SCCTD hosting June 27 grand opening of $6M, 4.5-mile MetroBikeLink trail extension
An aerial view of the MetroBikeLink Trail Extension to near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, with the trail at the left. (Courtesy SCCTD)
Trail is part of the MetroLink Expansion Project to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport
Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, local officials, stakeholders and residents will gather to celebrate the grand opening of the $6 million, 4.5-mile expansion of the MetroBikeLink Trail.
Those in attendance will hear formal remarks from officials before taking part in a ribbon cutting ceremony and getting to explore the new segment. Among those scheduled to share remarks are St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern, St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) Managing Director Ken Sharkey, SCCTD Board of Trustees Chair George Markezich. Other project partners, local officials, stakeholders, bike/transit riders and residents will also be on hand.
The event will be held at the Scott-Shiloh Transit Center (880 Metro Plaza Lane, Shiloh, IL 62221) and will include a ribbon cutting ceremony and inaugural bike ride.
The new trail segment runs parallel to the alignment from the existing bike path at Shiloh-Scott Transit Center to near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. It features scenic views, rolling inclines, three bridges, no stops and passes through Silver Creek Wetlands, home to native wildlife. The trail is ideal for cyclists looking to build speed and endurance.
The MetroBikeLink Trail is the spine of the MetroBikeLink System – consisting of 40 miles of interconnecting trails throughout St. Clair County. It runs adjacent to the MetroLink alignment for more than 18 miles between the Fairview Heights Transit Center to near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. It connects to seven Metro Transit Centers in five different communities – offering seamless integration of biking and transit use via the MetroLink, MetroBus and microtransit options like the SCCTD Flyer.
This milestone marks the completion of the first of three parts of the MetroLink Expansion Project to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, with associated roadway improvements opening in the coming weeks and the MetroLink extension anticipated to begin service in late summer.
To learn more about SCCTD’s MetroBikeLink System, visit www.scctd.org/metrobikelink.
Another aerial view of the MetroBikeLink Trail Extension to near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. (Courtesy SCCTD)
