Progressive Ribbon Cutting Set for Bus Bench Installations in St. Clair County
The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD), in partnership with Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), AARP in St. Louis and Metro Transit invite the area community to celebrate the unveiling of two new bus benches in St. Clair County during the Bus Bench Progressive Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. As part of CMT’s new placemaking program, The Story of a Bench, the day’s events will kick off at 10 a.m. at MetroBus Stop #12961 (505 S. 8th Street, East St. Louis, IL), before continuing on at 11 a.m. at MetroBus Stop #12985 (1110 Camp Jackson Road, Cahokia Heights, Il 62206). 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 of The Story of a Bench program was to place five benches each year at bus stops that lack existing amenities. These benches will be 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 6 and 7 this year with an additional two locations in the works.
Visit CMT’s website to learn more about The Story of a Bench program.