RAISE Transit

In case you missed it this morning, CMT convened transit leaders from Austin, St. Louis and Kansas City to explore how messaging can build community support for transit projects and investment. Visit our website for a full recap on our blog as well as a video recording: https://cmt-stl.org/transit-leaders-share-lessons-in-trust-momentum-and-results/.

Thank you to Ron Forrest of Metro and formerly Metro Transit, Tom Gerend of the KC Streetcar and Tom Underwood of HDR for lending us your expertise this morning.

Everyone deserves to get where they’re going safely, whether they’re walking, biking, driving, or taking transit.

That’s why the City of St. Louis installed bump-outs downtown. These designs aren’t experimental or arbitrary; they’re widely used, evidence-based safety tools that shorten crossing distances, improve visibility, and slow turning vehicles. Quite simply, they save lives.

These improvements were not rushed. They were studied, publicly discussed, and funded through a deliberate process. They exist because too many people have been injured or killed downtown while trying to cross our streets.

They also align with the City’s recently adopted Transportation Mobility Plan, which places a strong emphasis on improving safety for all street users.

That’s what makes the recent removal of several bump-outs so concerning.

The congestion experienced during major events — when thousands of people drive downtown at the same time — is not surprising. But it is not evidence that safety infrastructure failed. It’s evidence that our transportation system cannot rely on everyone driving to the same place at the same time without delays.

We should not respond to a predictable traffic surge by removing proven safety measures.

If anything, moments like these highlight the need for more transportation options; better transit access, clearer wayfinding, and strategies that help people arrive without overwhelming our streets.

Safety cannot be conditional. It should not be compromised in response to temporary congestion, and it should not be reversed without data, transparency, or public input.

We urge the City to recommit to evidence-based safety improvements and to ensure that any changes to critical infrastructure are guided by data, community engagement, and a clear commitment to protecting human life.

Because no one should have to risk their safety just to cross the street.

This is very concerning

MO House Advances FY27 State Budget; Transit Funding Left Out - Missouri Public Transit Association Read more from MO House Advances FY27 State Budget; Transit Funding Left Out by Missouri Public Transit Association

🚶‍♂️🚴‍♀️🚌 Join RAISE Transit!

We’re a community-led group working for inclusive, safe, and equitable transit in St. Louis. Everyone is welcome!

💬 Come chat with us, share ideas, and get involved in shaping mobility in St. Louis.

📅 Every Monday • 6 PM CST

🔗 Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82220317436...

Meeting ID: 822 2031 7436
Passcode: 347906

Finish this sentence:

“Public transit in St. Louis would be better if ________.”

Keep it real. We’re listening.

There's still time!

We’ve broken down key takeaways and recommendations in our latest blog so you can understand what’s at stake in MoDOT’s Long-Range Transportation Plan and what we’re advocating for.

📖 Read the blog:
https://www.movingmissouri.org/final-comments-for-modots-long-range-planning/

Then take the next step: submit your own comments to MoDOT. Public input matters, and this is your chance to push for safer streets, better transit, and more equitable transportation options across Missouri.

Would you rather have:

A bus every 10 minutes on fewer routes

OR

A bus every 30 minutes on more routes?

No wrong answers — just curious where people land 👀

Where are you usually headed when you ride transit?

Work?
School?
Appointments?
Just getting around?

Every trip tells a story. What’s yours?

Transit riders know…

The stress of watching your bus almost pull away.
The relief when you catch it just in time.
The frustration when it’s late.
The peace of not having to drive.

What’s your most relatable transit moment?

Be honest:

What’s the one thing that would instantly make transit better for you in St. Louis?

More frequent buses?
Later service?
Safer stops?
Better connections?

Drop it below 👇

🚍 Transit Tuesday is next week, will we see you there?

Join transit riders, advocates, and organizations from across the state at the Capitol to speak directly with lawmakers about why transit matters.

With a 42% cut to state transit funding last year, and more cuts proposed this year, this legislative session is a critical moment to push for a system that actually works for all Missourians.

Sign up to attend (or participate virtually): https://mopublictransit.org/event/transit-tuesday-at-the-capitol-2/

Why This State Is Fighting To Get Its First 'Active Transportation Plan' — Streetsblog USA And why other states should work to adopt or update plans of their own.