St. Clair County Transit District Board Approves Study for Trail Extension to Belle-Clair Fairgrounds

The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) Board of Trustees approved a feasibility study to connect SCCTD’s Orchard Loop Trail to the former Army Reserve Center and the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds. SCCTD is investing $22,500 in this study – which will be led by local engineering firm TWM – to examine the potential for a separate, off-road, 10-foot-wide trail connecting the existing SCCTD Orchard Loop Trail to these destinations.

The study will include an estimation of overall costs and required right away, coordination with utility companies to determine utility and drainage impacts, and identification of possible challenges tied to busy intersections, railroad crossings and other pinch points. It is expected to be completed in December 2025.

“The revitalization of the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds is ushering in a new era for our community by transforming the space into a vibrant hub and economic driving force for the region,” said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Board Chairman. “If this trail expansion becomes reality, we will be able to not only enhance access and connectivity but also provide residents and visitors with another outstanding amenity to enjoy for years to come.”

The first section of the MetroBikeLink System opened in 2002 and was comprised of a four-mile trail, extending from Southwestern Illinois College to the Belleville Transit Center. Since then, this section has expanded into what is known today as the 14-mile MetroBikeLink Trail, which serves as the main artery of the MetroBikeLink System. The trail runs adjacent to the MetroLink alignment from the Shiloh-Scott Transit Center to the Fairview Heights Transit Center, linking residents to six Metro Transit Centers in four different communities and offering seamless integration of biking and transit use via the MetroLink, MetroBus and microtransit service options like the SCCTD Flyer. Over the years, additional trails have been built by SCCTD, including the 4.7-mile SCCTD Orchard Loop Trail, 1.3-mile Engelmann Park Connector, 1-mile St. Ellen Park Trail and 3.5-mile Old Collinsville Road Trail. Several other trails are currently under design or construction – including the 5.2-mile SCCTD MetroBikeLink Trail from the Shiloh-Scott Metro Transit Center to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and the 0.75-mile Liberty Heights Trail set to open this fall. These pathways – along with the connecting trails from other municipalities – combine to provide over 39 miles of connected trails throughout St. Clair County.

Ken Sharkey, Managing Director of the St. Clair County Transit District added, “We continue to invest in the expansion of the MetroBikeLink System in an effort to further enhance regional connectivity and allow people to be able to get where they need and want to go. This is sure to include the revitalized armory facility and fairgrounds. The feasibility study is the first step in making it happen.”

To learn more about the St. Clair County Transit District and its ongoing efforts to provide safe, secure, cost-effective and convenient transportation options for area residents, visit www.scctd.org.