On August 6, you’ll have an opportunity to learn about the upcoming September Service Change, be updated on the Secure Platform Plan, get details on how you can test new wayfinding technology, share feedback about new bus shelter options, and more. We hope to see you there. If you’re unable to attend, don’t worry – more Community Connect events will be announced in August, stay tuned for more details!

To request an accommodation such as an ASL interpreter, please contact Amy Parker at 314.982.1525 three days prior to the meeting, or as soon as is practical.

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When bad weather hits the bi-state area, our goal at Metro Transit is to keep our region connected as much as possible. Last week, when a winter storm with snow and ice blanketed roads and immobilized many of the region’s essential services, Metro kept moving to connect people to their jobs, families, and critical appointments.

Thanks to the exceptional work of our maintenance crews and train operators, MetroLink maintained service to every station with minimal disruptions throughout the week. And, even in the worst conditions during and immediately after the storm, MetroBus was able to provide limited service on the highest ridership routes while maintaining a high safety standard, due to the efforts of our MetroBus operators, mechanics and other support staff members. Some of our team members volunteered to pick up operators trapped at home so they could get to work for the region.

The post Metro Transit: Keeping the Region Moving appeared first on Metro Transit – Saint Louis.

To honor this amazing achievement, Metro team members and customers showered Bruce with an overwhelming amount of love and appreciation. He was surprised with balloons, signs, cheers and a celebratory crowd at stops along his normal Tuesday bus route. He finished his shift with a bigger celebration where his closest friends, family, and colleagues, greeted him with cheers when he turned in for the day.

Reflecting on the impact of his work, Bruce shared, “I enjoy helping people that need help. It’s not just a job, it’s a responsibility.” His words highlight the compassion, dedication and integrity that drives the team at Metro Transit.

Bruce is an inspiration. For 50 years, he has served his community, traveling thousands of miles and touching thousands of lives – each day coming with an assortment of new faces, new challenges, and an unwavering commitment to keeping our region on the move.

Thank you, Bruce, for your hard work, kindness, and for being the very best of Metro Transit. Here’s to many more miles ahead!

Click here for a photo slideshow from Bruce’s special day.

The post Honoring Operator Bruce for 50 Years of Service with Metro Transit appeared first on Metro Transit – Saint Louis.

“Our frontline employees and their negotiating team with ATU Local 788 worked tirelessly for these contracts, and we are very grateful they have now been ratified by both the members and the full Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners,” said Taulby Roach, President and CEO of Bi-State Development, which operates Metro Transit for the region. “We are all ready to move forward so we can focus on better serving our community with a renewed sense of pride and purpose.”

The agreements, approved by ATU members on Monday, August 7, call for pay increases of 3% this year and 3% next year with a $7,000 signing bonus. The collective bargaining agreements cover approximately 1,100 employees. A portion of the signing bonus would go into employees’ 401(k) retirement plans. The salary increases are in addition to a 5% increase retroactive to July 1, 2022, that the two sides agreed on last fall, which set the stage for contract talks to continue on a longer-term deal. The previous contracts covering MetroBus and MetroLink operators, maintenance workers, and clerical workers expired in June 2022.

The new agreements further stipulate the terms of the ratification bonus, noting that $3,000 of it can be added to a paycheck or can be placed in a 401k tax-advantaged retirement account, while the remaining $4,000 will go toward a 401k tax-advantaged retirement account set up by Bi-State Development. The 401k yearly contributions are in addition to the covered members’ regular pension contributions. In addition to base wage increases, the contract offers new pay differentials that could increase pay by up to 7% for qualified employees. Two-thirds of all MetroBus and MetroLink operators currently qualify for at least one pay differential.  The advantages spelled out in the Operator and Maintenance contract are part of Metro’s initiative to provide a competitive wage and benefit package that significantly increases operator take-home pay and accelerates the steps and progression to top salary.

