[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6180539,"mediaKeyId","5117507-c16a3d53ffdc0eb62159ab52c02d5687","parentId",5117507,"title","Metro Transit asks St. Louis committee for $47.6 million appropriation, outlines budget, ridership and security plans","audioSeconds",2366,"startMs",73000,"endMs",2439000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117507-c16a3d53ffdc0eb62159ab52c02d5687&start=73&end=2439","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117507-c16a3d53ffdc0eb62159ab52c02d5687/thumbnail_73000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6180539/St-Louis-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Metro-Transit-asks-St-Louis-committee-for-476-million-appropriation-outlines-budget-ridership-and-security-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180539-50523264af91b7cfaea391e55f407b1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133235&Signature=CW2OI3rA~XvwbkhIRXEyQEGOf1iQ~KRRdKJE8IVz4a8tQSHrc-AsHY8v7-MojKsp0G-Odeii~1ccCzLCThO0sypslbrp7OlGH4Rzbgm8hplErWSdBw3eVYTLG~4I1eCVMTDm7Ag8xsAXZY9IvkLvxumCOYq58lm-sZbtTaORWSVMJCUIH~q5IS~qZzGFl2QdbbjjBqy6TmUxws-p~Hm7eVys9kf44S7qtkhVlVGmLpxkQHkkN1nKXV3ZljRRitX7Tt2mfBvNPUUor9PGPyCqbmQ6AxALsAnvBmqljPodVim1QlAKB7FOZigfMQYsC1usxD4-~j~0u4dZ-E8GIGKfEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of St. Louis, MO","date","2025-07-02T16:10:15.443Z","article","Metro Transit officials told the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen Transportation and Commerce Committee on June 11 that they are seeking $47.6 million in local appropriations for 2026 and outlined an operating plan that relies on local sales taxes, state grants and federal capital funding.

The agency presented a 2026 revenue projection of roughly $344.2 million and said passenger fares are budgeted at about $19.5 million. Tammy Fulbright, identified in the meeting as Metro’s chief financial officer, told the committee the 2026 passenger-revenue projection is lower than 2025 actuals as the agency is being “realistic” about fare revenue while it implements a new fare system.

Why it matters: Metro’s budget affects the region’s transit frequency, paratransit service and capital projects such as light-rail vehicle replacements and charging infrastructure for electric buses. Committee members pressed Metro on reserve levels, service frequency, bus-stop amenities and the agency’s security strategy tied to a new fare collection project.

Officials told the committee the largest revenue sources are sales tax receipts and negotiated contracts with St. Clair County, St. Louis County and St. Louis City, plus federal vehicle-maintenance and some state funds. Fulbright said the agency expects sales-tax and contractual revenue to rise versus 2025 and asked the committee for local appropriations that include operating needs, a $4 million local capital match and $2 million for bond debt service.

Metro said total operating expenses are about $334 million, with wages and benefits representing roughly 60 percent of the operating budget. Fulbright identified wage adjustments tied to union agreements and higher medical and workers-comp costs as primary drivers of the increase in personnel expenses.

Chuck Stewart, Metro’s chief operating officer (who announced his upcoming retirement), said ridership has recovered to roughly 75–80 percent of pre-COVID levels and that the agency has added service where demand has changed. He said Metro has hired more than 100 bus operators in the past 12 months and that quarterly service changes have focused on reliability and frequency.

On paratransit, Stewart said the agency reduced a prior denial rate and now has had a 0 percent denial rate for the last seven months after altering service boundaries and rebuilding capacity. He told the committee paratransit rides per week rose from roughly 5,000 to over 8,000 in a smaller, more reliable service area.

Security and fare-recovery were a central point of debate. Talby Roach, Metro’s president and chief executive, described the Secure Platform Program (SPP) — a project that pairs new fare gates and an overhauled fare-media system with an expanded camera network and law-enforcement access. Roach said the agency and local stakeholders view perception of safety as central to encouraging ridership and attracting riders who do not currently take transit.

Roach acknowledged the SPP has been controversial and noted a consultant report (WSP USA Inc.) found “no correlation between serious crime and fare evasion.” He said the consultant’s findings were accurate but argued perception of safety and the ability to sell fare products are both important to long-term ridership and revenue. He added that Metro has installed about 1,600 cameras across the system and has made the camera feed available to local law enforcement under formal request procedures.

Aldermen raised operational concerns about the gates during transition and about the program’s cost. Roach said the system rollout is phased and that some gates were staffed initially to help customers adapt; full system integration is expected after the new fare media is completed in early 2026. He told the committee the project’s construction cost estimate rose from an initial $52 million to about $61 million, reflecting market conditions.

