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Forest Park–DeBaliviere station

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Coordinates: 38°38′52″N 90°17′05″W / 38.647813°N 90.284689°W / 38.647813; -90.284689
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Forest Park–DeBaliviere
Forest Park–DeBaliviere platform
General information
Location250 DeBaliviere Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri
Coordinates38°38′52″N 90°17′05″W / 38.647813°N 90.284689°W / 38.647813; -90.284689
Owned byBi-State Development
Operated byMetro Transit
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeBelow-grade
Parking115 spaces[2]
Bicycle facilitiesRacks, St. Vincent Greenway
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJuly 31, 1993 (1993-07-31)[3]
Rebuilt2006
Previous namesForest Park
Passengers
20183,711 daily
Rank2 out of 38
Services
Preceding station MetroLink Following station
Skinker
toward Shrewsbury–Lansdowne I-44
 Blue Line Central West End
toward Fairview Heights
Delmar Loop
toward Lambert Airport Terminal 1
 Red Line Central West End
toward Shiloh–Scott
Location
Map

Forest Park–DeBaliviere station is a light rail station on the Red and Blue lines of the St. Louis MetroLink system.[4] This below-grade station is located at the northeast corner of Forest Park Parkway and DeBaliviere Avenue in St. Louis and is designated as the primary transfer point between the two lines.

The Loop Trolley, a seasonally operated heritage streetcar service that travels along DeBaliviere Avenue and Delmar Boulevard, has a stop adjacent to the entrance of the station.[5]

History

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Passengers board a train at Forest Park–DeBaliviere station

The station opened on July 31, 1993, as one of the original MetroLink stations. It was originally constructed with side platforms and a single entrance serving the westbound platform. Access to the eastbound platform required walking the length of the westbound platform and crossing the tracks at the end.

As part of MetroLink's Cross County extension the station was reconstructed with an island platform to allow cross platform transfers between the Red and Blue lines. The entrance was also relocated to DeBaliviere Avenue with an elevator and staircase on both sides of the street. The elevator and staircase from the original westbound platform still exist and are used for maintenance access.

In 2022, two developments opened on the former park and ride lot and strip mall adjacent to the station.[6] One of the largest transit oriented developments in St. Louis to date, the two projects brought 437 new residential units and nearly 40,000 square feet of new commercial space to the area surrounding the station.[7] Included in the garage are 115 free park and ride spaces for Metro customers.[8]

On July 26, 2022, the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station was impacted by a flash flood that shut down MetroLink for nearly 72 hours and caused roughly $40 million in overall damage.[9][10] Damage at Forest Park-DeBaliviere included both elevators, a communications room and three signal houses.[11] By September, normal Red Line service had resumed while restricted service continued on the Blue Line.[12] On July 31, 2023, Metro received $27.7 million in federal emergency disaster relief funding to help cover the cost of flood damage.[13]

In March 2024, Blue Line platform and speed restrictions were lifted with the last damaged signal house now operational.[14]

Station layout

[edit]

The platform is accessed via an elevator or set of stairs on either the east or west side of DeBaliviere Avenue.

G Street level Entrance/exit, bus stop, trolley stop, garage
P
Platform level 		Westbound ←      Blue Line toward Shrewsbury (Skinker)
←      Red Line toward Lambert Airport (Delmar Loop)
Island platform, doors will open on the left
Eastbound ←      Red Line toward Shiloh–Scott (Central West End) →
←      Blue Line toward Fairview Heights (Central West End) →

Public artwork

[edit]

In 2016, Metro's Arts in Transit program commissioned the work Vehicle.Destination.Imagination. by Con Christeson and Catharine Magel for this station. The mural, located along the south retaining wall, combines three-dimensional elements with vibrant colors to celebrate the spirit of the St. Louis region.[15]

In 2022, artist JONUHHM painted a mural depicting several vibrantly colored birds called Better by your side on a wall next to the station's bus turnaround.[16]

Notable places nearby

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References

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  1. ^ "Missouri System Map" (PDF) (Map). Metro Transit. November 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "Park and Ride". Metro Transit. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Lindecke, Fred W. (August 1, 1993). "Area Riders Throng to Try MetroLink". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 1A, 6A. Retrieved April 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  4. ^ "Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station". metrostlouis.org. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  5. ^ "FAQs". STL Loop Trolley. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  6. ^ Stritzel, Chris (April 9, 2021). "The Scene: DeBaliviere Transit Oriented Developments Begin Making an Impact". CityScene STL. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "Expo at Forest Park". metrostlouis.org. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "Parking Available for Metro Transit Customers at the Expo at Forest Park Garage". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Lindsey (August 16, 2022). "MetroLink Flood Damage Update". metrostlouis.org. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Schrappen, Colleen (August 21, 2022). "MetroLink to resume full service, but cost for flood repairs could double". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Jerry (August 9, 2023). "Flood Update: Metro Transit Receives $27.7 Million in Disaster Relief Funding". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Jerry (September 1, 2022). "MetroLink Changes Starting September 5: Blue Line Service to Operate Between Shrewsbury and Forest Park". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  13. ^ Schlinkmann, Mark (August 1, 2023). "Metro gets nearly $28 million in federal aid to cover repairs after 2022 flood". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "Upcoming Schedule Changes". Metro Transit – Saint Louis. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Vehicle.Destination. Imagination". Arts in Transit, Inc. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
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