“I would like to thank the members of ATU Local 788, my ATU negotiating team and Metro for working with us after a long struggle in getting this contract across the finish line,” said Reginald M. Howard, ATU Local 788 President BA.

“The ATU Local 788 negotiating team put a considerable amount of time and effort into working with us on these contracts, and we are pleased with the outcome of those negotiations that will strengthen our ability to retain and attract the best team members possible to safely serve our customers with higher quality service,” said Chuck Stewart, Chief Operating Officer for Metro Transit. “We value the hard work our team members deliver every day to serve this community and look forward to working together under the new agreements so we can put the focus back on our customers who rely on public transit.”

The post New Labor Contract Ratified by Metro Transit and ATU appeared first on Metro Transit – Saint Louis.

Secretary Buttigieg was joined by several federal, state and regional leaders, including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Congresswomen Nikki Budzinski and Cori Bush, St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, East St. Louis Mayor Charles Powell III, and Bi-State Development Board Chair Herb Simmons. The group enjoyed a tour of the Illinois MetroLink Facility led by Bi-State Development President & CEO Taulby Roach, where they learned what happens behind the scenes to keep our MetroLink trains moving. They saw a MetroLink car that has more than 2.1 million miles logged on it and another that has been in service 1.2 million miles. Every MetroLink car in the fleet has logged more than a million miles – a remarkable achievement that is a testament to the amazing work of our maintenance teams.

The Secretary and the group boarded one of those million-mile train cars to head to the Emerson Park Transit Center, where a lot of updates have taken place or are underway such as the recent completion of a transit stop transformation and the construction of a new $13.5 million Public Safety Center. This station is also among one of the first four stations that will receive new fare gates and fencing through the Secure Platform Plan.

During a news conference at the Emerson Park Transit Center, Secretary Buttigieg officially announced $27,675,000 in federal emergency disaster relief funding for Metro Transit. This funding will support our ongoing recovery efforts following last summer’s devastating flash flooding.

“It feels like every week, we are hearing about a new flood or storm or drought or wildfire or heatwave, or other extreme event, and since we are seeing this with our own eyes we know, as leaders, our duty includes doing something about it,” said Secretary Buttigieg. “In terms of our transportation work, that means supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts and it means ensuring that our infrastructure is built to withstand the extreme weather that is coming more frequently.”

“All of these efforts mean cleaner air, lower emissions and a new generation of good-paying jobs. So as East St. Louis and other communities all around this region, and all around this country, are continuing to rebuild and recover, we want you to know that we are with you every step of the way. We understand the power of good transportation policy.”

The news conference also highlighted another award for Metro Transit of $196.2 million in federal grant funding that was announced in May to replace aging MetroLink light rail cars. Thirty train cars in MetroLink’s fleet have been in service for 30 years since the opening of MetroLink on July 31, 1993, and they are reaching the end of their operational life and are scheduled for replacement.

“This successful grant award shows a unified legislative delegation, working together to benefit Missouri and Illinois. Additionally, the Federal Transit Administration has once again stepped forward to advance transit in the St. Louis region,” said Taulby Roach, Bi-State Development President and CEO.

Check out the slideshow below for more images from Secretary Buttigieg’s visit.

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These operators represent the very best of our organization. MetroBus Operator Robert Dale consistently scores high marks in the areas of attendance, safety, on-time performance and customer feedback. In 2021, he had a 95.32% on-time-performance, and is in the top ranks among all MetroBus operators in mileage with zero preventable accidents and customer satisfaction.

Metro Call‑A‑Ride Operator Todd Troppmann is one of the highest-performing line instructors for Call‑A‑Ride and was recognized as a 2022 Call‑A‑Ride Operator of the Year. His positive outlook supports his work as a line instructor, operator and resource for fellow van operators and the Metro Call‑A‑Ride Dispatch team.

MetroLink Operator Ida Wicker has been with MetroLink since 2000, and has served as a MetroLink Operator for the last 10 years. Throughout her tenure, Ida has excelled in the areas of attendance and performance, and delivers a fantastic work ethic while serving customers. She regularly supports the team and the community by making herself available to work overtime on an ongoing basis.

