Progressive Ribbon Cutting Set for Bus Bench Installations in Belleville

The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD), in collaboration with Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), AARP in St. Louis and Metro Transit invite the community to celebrate the unveiling of two new bus benches in St. Clair County during the Bus Bench Progressive Ribbon Cutting on Friday, March 13.

As part of CMT’s placemaking program, The Story of a Bench, the day’s events will kick off at 9 a.m. at MetroBus Stop #15715 (101 North Illinois Street, Belleville, Ill) and continue at 10 a.m. at MetroBus Stop #12170 (Scheel Street near Douglas, Belleville, Ill). Each stop will feature partners, stakeholders and riders gathering to celebrate these new amenities and share “The Story of a Bench,” highlighting the importance of comfort, accessibility and community connections in public transit spaces.

The program aims to gather and share narratives on how these benches positively influence riders and local communities, potentially sparking further investment in transit across the region. Even a basic amenity like a bench can significantly build support for transit, increase ridership and improve the rider experience, while also removing the stigma of the “forgotten” bus stop.

The goal is to place five benches each year at bus stops that lack existing amenities. The benches are branded with “Enjoy the Ride” and feature a QR code and web address linking to a survey where bench users and transit riders can share their stories. These installations will mark completion of benches 8 and 9. An additional six benches are in the works in Missouri and Illinois.