miles from Belleville Area College to Mid America Airport and will include two additional stations. Preliminary Engineering/ Final Environmental Impact Statement was completed in August 1996 and a Record of Decision was issued in September 1996 on the full 26-mile corridor. Phase IIB is currently in the final design project development phase. Section 5309 funds were made available in October 1996 to provide design and construction as far as BAC and a FFGA was awarded. The agreement authorized Bi-State to design and construct the MOS to BAC, with provisions for completing the additional segment from BAC to MAA should funding become available at a later date.

The East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (the MPO) completed a Major Investment Study and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in 1995. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was issued in August 1996.

FTA entered into a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for $243.93 million in Section 5309 New Start funds contributing to the total estimated cost of $339.20 million (escalated dollars). The St.  Clair County Transit District is providing $95.3 million in local funds from a 3/4 cent county sales tax. The cost of Phase IIB is $121 million (YOE). Bi-State proposes $60 million in Section 5309 funds.

Through FY 1999, Congress has appropriated $112.83 million in Section 5309 New Start funds for the Minimum Operable Segment portion of the project.