“Despite countless challenges these past two years, transit operators have provided critical public transportation services in every county, every single day in Missouri,” commented Kimberly Cella, executive director of the Missouri Public Transit Association. “This would not be possible without the dedication of hundreds of operators, many of whom go way beyond the call of duty to assist riders. They leave lasting impressions on those within the communities they serve, but their stories often go unnoticed by the masses. This award aims to recognize them for their dedication.”

To learn more about the Missouri Public Transit Association and its work, visit www.mopublictransit.org.

Pictured – Left to Right: Taulby Roach, BSD President & CEO; Todd Troppmann,  Metro Call‑A‑Ride; Ida Wicker, MetroLink; Charles Stewart, Metro Transit Executive Director (Not pictured – Robert Dale, MetroBus)

The post Missouri Public Transit Association Honors Three Metro Transit Operators appeared first on Metro Transit – Saint Louis.

Our operators are our heroes. We are proud to have them on our team, and we are thankful for their commitment to the community.

They responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with resolve and dedication, continuing their important work to provide essential transportation for everyone in the St. Louis region during a uniquely challenging period. We couldn’t get where we need to go without them, and we cannot say thank you enough.

Tune into our social media pages throughout the day today as we share the love of our operators with attractions, businesses and people throughout the region.

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Have a positive story to share with one of our operators? We want to hear it! Email nextstop@metrostlouis.org or send us a message on social media.

Next time you see a driver, stop and thank them for what they do. And take a moment to watch this thank you message from some of our team members and leadership:

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From left to right: Jared, Jordan, Leroy and Tim

We join other organizations throughout the country this month to celebrate the service and sacrifice of our veterans by highlighting four veterans we are very lucky to have as part of our Metro Transit team: Jared, Jordan, Leroy and Tim. In addition to their military service, all four have another thing in common – they are all Transit Service Managers.

Transit Service Managers play a critical role in keeping the Metro Transit system running safely and smoothly. For our MetroBus and MetroLink operators, they are an important resource to answer questions, assist with operations and quickly resolve service issues, like mapping out turning directions and instructions for unexpected detours. For our riders, Transit Service Managers can be found throughout the transit system to provide bus and train information, address concerns and complaints, and help everyone get to their destination. Our Transit Service Managers are also qualified to operate MetroBus and MetroLink vehicles, and you can often find them behind the wheel when they are needed.

Get to know our team members more in our Q&A below.

Jared: Transit Service Manager – Light Rail Controller

Jared joined the United States Marine Corps in 1987 and deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm as a Hawk Operator. He has worked at Metro Transit for 23 years.

What energizes you at work?
What keeps me going is the fact that I know our community is moving because of us. People have to get to work, people have to get to the grocery store to feed their children and they rely on Metro to do that.

What do you like about the St. Louis area?
There are a lot of things to do in the Metro area. We have everything downtown and on the Missouri side. There’s even tons to do on the Illinois side of the river.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I’m a pastor in Cahokia, Illinois, so that keeps me busy outside of work.

Jordan: Transit Service Manager – Bus Operations

Jordan was an Aviation Boatswain Handler on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz from 2005-2009. He did did two West-Pac/Persian Gulf deployments, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. This December he will celebrate working at Metro for 12 years.

What energizes you at work?
If something exciting is happening on the system or if there is a lot happening in a day. Helping people get where they need to go makes me happy.

What do you like about the St. Louis area?
It has a small town vibe so you can get to know a lot of people but has the benefit of having big sports teams in town. I also like the art and music.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to run, my son and I run together every day. We like to play music, I play guitar and my kids are musicians. Going to the high school football games is fun too, that’s mostly it besides hanging out with my family.

