This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, March 15, 2009 - Metro bus service could be available to West St. Louis County after the agency's drastic cuts go into effect later this month -- if the municipalities and businesses it would serve can come up with $300,000.
In a meeting called by Metro Thursday, Chesterfield officials, business leaders and others were told if they could come up with $300,000, Metro could restore some of the bus service West County will be losing March 30.
Libbey Malberg, Chesterfield assistant city administrator for community service and economic development, said Raymond A. Friem, senior vice president, transit operations for Metro, told the group that keeping some service in West County would cost about $2 million a year.
Dianne Williams, Metro spokeswoman, said the agency proposed a plan to use parts of two existing routes to service some areas of West County. Funds from a federal grant in the Jobs Access Reverse Commute program would cover some but not necessarily all of the $1.7 million Metro would have to come up with, she said. The grant requires a match of local funds, which is the $300,000 portion West County would have to come up with, she added.
Even if West County municipalities and businesses can come up with the money, Williams said she is not sure how quickly the route could be implemented because of the job cuts Metro is making to its own staff.
If the route is established, Metro will also have to offer Call-A-Ride service there because federal law requires the agency to offer that service for disabled people within three-quarters of a mile from a bus stop or light rail station, Williams said.
Last month Metro told West County officials that new Metro bus routes to transport residents of St. Louis and mid-county to jobs in West County would cost $4 million a year. Though worried that they would lose employees who could no longer get to work, the municipalities and business owners said that amount was too high.
Malberg said the cities and the businesses will evaluate Metro's newest plan "to work toward some kind of partnership to fill that gap."
She said she was not aware of any grants the municipalities could apply for but added that the $300,000 shortfall doesn't seem insurmountable.
"In the scheme of things it's not unreasonable if it's as important to Chesterfield as it is to the other communities," she said. "Hopefully, we can create some kind of partnership between the businesses and the cities to make it work. I'm optimistic that we can figure it out but it has to happen soon."
Joan Schmelig, president of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, said she understands the bus would go to Chesterfield Mall, Chesterfield Valley, Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Wildwood City Hall and along Manchester Road. Malberg said the bus would go to several municipalities in West County, including Chesterfield, Manchester, Des Peres, Ellisville, Town and Country, Ballwin and Clarkson Valley.
Williams was not able to confirm the route the bus would take.
Malberg said some officials in the affected municipalities aren't even aware of the proposal yet. Chesterfield officials are still trying to figure out "how to get the mayors involved and which businesses to call," she said. "It's a little bit mind boggling right now but we'll figure that out Monday."
"We're kind of scrambling to try to come up with a solution -- somehow to fund this -- not just Chesterfield but the other areas," Schmelig said. "I don't know if it's going to be with private money from the employers. It's all just in the incubator stage. We're hoping for the best because we definitely need it for the employers and special needs people."
Kathie Sutin is a freelance writer.