Officials Celebrate Completion of $192 Million MetroLink Extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

Governor JB Pritzker, St. Clair County leaders, transportation officials, project partners and community stakeholders today celebrated the completion of construction on the MetroLink Extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. The milestone marks the culmination of a transformative $192 million multimodal investment designed to strengthen regional connectivity, expand transportation options and support long-term economic growth throughout St. Clair County and the bi-state region.

During the celebration, more than 100 attendees heard formal remarks from state, regional and local leaders before participating in a ribbon cutting at the new MidAmerica St. Louis Airport MetroLink Station. Dignitaries then boarded an inaugural ride along the completed MetroLink extension.

The three-part project includes a $154 million, 5.2-mile extension of MetroLink from the Shiloh-Scott Transit Center to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, $32 million in new roadway infrastructure and a $6 million, 4.5-mile extension of the MetroBikeLink Trail. Together, these improvements create a more connected transportation network for transit riders, cyclists, motorists, airport travelers and employers throughout the region.

The MetroLink extension features a new station located directly across from the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport terminal and parking lot and represents the first full MetroLink expansion in approximately 20 years. Upon opening for revenue service in the coming months, the extension will serve as MetroLink’s 39th station and position the St. Louis region among the few transit systems in the nation offering a direct rail connection between two airports through MetroLink’s 43-mile light rail system linking MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The site features “Taking Flight” a large-scale sculpture by artist Dale Rogers of Massachusetts, depicting five 12-foot gulls in flight that greet riders as they arrive at the station.

Roadway improvements include a new 2.4-mile access roadway that extends from Rieder Road to Airport Boulevard, connecting to Interstate 64 and offering a secondary entryway into the airport, and a 1/3-mile extension of Rieder Road from Wherry Road to Scott Air Force Base’s Cardinal Creek Gate that will provide more direct access.

The project was funded through a partnership between the State of Illinois and the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD), including $127 million from the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program and $65 million from SCCTD. The project was fully funded with no additional cost to taxpayers, completed without federal funding and delivered on time.

“This project is much more than a transit expansion,” said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Chairman. “It is an investment in our communities, workforce and future. By connecting MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Scott Air Force Base, employers and neighborhoods to the region’s transit network, we are creating new opportunities for residents while positioning St. Clair County for continued economic growth. This project shows what can happen when state, local and regional partners come together around a shared vision. It also would not have been possible without the skilled labor trades and construction professionals whose expertise, dedication and hard work made this project a reality.”

Beyond its transportation benefits, the project is expected to drive economic growth throughout the region. Designed with infill development potential along the alignment, the extension creates new opportunities for investment near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport while strengthening access to Scott Air Force Base, local employers and future development sites. The project also builds upon SCCTD’s existing annual economic impact of $129.5 million in St. Clair County and supports future growth throughout the region.

A large majority of project contracts were awarded locally, helping reinvest millions of dollars back into the regional economy while supporting local contractors, union labor and disadvantaged business enterprises. The project also improves access to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and Scott Air Force Base, two of the region’s most significant economic assets and employment centers.

“This project demonstrates what can happen when a bold vision is backed by strong partnerships and a commitment to follow through,” said Ken Sharkey, managing director of the St. Clair County Transit District. “A tremendous amount of planning, coordination and hard work went into making this extension a reality. Today, we celebrate the completion of a project that improves connectivity, expands transportation choices and creates opportunities that will benefit residents, employers and the entire region for decades to come.”

The multimodal project was designed, bid and constructed through five separate construction packages involving dozens of contractors, subcontractors and partners. The collaborative approach fostered strong participation from disadvantaged business enterprises and helped ensure project investments remained in the local economy. Key project partners include the St. Clair County Transit District, Illinois Department of Transportation, Bi-State Development/Metro Transit, St. Clair County, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Gonzalez Companies and the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council, as well as dozens of prime and subcontractors. The project also included coordination with American Indian tribes and archaeological work to ensure culturally and historically significant resources were identified and preserved.

Construction on the MetroLink extension is complete and testing is underway. Revenue service is anticipated to begin in the coming months. A task order has been approved by SCCTD to extend the MetroBikeLink Trail the final 0.7 miles to the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport MetroLink Station, with construction expected to be completed within a year.

To learn more about the project, visit www.scctd.org/midamerica-st-louis-airport-metrolink-extension-2/.