Blue Line (St. Louis MetroLink)

In 2002, Metro's Arts in Transit program commissioned a group of artists to join architects and engineers during the design phase of the Cross County Expansion. This practice of artist participation during the early stages of system design was established during the design and construction of the initial MetroLink alignment that opened in 1993.[1] The work of these artists involved exploration of landscape alternatives, designing the paving patterns for concrete adjacent to stations, and creating the “flow”-patterned retaining walls running along the tracks in the below-grade stretches of the alignment.[1]

In 2006, the Arts in Transit program commissioned a work made for at-grade stretches of the alignment. An overlay of lacy aluminum silhouettes, titled A Walk in the Park, embellishes the concrete privacy fence, called the Catlin Wall, which runs parallel to the tracks between the Skinker and Forest Park-DeBaliviere stations. Created by Andy Cross, Carl Harris, and Ty de LaVenta, the work is a series of cut metal panels depicting trees, vines, leaves, and trellises.[2]

On July 26, 2022, the Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Delmar Loop stations were flooded in a catastrophic flash flooding event that shut the system down for close to 72 hours.[3] Damage to the stations, rolling stock, ballast, signaling infrastructure, fiber optics, etc. is estimated to be $40 million.[4]

On September 5, 2022, Metro announced new schedules to accommodate repairs being made to the system estimated to take six months or longer.[5] In the immediate aftermath, the Blue Line operated only between the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 and Forest Park-DeBaliviere stations.[6] In November 2022, Metro announced the restoration of Blue Line service to its Fairview Heights terminal with some speed restrictions in flood damaged sections.[7]

From the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station, the Blue and Red lines share the same set of tracks for the next 16 stations.[8] Continuing east, the Central West End and Cortex stations serve the popular Central West End neighborhood, Washington University Medical Center and Cortex Innovation Community. The Grand station transfers with the busy #70 MetroBus line and serves Saint Louis University and its hospital. Next, the Union Station, Civic Center, Stadium, 8th & Pine, Convention Center and Laclede's Landing stations serve downtown St. Louis and its many popular attractions. Crossing the historic Eads Bridge into Illinois, the line serves the East Riverfront, 5th & Missouri, Emerson Park, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, and Washington Park stations in East St. Louis, Illinois. At the next station, Fairview Heights, the Blue Line terminates and the shared alignment ends.

From Shrewsbury−Lansdowne I-44 to Fairview Heights (west to east)

In 2023, Metro began a system-wide rehabilitation program that will last up to two years.[14] Work on the Blue Line will include the rehabilitation of the Cross County tunnels and stations between Forsyth and Skinker and will include the construction of a storage siding near the Richmond Heights station.[15] Elsewhere, curve tracks, catenary wire, system conduit, staircases and retaining walls are to be upgraded or replaced.[15]

In 2024, Metro expects to complete upgrades to the Supervisory Control Automated Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Public Address/Customer Information (PA/CIS) systems. The upgraded SCADA/PA/CIS will operate as an integrated system that monitors and controls MetroLink operations and will allow Metro to provide real-time arrival information to passengers, such as live displays at stations.[15]

Daniel Boone - Clayton to Maryland Heights/Westport & Chesterfield

• A study performed in 2000 recommended a new MetroLink line from Clayton, Missouri to Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The 8 to 10-mile (13-16 km) line would have run north from the Clayton station along the disused Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis "Central Belt" right-of-way paralleling Interstate 170, then turn west to follow existing Union Pacific Railroad trackage operated by Central Midland Railway to Page Avenue where the line would have then followed Page to Westport Plaza.[18][19] This proposed alignment would have added up to six stations between Clayton and Maryland Heights in the Interstate 170 and Page corridors serving Ladue, Olivette, and Overland.[20]

• A 12-mile (19 km) extension to Chesterfield would have been a potential Phase II of the Daniel Boone Corridor. The alignment would have headed west from Westport Plaza and crossed over Interstate 270 in Maryland Heights. It would have then run along the Page Avenue Extension (Highway 364) until it turned towards Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park. It then would have headed westward to Spirit of St. Louis Airport in the Chesterfield Valley.[20] This alignment has not been given serious consideration because of its perceived low ridership potential.

MetroNorth - Clayton to Florissant

• This 12-mile (19 km) extension would have extended the current Blue Line from Clayton towards North County and into Florissant, Missouri. Like the Daniel Boone line, some of it will follow along the old Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis "Central Belt" right-of-way paralleling I-170.[20]

MetroSouth - Shrewsbury to Butler Hill

• This 12-mile (19 km) extension would have extended the current Blue Line from its terminus in Shrewsbury, Missouri further into South County beyond Interstates 270/255 to Butler Hill Road. An environmental impact study was completed in 2004; however, selection of an LPA was deferred due to the lack of local funding sources as well as other factors.[21]