Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves Bloomberg youth‑climate grant and $27M in transit appropriations to Metro
Summary
The board unanimously accepted a Bloomberg Philanthropies grant for a youth climate program and approved two appropriations totaling about $27.06 million from transit‑sales‑tax funds to the Bi‑State Development Agency for Metro operations; an alderwoman from the 12th voiced opposition citing past unmet transit promises.
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted to accept a Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to fund a youth climate action program and approved two separate appropriations of $13,529,900 each from designated transit‑sales‑tax trust funds to the Bi‑State Development Agency (Metro) for operations.
Board bill 32, the Bloomberg grant acceptance, advanced on third reading after a motion from the alderman from the 3rd and carried on final passage. The bill appropriates grant funds to the office of the president and authorizes expenditure if and when the city receives the award.
On related transportation funding, the board approved board bills 52 and 53, each directing approximately $13.53 million from separate transit‑sales‑tax trust accounts to Metro for the 2026–2027 fiscal period. Supporters said the transfers are routine appropriations to support Metro operations; the roll call on board bill 52 recorded 14 ayes and 1 no.
Dissenting concerns: the alderwoman from the 12th spoke at length against the transit appropriations, recounting long‑standing promises to extend Metrolink service to North St. Louis and arguing the city had failed to deliver promised infrastructure. She said the community had been waiting decades for promised rail expansion and pledged to vote no on the transit bills to pressure future commitments.
Votes at a glance: board bill 32 (grant acceptance) — passed on third reading; board bill 52 — passed (14 ayes, 1 no); board bill 53 — passed on third reading (roll calls sustained). The board authorized the president to affix her signature in open session to enact the passed measures into law.
Next steps: The appropriated funds will be transferred to the Bi‑State Development Agency for Metro operational use consistent with the trust‑fund purposes; the Bloomberg grant will be implemented by the president’s office if the award is received and funds are deposited.