Leroy: Transit Service Manager – Light Rail Controller

Leroy was a Petty Officer 2nd Class (YN2) and served in the United States Navy from 1990-1995. He was stationed in Washington, D.C. at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, aboard the USS Forrestal (CV 59) and the USS South Carolina (CGN 37). Leroy worked at Metro for 17 years previously, and then rejoined the team in February.

What energizes you at work?
Working with the people, we have a great team here. The job keeps me energized and interacting with everyone here. I get to come in and control the trains but we try to have a lot of fun when we can.

What do you like about the St. Louis area?
Family – I’m a mama’s boy and I’ve realized I’m getting older so I need to spend as much time with my parents as I can. My grandkids and the rest of the family are here too so I enjoy spending time with them.

Tim: Transit Service Manager – Bus Operations

Tim was a Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in September of 1980 and was a Communications Specialist Radioman. He made over six major deployments to the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Indian Ocean and other destinations. He held the highest security clearance of Top Secret SPECAT, and communicated with top officials both foreign and domestic. He has worked at Metro for 8 years, and started out as a MetroBus Operator.

What energizes you at work?
A passion to support and serve people, helping people move forward throughout our region is one of the things that really helps me remain motivated. I enjoy knowing that I have an integral role in providing people with transportation at a reasonable price.

What do you like about the St. Louis area?
I like St. Louis overall because it’s a very diverse town and it’s a sports friendly town, I’m a big sports guy so that’s nice. I enjoy having all four seasons, I like the weather year around. There’s always good, equal opportunities around here.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I spend a majority of my time with my family, I’m very family oriented. I have adult kids and a beautiful wife so we spend time together traveling, being active, being involved with different activities, along with our spiritual practices.

Our team members work hard to keep our region moving every single day. From operators to customer service, maintenance to mechanics, and operations to public safety, we bring the best of the best together to bring progress, collaboration and innovation to our communities. 

We’re excited to add more people to our Metro Transit team. If you enjoy serving the community and helping people comes naturally to you, click here to apply for one of our open positions.

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Left: MetroBus Operator Roosevelt; Right: MetroBus Operator Lawrence

In honor of Veteran’s Day this week, we are excited to introduce you to two of our veteran team members, Roosevelt and Lawrence – who are also veterans of our nation’s armed forces.

We are fortunate and humbled to have hundreds of veterans on the Metro Transit and BSD team. They have brought their commitment to duty and service from the armed services to our organization, where they continue to serve their neighbors and improve the quality of life for everyone in our community. 

Get to know Roosevelt and Lawrence more in our Q&A below.

Roosevelt – U.S. Army Veteran

Roosevelt was a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army as a Radar Repairman on the Patriot Missile System. He was stationed in Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, along with other locations. He is currently a MetroBus Operator and has been working for Metro for 24 years.

What energizes you at work?
Serving the public, there’s a lot of good people on my runs so I like serving them and no trip is the same.

What do you like about the St. Louis area?
You can wake up every day and enjoy something different.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to go walking and keep the spirits up. Sometimes I like to go to the horse or dog races.

Lawrence – U.S. Navy Veteran

Lawrence was a Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy and worked as a Boatswain Mate in the Persian Gulf War. He also spent time in Japan and traveled throughout Southeast Asia on the flagship of the Seventh Fleet, the U.S.S. Blueridge. He has been a MetroBus Operator for 7 years.

What energizes you at work?
I prefer work out of the office, I’ve had a lot of jobs driving vehicles so I like being entrusted with the responsibility to go out get the job done and get back safe.

What do you like about the St. Louis area?
I’m from the Tower Grove South area so I really like that neighborhood.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I try to go walking and mainly spend time with the family and grandkids.

Our team members work hard to keep our region moving every single day. From operators to customer service, maintenance to mechanics, and operations to public safety, we bring the best of the best together to bring progress, collaboration and innovation to our communities. 

We’re excited to add more people like Roosevelt and Lawrence to our Metro Transit team. If you enjoy serving the community and helping people comes naturally to you, click here to apply for one of our open positions.

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