Project History:
In September 2025, the Bi-State Development’s Board of Commissioners approved a shift from light rail to evaluating the feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit along the Northside-Southside corridor within the City of St. Louis. The decision reflected significant increases in projected light rail construction costs, along with changes in the Federal Transit Administration’s national funding priorities for major transit projects.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has been implemented across the country as a cost-effective transit solution that offers many of the benefits of light rail service. BRT systems typically feature frequent, high-capacity service, dedicated transit lanes, transit signal priority to reduce delays, and enhanced stations with improved rider amenities.
In June 2026, the East-West Gateway Board of Directors adopted the 11.5-mile Florissant Avenue alignment as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the proposed Green Line Bus Rapid Transit project. Adoption of the LPA marks an important milestone as the project advances through the federal Capital Investment Grant process.
Compared to the originally proposed 5.6-mile light rail alignment, the proposed BRT alignment would extend approximately 11.5 miles, providing transit access to additional neighborhoods while supporting economic development opportunities at a significantly lower estimated project cost.
Present Day:
During a July 10 meeting of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Alderman Rasheen Aldridge introduced Board Bill 59 alongside co-sponsor BOA President Megan Green. The ordinance would place a ballot measure before City of St. Louis voters on April 6, 2027, asking whether funds generated through the 2017 Proposition 1 Economic Development Sales tax – including both revenue already collected and future tax proceeds – should be redirected to support the proposed Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project along the Northside-Southside corridor.
Proposed Ballot Language:
The City of St. Louis imposes a sales tax at a rate of one half of one percent for economic development purposes including (1) North-South Metrolink, (2) neighborhood revitalization, (3) workforce development; (4) public safety, and (5) to upgrade the city’s infrastructure. Shall the portion of the tax revenue currently allocated to a North-South Metrolink be allocated instead for a North-South Metrolink line, a Bus Rapid Transit line, or other mass transit initiatives as authorized by the governing body of the City of St. Louis, with annual public audits, and allow for previously generated tax revenue for transit be used for North-South Metrolink, Bus Rapid Transit, or other mass transit initiatives as authorized by the governing body of the City of St. Louis?
YES ⃞
NO ⃞
Since voters approved Proposition 1 in 2017, approximately $96 million has been collected through the economic development sales tax for North-South MetroLink expansion.
View Board Bill 59 in its entirety here and learn more about the City of St. Louis’s proposed BRT project here.