Discover how Citizens for Modern Transit and AARP St. Louis are transforming transit stops into vibrant community spaces with seating, lighting, greenery, and artwork through “The Story of a Bench” placemaking program.
The Goal is to Help Build Better Bus Stops Through the Addition of a Basic Amenity – a Bench
ST. LOUIS (April 21, 2025) … Hundreds of thousands of area residents pass through MetroBus and MetroLink stops each year to get where they need to go. In recent years, Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) and AARP in St. Louis have been working to transform places transit riders simply pass through in route to their next destination into colorful, engaging corridors – with seating, lighting, greenery and artwork – to help cultivate community and enhance rider experiences. Building on the success of these larger scale Transit Stop Transformation Projects, CMT and AARP in St. Louis are now launching “The Story of a Bench” placemaking program. The goal is to help build better bus stops through the addition of a basic amenity – a bench. Sites for the first two bench installations have been selected with the intent of placing a minimum of five benches in the program’s inaugural year. Bench sponsorship opportunities are available.
“Countless bus stops in the bi-state region lack any type of amenities, and we want to create space for riders to be able to sit back, relax and unwind while waiting on the bus,” commented Kimberly Cella, executive director of CMT. “The concept is simple, and the cost is minimal, but we believe the impact will be profound.”
“The Story of the Bench” program benches will all be placed at bus stops lacking existing amenities. Each will be a red, all-weather, 6-foot-long bench featuring the slogan “Enjoy the Ride,” along with a customized plaque listing community sponsors and a QR code connecting riders to a survey where they can chronicle the impacts associated with the establishment of much-needed seating. The first benches will be installed in partnership with St. Clair County Transit District at MetroBus Stop #11303 – McDonald’s and #11223 – Walgreens, located at 2600 N. Illinois Street and 2598 N. Illinois Street, respectively, in Swansea, Ill. These stops are serviced by the #16 St. Clair Square MetroBus route, which also serves Belleville, Fairview Heights and Collinsville. The benches will be installed in late May or early June.
CMT and AARP in St. Louis are currently seeking additional partners – including businesses, organizations, municipalities, community groups and individuals – willing to support the installation of “The Story of a Bench” program benches at bus stops community wide. An investment of between $4,000 to 5,000 is needed per bus stop to cover the cost of each bench installation. To learn more about the possible partnerships, visit www.cmt-stl.org or call 314.231.7272.
Citizens for Modern Transit is the St. Louis region’s transit advocacy organization. Established in 1985 to help bring light rail to St. Louis, CMT’s mission is focused on championing, challenging, encouraging and advocating for public transit in an effort to drive economic growth and improve quality of life. To help support this mission, the organization works to develop ridership programming, transform spaces around transit stops, help secure local and federal transit funding, serve as a strong and effective voice on transit-related issues and opportunities, and ensure safe, convenient, user-friendly and affordable access to the area’s integrated public transportation system. To learn more, visit www.CMT-STL.org or follow the organization on Facebook, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.
AARP in St. Louis
AARP in St. Louis is the local connection for AARP – the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people to choose how they live as they age. Locally this is done through virtual & in-person engagement opportunities, legislative efforts on the local, state and federal level, educational resources, and volunteer opportunities. Advocating for and supporting efforts that contribute to creating a lifelong community is at the core of what we do in the St. Louis region. www.aarp.org/stlouis
Transit stop transformation, community placemaking, St. Louis transit projects, public art, urban revitalization, transit corridors, community engagement, pedestrian improvements, MetroBus, MetroLink, “The Story of a Bench”
#TransitTransformation #CommunityPlacemaking #StLouisTransit #UrbanRevitalization #PublicArt #MetroBus #MetroLink #TheStoryOfABench #UrbanCommunity #TransitHubs
