St. Louis' light rail system now runs between the region's two commercial airports.
MetroLink recently completed its 5.2 mile extension of the light rail's red line from near Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. Overall, the project, which will open to riders in the coming months, cost $154 million.
Gov. JB Pritzker, leaders from Bi-State Development, which operates the light rail, St. Clair County's Transit District and others celebrated the expansion of the public transit system on Monday.
"This is a great success for St. Clair County and part of our story and part of a bigger story to come," said Mark Kern, chairman of the St. Clair County Board.
The state contributed $127 million to the project and two others surrounding MidAmerica through Rebuild Illinois, a legislative priority of Pritzker's that the Illinois General Assembly passed in 2019. It dedicated nearly $45 billion to fund infrastructure projects around the state.
"These investments in MetroLink create a more connected network for people who ride transit and drive and walk and bike," Pritzker said. "Business, workers, families and communities all along this corridor will benefit when transportation becomes easier and more reliable."
The St. Clair County Transit District contributed $65 million.
"This large-scale investment was only made possible because of strong partnerships, and its benefits will be felt for decades to come," said Ken Sharkey, the transit district's managing director.
Construction on the red line extension started in 2023 and was originally slated to wrap up in 2024. At the time, Sharkey said supply chain issues and inflation had slowed the contractors building the track.
The construction on the extension wrapped up early this year, but St. Clair County Transit District and MetroLink officials have been testing the track to guarantee its safety the last couple of months.
Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi and state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, said on Monday they believe the two commercial airports being connected by light rail may make it one of the only metropolitan areas in the country to do so.
The other two projects near MidAmerica include the opening of a 4.5-mile extension of the transit district's bike trail system that runs adjacent to the light rail track. The $6 million extension opened to the public in June.
The second included a 2.4-mile extension of the frontage road where MidAmerica is located, which cost $32 million and is expected to attract more businesses to the area.
MetroLink also completed a nearly two-year buildout to close the public transit system, installing turnstiles and gates at all other 38 platforms. The system has previously been an open concept and did not require riders to scan a ticket.
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