In February 2010, Metro's Board of Commissioners and the East-West Gateway Council of Government's Board of Directors officially adopted Metro's strategic plan for Moving Transit Forward. Metro is currently organizing the final report for a March 2010 public release and will continue presenting the plan in a presentation format to various leadership groups and St. Louis regional City Councils.

With its adoption, the plan can now be used by EWG in guiding transit expansion and funding decisions for the next thirty years. You can learn more about EWG's role in the process here. Our Metro long-range planners have determined that the 1-5 year action items can be initiated once additional local and federal resources are secured.  Of course, specific funding decisions are made through EWG, so any capital projects will be guided through EWG's planning and approval process.  The 1-5 year action plan includes:

• Restoration of services that were cut in March 2009, including returning MetroLink to peak operating times, restoring Metro Bus and Call-a-Ride service, and adding frequency to crowded MetroBus routes;
• Planning and engineering of a new light rail extension;
• Planning, design, and construction of 2 bus rapid transit routes;
• Implementing upgraded passenger amenities and technology, including: Smart Card technology, web applications that take advantage of Metro's Google Transit data feed and a better, more functional Metro website, and computer-aided dispatch/automated vehicle location technology to ensure better, more efficient service.

The 10- and 30-year portions of the plan cannot be accomplished without additional state and federal dollar support. The final report will include information about the financial support that will be required to complete each phase of the Moving Transit Forward plan, and you will find that information here once it is available. If you would like to be alerted when we post new information, you can follow us on Twitter, @STLTransitPlan.