If you’re hopping on a bus Monday morning you might notice some small changes in your route.
Updates to more than 20 MetroBus routes are going into place on Monday morning.
Metro Spokeswoman Dianne Williams says the alterations are meant to improve services for riders and help buses stay on-time.
“Metro consistently monitors traffic patterns, new businesses coming, old businesses leaving, and all of that impacts how we plan services for this community,” Williams says
Williams says Metro also took rider and operator feedback into account when changing the routes, which the agency tweaks on a quarterly basis.
Fare Boxes
The transit agency is also expanding its testing of new fare boxes to routes with heavy ridership. Metro began testing the updated fare boxes last year on routes with lower ridership.
Despite the at times bumpy introduction, Williams says the new fare boxes are the first step toward "smart card" technology.
“We’ve got them on about 40 buses, now, which is about ten percent of our fleet,” Williams says. “We’ll be on 400 buses by the end of the year. “
Williams says it could be years, though, before Metro has all the hardware in place to make the switch, which will eliminate the need for paper tickets.
Route Changes
Metro Transit has provided the below information on route changes, which go into effect on Monday, March 11.
• #02 Red: Routing changes. The route will proceed on Delmar Blvd between Rosedale Ave and Skinker Rd in both directions to avoid the long red light at Enright Rd. The route will no longer enter Brentwood Promenade; the new stop will be on Eager Rd. Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules, Map, Turning Directions.
• #04 Natural Bridge: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #10 Gravois Lindell: Time adjustments in the evening to facilitate better transfers at the Civic Center on Weekdays. Schedules.
• #21 Watson Rd: Time adjustments to facilitate better transfers at the MetroLink on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #27 North County Shuttle: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #33 Dorsett Lackland: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays and Saturdays. Schedules.
• #34 Earth City: Time adjustments to facilitate better transfers at the MetroLink on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #35 Rock Road: Time adjustments on afternoon trips to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays and Saturdays. Schedules.
• #36 Spanish Lake: Time adjustments to facilitate better transfers at the MetroLink on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #44 Hazelwood: Time adjustments on Weekdays to facilitate better transfers at Florissant Valley Community College with the #74 Florissant. Schedules.
• #45 Ferguson Florissant: Time adjustments on Weekdays to facilitate better transfers at Florissant Valley Community College with the #74 Florissant. Schedules.
• #47 North Hanley: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays including time adjustments for better transfers at the MetroLink. The last trip from Clayton Transit Center adjusted to leave 19 minutes later. Schedules.
• #48 South Lindbergh: Time adjustments for pm trips between 1:40 pm and 6:24 pm on Weekdays to improve schedule adherence. Schedules.
• #57 Maplewood Wildwood: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #61 Chambers: On Weekdays added 24 minute service for eastbound trips from 5:44 am to 7:44 am and extended 24 minute service eastbound to 6:28 pm and westbound to 8:43 pm. Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #64 Lucas Hunt: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #73 Carondelet: Time adjustments to facilitate better transfers with the #48 South Lindbergh at South County Mall on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays pm. Schedules.
• #74 Florissant: Northbound weekday trips from 6:45 pm adjusted to facilitate better connection with the MetroLink. Last weekday southbound trip from Florissant Valley College adjusted to depart 10 minutes later. Schedules.
• #90 Hampton: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules.
• #91 Olive: Added one eastbound trip leaving Olive Blvd and Mason Rd at 11:47 pm serving the new Creve Coeur Dine-In Theatre. Time adjustments for all westbound trips after 9:10pm. The last two westbound trips departing Delmar Loop at 11:18 pm and 12:13 am will only provide service up to Mason Rd. Schedules.
• #94 Page: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays. The Weekday westbound trip presently departing from Wellston Station at 5:18 am will now start in service from Page Ave @ Grand Blvd at 4:58 am to accommodate capacity loads. Schedules.
• #97 Delmar: Routing Change. The route will no longer serve 18th St and Union Station; the route will use the Civic Center MetroBus Center to loop back for the westbound trips to allow for time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schedules,Map, Turning Directions.
• #99 Downtown Trolley: Weekday frequency changed from 12 minutes to 14 minutes and Saturdays and Sundays frequency changed from 16 minutes to 20 minutes to allow for time adjustments on account of traffic congestion in Downtown St Louis. Schedules.
• #57X Clayton Rd: Time adjustments to improve schedule adherence on Weekday afternoon trips.Schedules.
The #3 Forest Park Trolley would be operating from April 8 through October 31, 2013. Schedules for this route are being prepared, and, would be posted once they are finalized.
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