Other capital items; electrification and LRVs: Roach and staff said Metro has started deploying battery-electric buses and is expanding charging infrastructure with public–private partnerships on some sites. Stewart said 14 electric buses are in service on a prominent route and more charging capacity is under construction. The agency also described a light-rail vehicle (LRV) replacement program that will bring a new Metrorail vehicle fleet; the presenter described the procurement as very large and noted the first vehicles are expected to arrive in 2027.

Budget shortfall and management: Fulbright said the 2026 operating plan shows an approximately $4.8 million operating deficit that the agency intends to manage internally through efficiencies and cost control instead of raising additional local appropriations. She also said larger depreciation and capital projects funded by the Federal Transit Administration explain a materially larger “deficit” figure tied to capital accounting that is not a cash shortfall.

Committee action: The committee advanced three Metro-related board bills for appropriations — a $26.3 million transportation-sales-tax appropriation tied to a 1974 tax, a roughly $13.6 million transit-sales-tax appropriation (referred to as Prop 1), and a second transit-sales-tax appropriation (referred to as Prop M2). Each bill passed the committee with a due-pass recommendation by voice or roll call.

What’s next: Committee members requested follow-up briefings on shelters and bus-stop improvements, the green-line status and more granular 2025 year-to-date financials. Metro agreed to provide additional data, and members discussed the possibility of a future committee meeting to review progress on shelters, security and the fare-system rollout.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation & Commerce Committee - June 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Metro Transit officials told the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen Transportation and Commerce Committee on June 11 that they are seeking $47.6 million in local appropriations for 2026 and outlined an operating plan that relies on local sales taxes, state grants and federal capital funding.","taxTitle","St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Missouri","taxId",2587,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180529,"Committee posts substitute for airport rental-vehicle ordinance after split public testimony from Turo and rental companies",153,5534000,5687000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117507-c16a3d53ffdc0eb62159ab52c02d5687&start=5534&end=5687","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117507-c16a3d53ffdc0eb62159ab52c02d5687/thumbnail_5534000.jpg","/articles/6180529/St-Louis-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Committee-posts-substitute-for-airport-rental-vehicle-ordinance-after-split-public-testimony-from-Turo-and-rental-companies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180529-8f7c390cd770a729a72396f16b793e69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133235&Signature=mTCrDFJdccpnkRBQOG16Lv8LhsoONCSh8IseTtU715aON0Rbo5Pr4lg9ULMDNUkttDBRxDX4vRaCm4VCDV6NHpC7yRvIN8IzadZjmWmLsHrJoI~fZHf4dpP6XWOzvoxQRw1uT4Njo0ER1yvAUxF1IjmrPJMf7jNI5wh0Dxe8Yl5~JePnUfGSLrxBrOpmRszTTiu9UTt6L7Ziad9~cV0RR001zcD0gfq8kVGlUfgPTwJDvKmlSRHblH2ioUeMfcR9jX-Gh5Fc-jGXPm8XKzkMQZlawn4fxmfwK24StJGbV0dp3-QesnnUN24EExLe8K2jIiAJZ2BXBabb9IEv1QO52Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Transportation and Commerce Committee on June 11 considered a committee substitute to Board Bill 25, a proposed change to Chapter 18 of the city code to standardize rules and fees for rental activity at Lambert–St. Louis International Airport, including peer-to-peer car-sharing platforms.

Airport staff told the committee they have concerns about the substitute and asked for additional time to review. Rob Salarano, the airport’s property manager, said the proposed language could have unintended effects on existing concession agreements and off-airport ground-transportation agreements, and said specific provisions (for example, the fee schedule in Section 18.03) might conflict with contractual minimum guarantees and established concession terms.

Why it matters: The substitute touches on who can conduct car rentals at the airport curb, what information operators must provide, and how fees are calculated. That affects airport revenue, airport operations, concession-holder contractual protections (minimum guarantees), and the business model under which peer-to-peer platforms operate.

Public testimony split along industry lines. Representatives of Turo, a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform, urged the committee not to adopt language that would force peer-to-peer services into the same operational model as traditional rental-car companies. Aaron Baraza, Turo’s senior airport partnerships manager, said Turo’s model does not require rental counters, long-term fleet storage or employee infrastructure and that most peer-to-peer exchanges are brief and do not impose the same facility needs as legacy rental companies. James Bangeser, Turo senior counsel, added that more than 150 U.S. airports have negotiated permits with peer-to-peer operators that reflect those operational differences and that recent Missouri legislation recognizes the distinction between car sharing and traditional rental activity.

