Citizens for Modern Transit, the regional transit advocacy organization, and AARP St. Louis are working to activate the space around a Maplewood MetroBus Stop with the help of the City of Maplewood, Citizens National Bank and KaBOOM!, a national non-profit that partners with communities to expand play opportunities for kids. This joint initiative, known as the “Transit Stop Transformation Project,” will convert the area at the southwest corner of Manchester Rd. and Marshall Ave. – adjacent to the Citizens National Bank parklet – into a fun, artistic space that encourages active play, cultivates community and increases transit use. Public meetings are being held Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Foundation Grounds Coffeehouse & Cafe (7298 Manchester Rd, Maplewood, MO 63143, directly across from site) to determine what the community would like to see at the site. Maplewood area residents, business leaders and transit riders are encouraged to attend or provide feedback via an online survey that can be found at www.cmt-stl.org or by clicking here.
The “Transit Stop Transformation Project” serves as an extension to Citizens for Modern Transit and AARP St. Louis’ ongoing efforts to raise awareness about “placemaking” around transit. This is a concept that transforms places people simply pass through in route to their next destination – like MetroLink and MetroBus stations – into active, engaging corridors that connect individuals and neighborhoods by offering access to products, services and green spaces.
“Over the last several years, CMT and AARP St. Louis, have hosted a series of Pop-up Metro Markets to help area residents experience what it would be like if they could meet friends for coffee, grab groceries or take time out to relax, unwind or play in the vacant spaces currently surrounding MetroLink Stations,” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “We are very excited to be teaming up with the City of Maplewood, Citizens National Bank and KaBOOM! to be able to take an element of the ‘pop-up’ experience and turn it into a permanent installment at the Maplewood MetroBus stop.”
The partners will use the feedback from the Oct. 15 and Oct. 16 public meetings and the insights from the online survey to develop two or more conceptual designs for the space. Each will be presented to the community and voted on before final decisions are made and construction commences. The “Transit Stop Transformation Project” at the Maplewood stop is expected to be completed in Spring 2020. To learn more, call Citizens for Modern Transit at (314) 231-7272 or visit www.cmt-stl.org.
Citizens for Modern Transit is a nonprofit, member supported organization that leads efforts for an integrated, affordable, and convenient public transportation system with light rail expansion as the critical component that will drive economic growth to improve quality of life in the St. Louis region.