ST. LOUIS — People who use the MetroLink to commute in St. Louis should expect positive changes to schedules on Monday, March 4.
Two long-shuttered westbound Blue Line platforms are slated to reopen after being closed for more than a year and a half when flooding wreaked havoc on the system in July 2022.
The flash flooding in July 2022, inflicted severe damage on a two-mile stretch of MetroLink near the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station, causing millions of dollars in damages to rail signals, switches, and communication equipment.
The MetroLink adjusted the schedules to accommodate delays and special operations required to navigate through the affected area.
Since then, Blue Line riders have been restricted to boarding and alighting from trains solely on the eastbound platforms at Skinker Station and University City-Big Bend Station. Now commuters will regain access to both sides of the tracks, streamlining their journeys, with the reopening of the westbound platforms at these stations
"Our teams have been working through the night in the middle of the night often. Two in the morning putting new signal houses in, repairing our tracks, and all of that work is thankfully now done. So we'll return back to our original service," said Taulby Rauch, CEO of Bi-State Development.
A new signal house has been installed at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station, situated on higher ground to prevent the risk of future flood-related damage, Rauch said.
With the reinstatement of westbound platforms at key stations and the adjustment of the MetroLink schedule, commuters can expect improved efficiency and convenience in their daily travels.
"I rely on the train and busses to get to work. It takes me an hour and a half to get from home to work. I work on the other side of town. If there's going to be any changes to the train schedules, we really need those to be good changes." said one passenger.
Metro Transit encourages passengers to check for updated schedules available online or by contacting Metro Transit Information for assistance.
For further inquiries or assistance, commuters can reach Metro Transit Information at 314.231.2345 (phone) or 314.207.9786 (text) from Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.