In a recent press release, Bi-State Development announced that they are looking for local artist and designers to help create and renovate future and existing MetroLink stops. “Artist participation will help us create a project that is well designed, customer friendly and community oriented,” said Tom Irwin, Executive Director of Bi-State Development Agency.
Nine new stations will be laid out among a new 7.5 mile track that will span the communities of Brentwood, Clayton, Maplewood, Richmond Heights, Shrewsbury and University City.
Artists will be selected to participate as collaborators with the Agency’s program management consultant, architects and engineers on the design team. “As part of their work, artists will identify opportunities for future stations and along the alignment for site-specific public art that will be designed and executed by other artists,” said Susan Uchitele, Chair of Arts In Transit.
The current stations, including the Grand Station, also will receive a facelift.
The federal government will pay for 70 percent of the $350,000, which is expected to cover the renovation process. The University will only be responsible for 8.5 percent of the expected cost, and MetroLink will be responsible for the remaining 21.5 percent.
Bi-State, who owns the property under the bridge on Grand Avenue, and Saint Louis University will coordinate the project.
A committee is currently being assembled to assess the situation and finalize a plan of action.
The school plans to enhance the safety of the station by placing an emergency phone on the platform. It was reported last year that students would try to call the school from payphones on the station platform, but they would be out of order.
SLU plans to hold open forums for the general public in order to form a well-rounded summation of the issues.
The renovation is not all that SLU is coordinating with Bi-State.
There have currently been signs up around campus for students to purchase a $65 semester travel pass.
This evolved from Jay Perry and Kathleen Brady working on student passes for Billiken basketball games.
