Forest Park–DeBaliviere station

Forest Park–DeBaliviere station is a St. Louis MetroLink station.[4] It is located at the northeast corner of Forest Park Parkway and DeBaliviere Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri and is designated as the primary transfer point for riders between the Red and Blue lines.

Forest Park–DeBaliviere
Forest Park–DeBaliviere platform
General information
Location250 DeBaliviere Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri
Coordinates38.647813°N 90.284689°W / 38.647813; -90.284689
Owned byBi-State Development
Operated byMetro Transit
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeBelow-grade
Parking115 spaces[2]
Bicycle facilitiesRacks, St. Vincent Greenway
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJuly 31, 1993 (1993-07-31)[3]
Rebuilt2006
Passengers
20183,711 daily
Rank2 out of 38
Services
Preceding station MetroLink Following station
Skinker
toward Shrewsbury
 Blue Line Central West End
toward Fairview Heights
Delmar Loop
toward Lambert Airport
 Red Line Central West End
toward Shiloh–Scott

History
Passengers board a train at Forest Park–DeBaliviere station

The station opened on July 31, 1993, as one of the original stations on the MetroLink system. It was originally constructed with side platforms and a single entrance serving the westbound platform. Access to the eastbound platform required walking the length of the westbound platform and crossing the tracks at the end.

As part of MetroLink's Cross County extension the station was reconstructed with an island platform to allow cross platform transfers between the Red and Blue lines. The entrance was also relocated to DeBaliviere Avenue with an elevator and staircase on both sides of the street. The elevator and staircase from the original westbound platform still exist and are used for maintenance access.

2022 Flooding

On July 26, 2022, the Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Delmar Loop stations were flooded in a catastrophic flash flooding event that shut down the system for close to 72 hours and caused nearly $40 million in damage.[5][6] On September 5, 2022, Metro announced new schedules to accommodate repairs being made to the system.[7]

Damage at Forest Park-DeBaliviere included both elevators, a communications room and three signal houses. Repairs have been completed on everything aside from one of the three signal houses.[8] This remaining signal house controlled train movement at the junction where four tracks merge into two tracks and was a total loss. Metro is rebuilding this signal house on an elevated platform and expects to have trains operating on a full schedule by fall 2023.[8]

Location

This station is located just to the north of Forest Park. Attractions in the park include the St. Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Zoo, Missouri History Museum and The Muny in addition to athletic fields, biking and running trails, and golf courses.

In 2022, two large developments opened on the former park and ride lot and strip mall adjacent to the station.[9] One of the largest transit oriented developments in St. Louis to date, the two projects brought 437 new residential units and nearly 40,000 square feet of new commercial space to the area surrounding the station.[10] Included in the garage are 115 free park and ride spaces for Metro customers.[11]

The Loop Trolley, a seasonally operated heritage streetcar service that travels along DeBaliviere Avenue and Delmar Boulevard, has a stop adjacent to the entrance of the MetroLink station.[12]

Station layout

The platform is accessed via an elevator or set of stairs on either the east or west side of DeBaliviere Avenue.

G Street level Entrance/exit, bus stop, trolley stop, garage
P
Platform level		 Westbound ←      Blue Line toward Shrewsbury (Skinker)
←      Red Line toward Lambert Airport (Delmar Loop)
Island platform, doors will open on the left
Eastbound ←      Red Line toward Shiloh–Scott (Central West End) →
←      Blue Line toward Fairview Heights (Central West End) →

Public artwork

In 2016, Metro's Arts in Transit program commissioned the work Vehicle.Destination.Imagination. by Con Christeson and Catharine Magel for this station. The mural, located along the south retaining wall, combines three-dimensional elements with vibrant colors to celebrate the spirit of the St. Louis region.[13]

References
  1. "Missouri System Map" (PDF) (Map). Metro Transit. November 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  2. "Park and Ride". Metro Transit. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  3. Lindecke, Fred W. (August 1, 1993). "Area Riders Throng to Try MetroLink". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 1A, 6A. Retrieved April 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. icon of an open green padlock
  4. "Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station". metrostlouis.org. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  5. Lindsey (August 16, 2022). "MetroLink Flood Damage Update". metrostlouis.org. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  6. Schrappen, Colleen. "MetroLink to resume full service, but cost for flood repairs could double". STLtoday.com. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  7. Lindsey (September 1, 2022). "MetroLink Changes Starting September 5: Blue Line Service to Operate Between Shrewsbury and Forest Park". metrostlouis.org. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  8. Jerry (August 9, 2023). "Flood Update: Metro Transit Receives $27.7 Million in Disaster Relief Funding". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  9. Stritzel, Chris (April 9, 2021). "The Scene: DeBaliviere Transit Oriented Developments Begin Making an Impact". CityScene STL. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  10. "Expo at Forest Park". metrostlouis.org. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  11. "Parking Available for Metro Transit Customers at the Expo at Forest Park Garage". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  12. "FAQs". STL Loop Trolley. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  13. "Vehicle.Destination. Imagination". Arts in Transit, Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2022.


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