ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — For years, leaders and community members have discussed extending MetroLink's north-south line into north St. Louis County. Right now, that extension looks uncertain.
The county administration has rejected four proposals from an outside firm that would've made an extension possible. The county executive's office said that doesn't mean it's the end of the road.
"It's definitely convenient because it gives people the opportunity to get to work or grocery stores or to doctor appointments,” said Michael Lawrence, who lives in north county. He sees the value MetroLink brings to the region. "Definitely should be a no brainer."
He's referring to extending the current route into north county. As of now, as you head north into the county, you can't go any further than the airport. Some elected leaders want to change that.
"Do you think this has been a priority for county administration?” 5 On Your Side asked Councilwoman Rita Days.
“Not at this particular point. This has been on the books and has been talked about for many, many years now,” she said.
Days wants to see the project become reality.
The county executive's administration scrapped four proposals from an outside firm that studied extending the north-south line into North St. Louis County. They would have started at Natural Bridge Avenue and North Grand Boulevard in north St. Louis.
"The folks in North County deserve this...With Clayco moving in the North Park area, we’re going to have Amazon there, we’re going to have performance foods there, so we need a place where our folks can get to their jobs,” Days said.
A spokesperson for County Executive Sam Page said the proposals involved taking light rail along hills and in steep areas that could lead to slow trains and backlogs. Some of them, he said, also got too close to existing buildings or interfered with right of ways. Because extending MetroLink involves competing for federal dollars, the spokesman said Page wants the proposals to be flawless. The administration asked the firm to go back to the drawing board.
"We’re back to looking at how we can make that move forward right now,” Days said, asking for patience for neighbors who are waiting for the change.
Days saying going further north would mean access to St. Louis Community College for people in Ferguson. The county administration would like to see a plan that also puts more buses on the street to give people a mix of options. The next wave of proposals could come in the fall.