Illinois has completed a major transit infrastructure project extending MetroLink service to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, marking the first expansion of the regional light rail system in two decades. The $192 million infrastructure package also includes roadway and trail improvements designed to strengthen connections across the Metro East region.
The project, led by the St. Clair County Transit District, was funded through $127 million from the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program and $65 million in local contributions. Construction began in 2023 and was delivered on schedule without federal funding or additional taxpayer debt.
The completed project extends MetroLink service 5.2 miles between MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and the existing Shiloh-Scott station near Scott Air Force Base.
The new connection links the airport with the regional transit system and provides access to employment, education and recreational destinations. It also creates a rail connection between the region's two major airports, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
The project is undergoing final safety and performance evaluations. Revenue service is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Beyond the rail infrastructure, the development includes $32 million in new roadway improvements and a $6 million extension of the MetroBikeLink Trail. The 4.5-mile trail addition expands connections for pedestrians and cyclists while complementing the new transit infrastructure.
The MetroLink extension is one of 23 major Rebuild Illinois projects planned or underway in the Metro East region, with 13 scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
The state's broader capital program has funded transportation and other public infrastructure improvements throughout Illinois, including roads, bridges, transit facilities, airports, river ports and pedestrian infrastructure.
For the Metro East, the airport rail extension adds transportation capacity while improving access to an important regional employment and aviation hub. The combination of rail, roadway and trail improvements also creates a more integrated transportation network around the airport and surrounding communities.
The project is expected to support continued economic activity by improving connections between residents, employers and regional transportation facilities.
The completion of the MetroLink extension demonstrates the scale of infrastructure investment being directed toward multimodal transportation in Illinois. For contractors, suppliers and engineering firms, projects combining rail, roadway and active transportation improvements create opportunities across multiple infrastructure disciplines.
For owners and regional developers, improved transit access can strengthen connections between transportation hubs, employment centers and surrounding communities. The airport extension also gives St. Clair County a new transit connection that can support future mobility and development around the growing aviation and employment corridor.
Source: Office Of Governor JB Pritzker.
