Metro

What Metro does

Metro Transit is the public transit authority serving the St. Louis metropolitan area across Missouri and Illinois, operating as a Bi-State Development Enterprise. It runs an integrated multi-modal system comprising MetroBus (50+ fixed routes using diesel, battery-electric, and hybrid vehicles), MetroLink (46 miles of light rail across 38 stations on Red and Blue lines, operating daily from before 5 a.m. to about 1 a.m.), Metro Call-A-Ride paratransit (120+ accessible vans), and Via Metro STL microtransit (on-demand shared rides in parts of St. Louis County via partnership with Via). The system covers 500+ square miles with a fleet of approximately 400 buses and 83 light rail vehicles, supplemented by 24 free Park-Ride lots and Bike & Ride accommodations.

Metro's revenue model is a hybrid of farebox revenue (base fares of $1.00 bus / $2.50 rail, with 7-day, 30-day, and $175 semester passes), federal/state/local government funding (FTA grants, Illinois state funding, Proposition M), advertising, and partnership revenue (Destination Deals with local merchants). Pricing is differentiated by customer type (reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, Medicare cardholders, and children 5–12; free rides for ADA paratransit-eligible passengers via the On The Way With ADA program). The customer base is broad and horizontal — general commuters, college students (five universities participate in U-Pass programs), ADA-protected riders, tourists, and corporate employers — with no single customer dominating revenue.

Metro's technology stack includes the Transit app for trip planning and mobile fares, the Ride On smart card and Tap & Ride contactless payment system with fare capping, a Trip Planner powered by Google Transit, and free Wi-Fi on all vehicles via T-Mobile. The agency is undergoing a major capital modernization: a phased next-generation fare system with automated security gates activated at all 38 stations in 2026, a Secure Platform Plan adding gates and surveillance across the network, a partnership with Siemens for 55 new light rail vehicles (first deliveries 2027), a 5.2-mile rail extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (2026), and electric bus charging infrastructure. Reciprocal pass acceptance with Madison County Transit and St. Clair County Transit District extends effective regional reach.

Name

Metro

Legal name

Metro Transit (A Bi-State Development Enterprise)

Website

https://metrostlouis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Metro Transit is the public transit authority for the St. Louis bi-state region, operating MetroBus, MetroLink light rail, Metro Call-A-Ride paratransit, and Via Metro STL microtransit across Missouri and Illinois. It serves general commuters, university students, ADA riders, and visitors through an integrated, government-funded multi-modal system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation Services

NAICS

Urban Transit Systems (4851), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Other Urban Transit Systems (485119), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Mixed Mode Transit Systems (485111)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Metro/Urban Rail Operators (Integrated Multimodal Agencies) (TLAFAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Demand Microtransit & Vanpool (App-Dispatched Shuttles) (THAIAGAF), Park-and-Ride / Express Commuter Bus Operators (TLAFAGAF), Suburban/Regional Commuter Bus Operators (TLAFAGAC)

Keywords

• Public transit services
• Light rail system
• Fixed-route bus service
• Paratransit transportation
• Microtransit on-demand

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Transit Fares: Metro generates revenue through passenger fares including cash fares, passes (daily, weekly, monthly, semester), and mobile tickets sold through the Transit app and Ride On platform. Fares vary by mode (bus vs rail) and customer type (full vs reduced).
2. Government Funding: Public transit authority funded by federal grants (FTA), state funding (Illinois), and local Proposition M funds in St. Clair County.
3. Advertising: Revenue from advertising opportunities on Metro vehicles, stations, and digital platforms.
4. Destination Deals Program: Partnership program with merchants offering discounts to Metro riders, creating community engagement and potential promotional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Metro Transit operates an integrated multi-modal public transportation system serving the bi-state St. Louis metropolitan region across Missouri and Illinois. Its core services are MetroBus (50+ fixed bus routes using diesel, battery-electric, and hybrid buses across 500+ square miles), MetroLink light rail (46 miles of track across 38 stations on the Red and Blue lines), Metro Call-A-Ride paratransit (120+ accessible vans for ADA-qualified riders), and Via Metro STL on-demand microtransit in partnership with Via. Supporting offerings include Park-Ride facilities with 24 free lots, Bike & Ride accommodation, free Wi-Fi powered by T-Mobile, and digital tools such as the Transit app, Ride On smart card, Tap & Ride contactless payment, and Fare Capping.

