Metro says BRT milestone, secure‑platform rollout bolster budget case; committee advances sales‑tax bills

Metro CEO Mr. Roach told the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Transportation and Commerce Committee on June 25 that the agency has cleared two planning hurdles for its bus rapid transit (BRT) effort and will begin rolling out a secure‑platform ticketing system this summer.

The presentation, given by Mr. Roach and CFO Tammy Paris, led the committee to advance two related public‑transit sales‑tax measures (board bills 52 and 53) out of committee with "do pass" recommendations. "We have maintained a average annual growth rate through eight fiscal years of 1.62%," Mr. Roach said as he framed the agency's operating pressures and revenue outlook.

Why it matters: Metro is seeking continued local operating support from the city, county and bi‑state partners to cover rising costs while finishing capital work. Mr. Roach said East‑West Gateway approved a locally preferred alternative for the BRT line and the Federal Transit Administration granted an extension for project development, both developments the agency called "huge" in advancing the project.

Metro said its secure‑platform plan — new gates and upgraded ticket vending machines with open‑loop mobile payments — will begin phased implementation in early July, after the July 4 holiday. Tammy Paris said the secure platform is expected to increase passenger revenue and the budget request to funding partners reflects a 1.5% operating increase to cover projected needs. "From '26 to '27 we have almost a $3.6 million increase or 18.4%' in passenger revenue," Paris told the committee, attributing that gain to secure‑platform implementation at initial stations.

Committee members pressed Metro on equity and costs. Alderwoman Schwitzer said any fare changes are a "red flag" and asked who will decide whether fares rise; Mr. Roach replied that fares have not been raised since 2014 and that any adjustment would follow a Title VI equity analysis and public outreach. "It requires a lot of vetting," he said, adding that the agency will take public input before any change.

The presentation also highlighted operations and workforce issues: Mr. Roach reported seven months of zero denials in paratransit (Call‑a‑Ride) service and an increase from about 5,000 to over 8,000 weekly trips — an increase officials said will put upward pressure on future budgets. Paris walked the committee through line‑item changes, including higher parts and casualty insurance costs, a fuel hedge program, and a one‑time accounting change that moved self‑insurance costs into a transfer line. She said depreciation rose notably because of the Mid‑America extension and other capital factors.

The committee had no public testimony on the sales‑tax bills and moved both measures out of committee. The clerk recorded the motion and the committee carried each motion by recorded 'I' votes.

What comes next: The bills will continue through the Board of Aldermen process. Metro said it will pursue the Title VI work and public engagement before proposing any fare changes and will phase the secure‑platform rollout across stations this summer.