St. Louis plans to take hard look at north-south light-rail line

Written by RT&S Staff
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A north-south light-rail line in St. Louis could cost close to $1 billion.

St. Louis wants to take a closer look at a north-south transit expansion. Mayor Lyda Krewson announced the city would look to get a feasibility study going on a proposed line. The study will include ways on how to pay for such a route as well as transit alternatives.

The analysis could cost as much as $1.5 million, which would be covered by a sales tax hike that was passed by voters in 2017 for economic development.

A 2018 study revealed a north-south light-rail expansion, consisting of 8 miles of rail, could cost about $950 million, and local funding would be on the hook for 50 percent of it. The report also revealed that based on revenue streams in 2018, St. Louis would come up $210 million short for capital costs. The system would require an additional $24 million annually in operating costs.

St. Louis transportation policy planner Scott Ogilvie says the cost at the local level will be more than 50 percent because the Federal Transit Administration is funding light rail at less than half of the capital cost of projects.

Ogilvie says the study also must identify alternatives to light rail, which will be cheaper. He also believes the FTA is not going to fund light-rail projects if they will have a substantial negative fiscal impact to the transit agency’s existing service. The city transportation policy planner believes the light rail route may not have the density required to make it attractive for FTA funding.

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