ST. LOUIS — Bi-State Development is hosting an open house in the Metro-East Tuesday evening to discuss safety and security changes on the MetroLink light rail system.
The Metro Transit Secure Platform open house will take place 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at Spaces, 207 East Main Street in Belleville. A virtual meeting will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom. You need to register for that meeting at bit.ly/SPPpublicmeeting.
Metro’s $52 million Secure Platform Plan is a key component to growing MetroLink ridership. It changes the original open-access platform system to a closed system with centralized, secure customer entrances at all MetroLink stations.
The open house will feature renderings of the plan. The secure platform plan includes new gating, fencing and a state-of-the-art security camera system.
The transit system has had some security breaches over the years, including fatal shootings and robberies.
All 38 MetroLink stations and a new station to be built at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport will be upgraded on a phased schedule. Metro Transit will begin implementation of the plan at four stations in Illinois -- Emerson Park, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, Washington Park and College.
A new fare technology system will be incorporated into the secure platform plan. A MetroLink rider will scan the ticket or pass, and the gating system will open for access to the platform.
A little more than $10 million of the $52 million slated for the updated system will come from the private sector. Bi-State CEO Taulby Roach said the other portion will come from a combination of St. Louis, St. Louis County, St. Clair County and federal funding.
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