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St. Louis Metro recently announced it placed second in a global awards competition recognizing public involvement in projects throughout the world. The agency was honored by the International Association of Public Participation for its public outreach efforts for “Moving Forward,” Metro’s 30-year transit plan.

Developed in partnership with the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, the region’s first long-range plan includes several extensions to Metro’s light-rail system, including:
• the Northside-Southside line, which would extend from North St. Louis County into downtown St. Louis, then down Interstate 55;
• a Clayton-to-Westport corridor, which would run from the Clayton MetroLink station to I-170 to Westport;
• a Metro South extension from the Shewsbury MetroLink station southeast along River Des Peres to I-55, and deeper into south St. Louis County;
• a Metro North extension that would run along or near I-170 from a point near the North Hanley MetroLink station into Florissant; and
• a Madison County Tri-Cities line that would extend service from the Emerson Park station in East St. Louis, Ill., to Granite City and Edwardsville.

The long-range plan also calls for adding commuter-rail service between St. Louis and Alton, Ill., and from St. Louis to Eureka/Pacific, Mo.

As part of its public outreach campaign, Metro held 22 public meetings; conducted more than 150 presentations to business, civic, advocacy and neighborhood groups; created an advisory group comprising regional elected officials, business leaders, community organization representatives and other regional agencies; organized an executive committee that engaged local elected leaders and other regional leaders from Missouri and Illinois; and launched an interactive website, blog, and Facebook and Twitter accounts.