AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
Citizens for Modern Transit (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Public or private transit access
└ Public or private transit access
In St. Louis, bus stops often lacked safety and accessibility, limiting mobility for older adults and residents without cars. To address this, Citizens for Modern Transit transformed a neglected stop in Soulard, where many residents are age 50-plus, into a welcoming space. The redesign added a shelter with solar lighting, benches with armrests, ADA-compliant walkways, landscaping and wayfinding. In addition, new sidewalks and ramps were added to improve access. The project boosted safety and visibility, fostered community ownership and set the stage for similar upgrades citywide. One resident said, "Adding community space where people can meet and talk comfortably will be so great."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Perry, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Older adults and some families in Perry faced major transportation barriers, limiting access to health care and jobs. HIRTA launched FlexConnect, a flexible bus route supported by ADA-compliant benches, signage and bilingual outreach. Free passes encouraged ridership, which has already grown by 10%. Surveys will track health impacts, and the service is expected to reduce isolation and promote independence. One community member said that this project will open up "a world of possibilities for people who live here."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Denver, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Older adults in Denver struggle with transportation and resource navigation, limiting independence and increasing isolation. DRMAC addressed this by expanding its Getting There Travel Training program, offering bilingual sessions and guided bus trips to teach trip planning, ticketing and mobility apps. Surveys showed that many participants felt more confident using public transit. The effort strengthened trust in marginalized communities and improved access to daily needs. One participant said that as a result of the help provided by the program, he is excited to now be able to attend spirit-lifting activities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
La Union, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Although La Union's community center campus offered plenty of outdoor space, the space sat largely unused. So La Union Helping Hands set out to activate the area. Volunteers installed a benches and a gazebo for shade onsite. They also added seating and shelter to the nearby bus stop. This allows visitors -- including older adults -- to wait comfortably for the bus. Organizers hope the enhancements foster a vibrant space where residents can connect with each other, instilling a sense of community. Spurred by the project's success, La Union Helping Hands now plans to revamp landscaping, plant a community garden, install even more seating, and improve sidewalks at the community center.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: The #70 Grand bus route in Saint Louis lacked seating and shelter, forcing riders-many older adults-to perch on tree fencing or wait in rain and heat. A new sustainable bus shelter now offers seating, solar lighting and a planter box with native plants, creating a safer and more comfortable wait. The design prompted Metro to adopt similar features and drew interest in solar upgrades for future shelters. A longtime rider said he's "so happy to finally have a bus shelter" for errands, underscoring how small changes can transform daily transit for older adults.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: To showcase possible long-term upgrades to the North Hanley light rail station in Cansonville, Mo., Citizens for Modern Transit held a pop-up festival. The event prioritized community engagement, giving participants several ways to share their ideas. The St. Louis County Department of Planning invited attendees to use Lego bricks to build a model of amenities they hoped to see at the station. People recorded themselves sharing their vision for the site at a self-expression stop. Visitors could also write their ideas on a large banner. To help inspire people, the event showcased murals created by a local artist. The feedback gathered during the event informed permanent changes. Today, visitors to the site will find new seating and shade structures, as well as murals painted on the pavement. The theme for that transformation is Transit: We All Ride Together. And since 2017, Citizens for Modern Transit has gone on to improve several other transit stops in the St. Louis region.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Missouri State Office
9200 Ward Parkway
Suite 350
Kansas City, MO 64114
United States