The Bi-State Development Agency is an
interstate compact
In the United States, an interstate compact is a pact or agreement between two or more states, or between states and any foreign sub-national government.
Description
Most early interstate compacts resolved boundary disputes, but since the earl ...
established between
Missouri
Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
and
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
in 1949. This compact created an organization that has broad powers in seven county-level jurisdictions (St. Louis City, St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties in Missouri and St. Clair, Madison and Monroe counties in Illinois).
Bi-State operates five enterprises, including the
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch is a monument in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a weighted catenary Catenary arch, arch, it is the world's tallest arch and List of tallest buildings in Missouri, Missouri's ...
Riverfront,
Metro Transit, the
St. Louis Downtown Airport, the St. Louis Regional Freightway and the Bi-State Development Research Institute.
History
Bi-State Development (Bi-State) was established on September 20, 1949, by an interstate compact which was approved by the United States Congress and signed by President
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that year. Subsequen ...
on August 31, 1950. This compact created an organization that has broad powers in seven county-level jurisdictions, giving Bi-State the ability to plan, construct, maintain, own and operate bridges, tunnels, airports and terminal facilities, plan and establish policies for sewage and drainage facilities and other public projects, and issue bonds and exercise such additional powers as conferred upon it by the legislatures of both states.
Funding is received from local, state and federal sources through grant, contract and sales tax revenue. Bi-State does not have taxing authority but is authorized to collect fees from the operation of its facilities.

Today, Bi-State is organized as one parent organization with five enterprises including the Gateway Arch Riverfront, Metro Transit, St. Louis Downtown Airport, the St. Louis Regional Freightway and the Bi-State Development Research Institute. In 2003, the agency and its enterprises began
operating as Metro. In 2015, the Bi-State Development name would be resurrected for the parent organization and the public transit enterprise renamed Metro Transit.
In 1954, Bi-State completed a study of St. Louis County's sewage system which would lead to the creation of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District in February that same year.
In the 1960s, Bi-State facilitated several agreements that would change infrastructure and governance in the St. Louis region. In 1962, Bi-State entered an agreement with the
National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an List of federal agencies in the United States, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all List ...
that allowed for the construction of the Gateway Arch trams and in 1963, using a $26.5 million bond issue, the firm purchased 15 private transit operators and created the St. Louis region's first unified mass transit system.
In 1964, Bi-State purchased the closed Parks Metropolitan Airport in
Cahokia Heights, Illinois and reopened it in 1965 as the St. Louis Downtown Airport. That same year, Bi-State was instrumental in the creation of the
East-West Gateway Council of Governments The East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGCOG or EWG) is the official Council of Governments and Metropolitan planning organization for Greater St. Louis, USA. It was incorporated in 1965.
Purpose
The council coordinates planning and prob ...
, the St. Louis region's
metropolitan planning organization
A metropolitan planning organization (MPO) is a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization in the United States that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorit ...
(MPO).
In the mid-1970s, Bi-State took over as the regional coordinator for the Port of Metropolitan St. Louis and was one of the first transit operators in the United States to operate wheelchair accessible buses.
In 1989, the agency would purchase the historic
Eads Bridge
The Eads Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River connecting the cities of St. Louis, Missouri, and East St. Louis, Illinois. It is located on the St. Louis riverfront between Laclede's Landing, St. Louis, Lacled ...
during the planning of the area's initial
MetroLink light rail line. That first line would open in 1993 and see subsequent expansions in 2001, 2003, and 2006.
The St. Louis Regional Freightway was founded in 2015 to enhance the region’s network of freight infrastructure and to advance the bi-state area as a freight and multimodal hub.
In February 2022, Bi-State's Board of Commissioners voted to allow Metro Transit to take over operation of the troubled
Loop Trolley. In August of the same year, East-West Gateway voted to provide $1.26 million in funding to Metro for long term operation of the trolley. Currently the Loop Trolley operates on a seasonal schedule between April and October.
In 2023, construction began on a MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois with an expected opening in 2026.
That same year, Bi-State's board approved a memorandum of understanding authorizing the Bi-State and Metro teams to develop the
Green Line MetroLink expansion with the City of St. Louis.
Enterprises
Gateway Arch Riverfront

In 1962, Bi-State entered an agreement with the National Park Service that allowed for the construction of the Gateway Arch trams. Bi-State continues to operate the trams and now operates the Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher Riverboats, Gateway Helicopter Tours, and with partners like CityArchRiver, is helping to rehabilitate and update one of the region’s primary tourist destinations.
Metro Transit

Metro Transit was founded in 1963 when Bi-State purchased and consolidated 15 privately owned transit operators to sustain reliable public transportation in the region.
In 1990 construction began on the region's initial MetroLink line, with the first segment opening on July 31st, 1993 between the
North Hanley and
5th & Missouri stations.
MetroLink would see additional extensions open in 2001, 2003 and 2006.
In June 2021, Metro introduced the region's first electric buses including 40-foot and 60-foot
articulated models. In 2023, construction began on a MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois with an expected opening in 2026.
St. Louis Downtown Airport
The airport opened in 1929 as Curtiss-Steinberg Airport and had several names over the years including Curtiss-Parks Airport and Parks Metropolitan Airport. In August 1939, the
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
took over the airport and turned it into a pilot training airfield. The airport would close in 1959 and would reopen in 1965 as Bi-State Parks Airport after Bi-State purchased the closed facility in 1964. It was renamed St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport in 1984 and received its current name in 1999. In 2023, the airport was awarded a $2.5 million grant to help pay for a new terminal building and a $5.4 million project was completed that included a new Ground Engine Run-Up area and Compass Calibration Pad.
St. Louis Regional Freightway
The St. Louis Regional Freightway was founded in 2015 to enhance the region’s network of freight transportation infrastructure and to advance the bi-state area as a freight and multimodal hub.
As of 2020, the region’s port system was ranked second for inland port total tonnage according to data from the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the military engineering branch of the United States Army. A direct reporting unit (DRU), it has three primary mission areas: Engineer Regiment, military construction, and civil wor ...
, handling 37.4 million tons of commodities over the course of 2018 (the latest year for which data was available).
The region’s port system also ranked first as the most efficient inland port district in the U.S. in terms of tons moved per river mile.
Governance
Bi-State Development is led by a 10-member Board of Commissioners that sets policy and direction for the organization. The governor of Missouri appoints five commissioners and the Chairman of the Board for both St. Clair and Madison Counties in Illinois appoint five commissioners. All commissioners must be resident voters of their respective state and must reside within the Bi-State Metropolitan District. Each term is for five years and each serves without compensation.
See also
References
External links
Bi-State Development– Official website for Bi-State Development
Metro St. Louis– Official website for Metro Transit
Citizens for Modern Transit– St. Louis transit advocacy group
Arts in Transit Website
{{Authority control
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1949 establishments in the United States
United States interstate compacts
Transportation in Illinois
Transportation in Missouri
Missouri law
Illinois law
1949 establishments in Missouri