Legacy rental-car interests and their counsel urged the committee to adopt rules that treat all rental activity equitably when it occurs on airport property. Don Lefebvre of the American Car Rental Association said the substitute “ensures that airports can collect appropriate fees from all entities offering rental services regardless of business model.” Tim O’Connell, representing Enterprise Mobility, told the committee the substitute would reduce the prospect of a single operator obtaining walk-up curb access without the bid or concession processes used for existing rental operators.

Airport staff also raised operational concerns in public comment: the substitute would require collection of detailed vehicle information (vehicle identification numbers, model, color) that staff said the airport does not currently need for fee collection; it might require placards on peer-to-peer cars that staff said could create liability or enable theft; and changes to liquidated-damages or cancellation clauses could conflict with existing agreements. Airport staff asked the committee and the bill sponsor for time to reconcile those points with the city attorney and the airport commission.

Procedure and next steps: The committee adopted the committee substitute into the record but did not take a final vote on the ordinance. The chair said he would solicit formal comments from the airport director and schedule further hearings—likely next week if calendars permit—before the committee acts on a final ordinance.

Public comment list included Turo representatives, rental-industry counsel and American Car Rental Association testimony in support of an even playing field and stronger enforcement of fees and operating standards at airport property.","Committee substitute to Board Bill 25 would change Chapter 18 rules for rental activity at Lambert, prompting opposition from airport staff and rental-car groups and support from legacy operators seeking equal treatment. Committee did not vote on final ordinance; members asked for more input and the airport director’s comments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180534,"Airport asks committee to streamline acceptance of state grants to speed projects and marketing",512,5090000,5602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117507-c16a3d53ffdc0eb62159ab52c02d5687&start=5090&end=5602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117507-c16a3d53ffdc0eb62159ab52c02d5687/thumbnail_5090000.jpg","/articles/6180534/St-Louis-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Airport-asks-committee-to-streamline-acceptance-of-state-grants-to-speed-projects-and-marketing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180534-7d779c9c2cb5a54935c47f302f4aaeb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133235&Signature=ENeycmSMd5Ktft6mIgG~WKI5LLhXBHT~pyBHN5pGKFtZ2i176NTid8k1yIvQ7Q14E~~lTiyXXV6ONEy-LSkFIjOo-xMB7TKDvhHjb3Azy0sZz0gi9J3ikXSzw56Or~w6x7al4LzFo0jpV~yao545mqzoz7VJbJyQ25XLF893x1SGOw4HG-j3vPAZy12eSumqTkDyBGje5~3hPaGNuiN6~8e0Qwz3NMZF5PZcrJPh-8QTNfX~5zMe32kjCEmOPFu3ScqyeQyLIZeyA1yFq-GhsfpPUDCMfhVbEmvlJzGyEZNO9X-ht-nwSdoehFgEPAgNzBSQgXXOIlympSHVk40cOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Louis Lambert International Airport asked the Transportation and Commerce Committee on June 11 to adopt Board Bill 17, a measure that would let airport staff accept and receive state grant offers without waiting two to three months for separate board approval each time.

Airport deputy director of finance Antonio Strode told the committee the change would streamline receipt of recurrent state grants from agencies such as the Missouri Department of Transportation Aviation Trust Fund, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and other state sources. He said the delay associated with drafting an individual board bill and completing the legislative process recently cost the airport several months of marketing time for an award of roughly $600,000–$700,000 that was tied to jet-fuel tax collections.

Why it matters: Airport grant timing can affect promotional campaigns, project start dates and matching requirements. Strode said faster access to state funds is especially relevant as the airport plans for a potential consolidated terminal and other capital needs.

Strode said a similar streamlined process for federal grants had been approved previously and that the proposed ordinance mirrors that earlier authority for state funding. The airport committed to keep the committee informed about individual grants received and their purpose; committee members asked the airport to provide timely notice when awards are accepted.

Alderman Marlene Schweitzer asked the airport to commit to notifying the committee with the details of any grant offer and any conditions attached to it; Strode and Rob Salarano, the airport’s property manager, said they would do so and also said the airport’s commission had requested the same reporting practice.

The committee voted to pass Board Bill 17 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.","Airport staff presented Board Bill 17 to allow the airport to accept and spend state grants more quickly without drafting a separate board bill for each offer. The committee passed the measure with a due-pass recommendation; airport leaders said the change will accelerate marketing and infrastructure projects tied to state funds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Metro Transit asks St. Louis committee for $47.6 million appropriation, outlines budget, ridership and security plans

Committee posts substitute for airport rental-vehicle ordinance after split public testimony from Turo and rental companies

Airport asks committee to streamline acceptance of state grants to speed projects and marketing