Representatives from the St. Clair County Transit District and local officials celebrated the grand opening of a $6 million, 4.5-mile extension of the MetroBikeLink Trail, enhancing outdoor recreation and transportation options for the community.
SHILOH, Ill. (June 27, 2026) … Representatives of the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) today joined local officials, stakeholders and nearly 100 cyclists to celebrate the grand opening of a new $6 million, 4.5-mile extension of the MetroBikeLink Trail. This milestone marks the completion of the first of three parts of the MetroLink Expansion Project to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, with associated roadway improvements opening in the coming weeks and the MetroLink extension anticipated to begin service in late summer.
The new trail segment runs parallel to the MetroLink alignment from the existing bike path at Shiloh-Scott Transit Center to near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. It features scenic views, rolling inclines, three bridges, no stops and passes through Silver Creek Wetlands, home to native wildlife. The trail is ideal for cyclists looking to build speed and endurance.
During the grand opening ceremony, those in attendance heard remarks from project partners and local leaders about the continued growth of the MetroBikeLink System and its role in enhancing connectivity and quality of life across the region. Following the ribbon cutting, guests were invited to take part in an inaugural bike ride and explore the new trail segment.
“The continued expansion of the MetroBikeLink System reflects our commitment to providing safe, accessible and connected transportation options for residents and visitors alike,” said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Chairman. “This new segment not only enhances recreational opportunities, but also strengthens connections to jobs, education and other destinations throughout the bi-state region.”
Construction on the trail commenced in 2023 and was completed in June 2026. The bike trail was designed as part of a combined effort between engineering firms WSP, TWM and EFK Moen, with elements constructed under four different contracts that utilized dozens of subcontractors. SCCTD funded $5.5 million of the project, with an additional $500,000 in grants from the Metro East Park and Recreation District ($300,000) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources ($200,000).
The MetroBikeLink Trail is the spine of the MetroBikeLink System – consisting of 40 miles of interconnecting trails throughout St. Clair County. It runs adjacent to the MetroLink alignment for more than 18 miles between the Fairview Heights Transit Center to near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. It connects to seven Metro Transit Centers in five different communities – offering seamless integration of biking and transit use via the MetroLink, MetroBus and microtransit options like the SCCTD Flyer.
“The MetroBikeLink System seamlessly links residents to our world-class transit system and expands opportunities for multimodal travel across St. Clair County,” said Ken Sharkey, managing director of the St. Clair County Transit District. “This momentum will only continue as we look ahead to the 5-mile MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport opening in the coming months. Projects like this are only possible through strong partnerships — and we are deeply grateful to the State of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Metro East Park and Recreation District and our community partners for their support. We also extend our appreciation to our local contractors, union labor and the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades, whose hard work and craftsmanship brought this trail to life. This is a true testament to the strength of our region and the impact of investing in quality infrastructure.”
To learn more about SCCTD’s MetroBikeLink System, visit www.scctd.org/metrobikelink.
About St. Clair County Transit District
The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) was founded in 1981 and contracts with Bi-State Development to provide public transportation services in St. Clair County, Ill., by way of 11 MetroLink stations and 14 MetroBus routes and with Southwestern Illinois College to offer paratransit services as well as on-demand, micro transit via the SCCTD Flyer in seven communities. SCCTD has also established and maintains the ever-evolving MetroBikeLink System of interconnecting trails and bike paths that seamlessly connect to seven Metro Transit Centers – linking individuals to jobs, education, healthcare, entertainment, trails and other destinations throughout the bi-state region. To learn more, visit www.SCCTD.org or follow the District on Facebook, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.
#MetroBikeLink #StClairCounty #CyclingCommunity #BikeTrail #OutdoorRecreation #TransportationInnovation #CommunityDevelopment #IllinoisEvents
