ST. LOUIS — MetroLink next week will begin limiting riders to single cars on weekends and after 8 p.m. on weeknights.
The move, announced Friday night, followed about two months of testing of single-car service that had spurred complaints on social media from customers complaining of overcrowding.
A news release said the shift to single-car usage during lower ridership periods is due to public safety benefits highlighted during the pilot program such as “more effective surveillance and patrols” by police and security guards.
“We are always looking for operational efficiencies while balancing customer needs both with space and security,” Taulby Roach, the CEO of the Bi-State Development Agency, said in a statement. Bi-State runs Metro Transit.
Roach added that “we appreciate the patience demonstrated by our customers” during the testing period.
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The new operating plan, which begins Monday, calls for running traditional two-car trains on weekdays from the start of service until 8 p.m.
On weekday evenings after 8, customers will be allowed to only get on the front train car. The rear car will be closed to boardings. On weekends, the agency will generally run only single-car trains.
Exceptions will be made on weekends and weekday nights when there are large events in downtown St. Louis “or other instances of high ridership,” the release said. On such occasions, two-car trains will be used if needed.
Roach said the decision on when to use single-car boarding was based in part on reaction from riders via “social media commentary,” emails, calls to customer service and comments to front-line employees.
During the recent testing period, Metro on weekdays was running a mix of single-car and two-car trains. Roach initially had said the testing would last one month but it was extended.
Metro also tried out single-train cars for several weeks last year and has also run them occasionally in emergency situations.
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