Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri

Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri includes road, rail, ship, and air transportation modes connecting the city of St. Louis with surrounding communities in Greater St. Louis, national transportation networks, and international locations. The city of St. Louis also supports a public transportation network that includes bus and commuter rail service.

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Roads and highways

The city of St. Louis contains four interstate highways that connect to a larger regional highway system. Interstate 70, an east-west highway, runs roughly from the northwest corner of the city to downtown St. Louis. The north-south Interstate 55 enters the city at the south near the Carondelet neighborhood and runs toward the center of the city, and both Interstate 64 and Interstate 44 enter the city on the west, running parallel to the east. All four interstates merge south of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and leave the city on the Poplar Street Bridge into Illinois.

The city of St. Louis also has several major roadways, including the north-south Memorial Drive, located on the western edge of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and parallel to Interstate 70, the north-south streets of Grand Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue, both of which run the length of the city, and Gravois Road, which runs from the southeastern portion of the city to downtown and formerly was signed as U.S. Route 66. An east-west roadway that connects the city with surrounding communities is Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, which carries traffic from the western edge of the city to downtown.

Airports

No public airports exist within the city limits, although the city of St. Louis owns and operates the largest airport in the area, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in nearby northwest St. Louis County. Passenger air travel at Lambert is provided to more than 80 destinations by Air Canada, Air Choice One, AirTran, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Cape Air, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, and USA3000 Airlines.[1] Air cargo transportation is also available at Lambert and at other nearby regional airports, including MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Spirit of St. Louis Airport, and St. Louis Downtown Airport.

Heavy rail

Freight rail in the city of St. Louis is owned by BNSF Railway, which operates two railroad yards in the city. One is located on the western border of the city in the Lindenwood Park neighborhood, while the other is located south of the St. Louis Union Station (although the station no longer is connected to the rail network). The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis operates rail bridges and tunnels in the area, including those used by commuter and passenger rail service.

Passenger rail service in the city is provided by Amtrak, and passenger trains stopping in the city use the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center downtown. Amtrak trains terminating in the city include the Lincoln Service to Chicago and the Missouri River Runner to Kansas City, Missouri, while trains stopping in the city of St. Louis include the Texas Eagle to San Antonio, Texas or Chicago.

Light rail

Light rail service in the city of St. Louis consists of two lines operating on double track servicing the same stations in the city, although branching to different destinations outside the city. Both lines enter the city north of Forest Park on the western edge of the city or on the Eads Bridge in downtown St. Louis to Illinois. All of the system track is in independent right of way, with both surface level and underground track in the city. All stations are independent entry, while all platforms are flush-level with trains. Rail service is provided by the Bi-State Development Agency (also known as Metro), which is funded by a sales taxes levied in the city and other counties in the region.[2] The Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center acts as the hub station in the city of St. Louis, linking the city's light rail system, local bus system, passenger rail service, and national bus service.

Bus service

Local bus service in the city of St. Louis is provided by the Bi-State Development Agency via MetroBus, with more than 75 routes connecting to MetroLink commuter rail transit and stops in the city and region. The city is also served by Madison County Transit, which connects downtown St. Louis to Madison County, Illinois. National bus service in the city is offered by Greyhound Lines and Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, with a station at the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Station, and Megabus, with a stop at St. Louis Union Station.

Taxicab service

Taxicab service in the city is provided by private companies regulated by the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission. Rates vary by vehicle type, size, passengers and distance, and by regulation all taxicab fares must be calculated using a taximeter and be payable in cash or credit card.[3] Solicitation by a driver is prohibited, although a taxicab may be hailed on the street or at a stand.

River transport

River transportation is available through the Port of St. Louis, which is 19.3 miles of riverbank on the Mississippi River that handles more than 32 million tons of freight annually.[4] The city of St. Louis is the third-largest inland port in the United States, with more than one hundred docking facilities for barge shipping and 16 public terminals on the river.[4]

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