Product overview

Metro Transit operates as an integrated multi-modal public transportation system serving the St. Louis metropolitan region across Missouri and Illinois. The core offerings consist of MetroBus (fixed-route bus service with 50+ routes using diesel, battery-electric, and hybrid vehicles), MetroLink (light rail system with 38 stations across 46 miles on Red and Blue lines), and Metro Call-A-Ride (paratransit service with 120+ accessible vans). Supporting services include Via Metro STL (on-demand microtransit in partnership with Via), Park-Ride facilities (24 free parking locations), Bike & Ride accommodation, and Free Wi-Fi on all vehicles powered by T-Mobile. Digital tools include the Transit App and Ride On App for trip planning and mobile fare payment, the Trip Planner powered by Google Transit, the Ride On reloadable smart card, and features like Tap & Ride (contactless payment) and Fare Capping (automatic savings). The system integrates with Madison County Transit and St. Clair County Transit District for regional pass acceptance, and is undergoing major infrastructure upgrades including a Next Generation Fare System with automated security gates, a Secure Platform Plan for station security, electric bus charging infrastructure, and a fleet replacement partnership with Siemens for 55 new light rail vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ride On Card: Reloadable smart card for fare payment on Metro transit system with Tap & Ride functionality
• MetroGo
• Via Metro STL

Products and services

• MetroBus
• MetroLink
• Metro Call-A-Ride
• Via Metro STL
• Park-Ride
• Bike & Ride
• On The Way With ADA
• Student Passes (U-Pass and Semester Pass)
• Next-Generation Fare System (Ride On Card, Tap & Ride, Fare Capping, Automated Security Gates)
• Destination Deals

Quantifiable outcome

• Free parking at 24 Park-Ride lots saves riders parking costs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ViacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Via to offer Via Metro STL on-demand microtransit service covering North, South, and West St. Louis County. Via's technology enables shared-ride matching and app-based booking for $2 per trip within service zones.
• T-MobilecoreTechnology or IntegrationT-Mobile powers free Wi-Fi on all MetroBus, MetroLink, and Metro Call-A-Ride vehicles. Metro secured $1.3 million in FTA grants plus matching funds from St. Clair County ($63,464) and Proposition M ($253,855) for the Wi-Fi infrastructure.
• SiemenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Siemens to design and manufacture 55 new light rail vehicles (LRVs) to replace the current MetroLink fleet. First deliveries expected in 2027, with design phase conducted in California.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationTrip Planner powered by Google Transit, enabling route planning across Metro services through Google's transit data platform.
• Transit AppcoreTechnology or IntegrationTransit app is Metro's official mobile app for real-time trip planning, bus tracking, and mobile fare purchase. Metro has integrated Via Metro STL booking into the Transit app for seamless multi-modal trips.
• Madison County Transit (MCT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional transit partnership accepting MCT Regional Passes on MetroLink and MetroBus, and MCT Senior/Half Fare IDs for reduced fare travel. MCT ADA Paratransit Free Ride ID accepted on Metro services.
• St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCCTD accepts Metro fare products and vice versa. SCCTD has transitioned passes to the new Metro fare system. SCCTD Senior Fixed Route Free Ride passes and ADA paratransit passes accepted on MetroLink and MetroBus.
• MidAmerica St. Louis AirportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Clair County Transit District project to extend MetroLink 5.2 miles from Shiloh-Scott Station to a new station at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Metro Transit (Minneapolis-St. Paul): Peer Midwest regional transit agency operating light rail, bus, and paratransit in the Twin Cities. Closely comparable multi-modal service mix, university pass programs, and microtransit strategy.
• Madison County Transit: Adjacent transit district in Illinois that accepts mutual fare products with Metro and provides regional bus service. Directly comparable in scale and bi-state cooperation model for cross-river St. Louis mobility.
• Kansas City Area Transportation Authority: Mid-sized Midwest urban transit agency operating bus, paratransit, and microtransit (RideKC) with similar population scale and multi-jurisdictional funding as Metro St. Louis.
• St. Clair County Transit District: Illinois transit partner that accepts Metro fares and is leading the MidAmerica Airport MetroLink extension. Comparable scope, funding structure, and bi-state coordination role.

Others

• Bi-State Development: Parent government entity governing Metro along with other regional development programs. Comparable as the organizational wrapper that channels public funding and political accountability for transit.
• Lyft: Private ride-hailing operator that competes with Metro for discretionary trips in the St. Louis region and is integrated via the Transit app. Comparable as a complementary/competitive urban mobility option.

Emerging players

• Via Transportation: Technology partner powering Via Metro STL microtransit service. Comparable as the operating microtransit platform behind Metro's on-demand zones, with broader deployments in other North American cities.

Broad incumbents

• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA): Large multi-modal transit authority operating bus, regional rail, subway, and paratransit. Comparable integrated multi-mode model and university pass programs, though in a denser, larger region.
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART): Large multi-modal transit agency operating light rail, bus, and paratransit in a Sun Belt metro. Comparable integrated bus/rail/paratransit model with similar fare-capping and modern fare system rollouts.
• Chicago Transit Authority: Larger Illinois transit agency operating Chicago's bus and 'L' rail system. Comparable in multi-modal integration, fare products, and ADA paratransit, but serves a much larger urban footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/STLMetro
• Facebookfacebook.com/STLMetro
• Instagraminstagram.com/stlmetro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metro