Rail

St. Louis Loop Trolley back in operation

Aug. 4, 2022

Aug. 4 marks the first day of regular operation in more than two years.

Bi-State Development Agency will officially begin operations on the Loop Trolley on Aug. 4 following final approval to restart service by the Loop Trolley Transportation development District.

The Missouri State Safety Oversight Committee, St. Louis Metro Transit and others also gave their approval for the restart of the Loop Trolley to move forward after passing safety requirements, conducting safety testing on the trolley route as well as completing operator training – both took place between July 27 through Aug. 3.

Service on the 2.2-mile Loop Trolley has been suspended since July 2020 due to the pandemic. The line’s opening in 2018 was made possible in part with federal funds and the Federal Transit Administration said service needed to resume or the city of St. Louis would be required to pay the federal portion of the project cost back; a total that exceeded $37 million.

An agreement reached in February 2022 placed operation of the Loop Trolley in the hands of Bi-State Development through June 30, 2025. Initially, Bi-State Development will operate the Loop Trolley as part of an initial pilot program. A single trolley will operate Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The trolley will be free through Oct. 30 and riders can board at any of the route’s 10 stops.

Bi-State Development explains it is committed to getting the trolley system running again to establish a continuity of reliable service and to make sure it is a safe operation.

Following the pilot program, the trolley vehicles will undergo annual inspections and safety certifications and maintenance projects will be performed during the winter in preparation for service to start again in the spring of 2023.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.