An idea to improve the rider experience at bus stops without seating—often referred to as “forgotten stops”—has quickly become a transformative regional initiative. In less than a year, Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) and AARP in St. Louis, together with St. Clair County Transit District, Metro Transit and local government officials, have installed nine bus benches across the bi-state area as part of the “Story of a Bench” Placemaking Program, including two unveiled in Belleville during a Progressive Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on March 13.
Project partners made formal remarks before the official ribbon cuttings took place starting at 9 am. The first was held at MetroBus Stop #15715, located one block from the Belleville Town Square at 101 N Illinois Street, followed by one at MetroBus Stop #12170, located in the Hexenbukel Neighborhood at the corner of Scheel Street and Douglas Avene. MetroBus Stop #15715 is served by the #1 Main Street–State Street route and MetroBus Stop #12170 is served by routes #1 Main Street–State Street, #15 Belleville–O’Fallon, #16 St. Clair Square and #23 Belleville–College.
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