College Transit Challenge Kicks Off Nov. 5 with Mascot Meetup
Five Area Colleges and Universities to Compete in Three-Day College Transit Challenge
Five area colleges and universities are preparing to face off in the 2026 College Transit Challenge, a three-day, region-wide competition designed to show students and campus communities just how far public transit can take them. The challenge runs Thursday, Nov. 5, through Saturday, Nov. 7, and is hosted by Citizens for Modern Transit in partnership with the St. Clair County Transit District and Metro Transit.
Mascot Meetup Kickoff Event – Thursday, Nov. 5
The competition begins with a Mascot Meetup at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Grand MetroLink Station. Representatives and mascots from all five institutions will gather with students and regional transit partners for remarks about the importance of transit access and the Metro U-Pass, followed by a group photo and a MetroLink ride to a kickoff celebration at Cobblestone STL on Laclede’s Landing. Bonus-point scavenger hunt missions will be revealed at the event, featuring food, drinks, goodie bags and prizes.
Register Today
Saint Louis University, WashU, the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Southwestern Illinois College and St. Louis Community College will compete for school bragging rights. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters can register at www.CollegeTransitChallenge.com under their school and earn points by riding MetroLink and MetroBus, visiting destinations throughout the region, completing scavenger hunt-style missions and posting about their experience.
“Public transit connects these campuses to jobs, entertainment, parks, cultural destinations and one another,” said Ken Sharkey, managing director of St. Clair County Transit District. “The College Transit Challenge makes that connection tangible and gives campus communities a fun reason to discover new places without a car.”
Earn Points for Your School
Registered participants will receive text messages with challenge updates. Transit trips will be tracked by text, and the online leaderboard will be updated daily. The winning school will be announced Monday, Nov. 9.
Points can be earned by:
- Registering and tracking MetroLink and MetroBus trips by text
- Attending the kickoff event on Nov. 5
- Completing scavenger hunt-style missions
- Posting about their transit experience during the challenge
Possible scavenger hunt destinations include the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, the Delmar Loop, Downtown Belleville, City Foundry STL, St. Louis Union Station, Busch Stadium, Enterprise Center and Metro-accessible trails and greenways, including the MetroBikeLink. Location-specific questions or photo requirements will be used to verify completed missions.
Participants can take part for 30 minutes or all three days, alone or with friends, before, between or after classes, and from anywhere on the Metro Transit system. Registered participants also can receive a “Public Transit” T-shirt in a color specific to their school, picked up on campus or at the mascot meetup on November 5, while supplies last.
“Public transit connects these campuses to jobs, entertainment, parks, cultural destinations and one another,” said Ken Sharkey, managing director of St. Clair County Transit District. “The College Transit Challenge makes that connection tangible and gives campus communities a fun reason to discover new places without a car.”
Students and staff who have not yet obtained a Metro U-Pass should check with their college or university about campus distribution. Additional challenge and point information, registration instructions and school-specific Metro U-Pass details are available at www.CollegeTransitChallenge.com.