Bridge Pier photo by Robert Pettus
In 1986, Arts in Transit took shape as an innovative effort to develop the look and feel of the future light rail system in the bi-state area, a community that had been without rail-based public transportation since the last street car rolled through the Wellston Loop in 1966.
AIT’s primary role was to establish and coordinate a unique collaboration of artists, engineers and architects on the design of the rail system. The result is an award-winning system that has exceeded all ridership expectations.
In 1989, while construction of MetroLink was in progress, AIT launched ArtLink, a series of temporary public art installations by regional and national artists along the developing route. These works brought community awareness and excitement to the transit system. AIT further encouraged community interest in MetroLink with speakers, neighborhood art exhibits, school programs, and the AIT Art Bus, a MetroBus vehicle painted with a transit theme that served as a traveling gallery exhibition of AIT projects.
AIT has become a catalyst for enabling neighborhood residents to weave MetroLink stations into the fabric of their community. As Gordon Linton, former Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration has noted: “The Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) and Arts in Transit have recognized that well-coordinated community involvement and excellence in art and design helps develop public environments that are well- used and that contribute to both the social and economic well-being of the community.”
In April of 1999, Metro's Board of Commissioners adopted a policy that emphasized the importance of design excellence, the integral role of artists and community involvement, and established a percent-for-art funding mechanism. The Commissioners also authorized the establishment of a public/private Community Partnership program to raise revenue and recognize the contribution of individuals and the community toward the funding of transit infrastructure projects and improvements. These policies provide a framework important for ensuring that future area transit projects – including MetroLink expansion and bus system enhancements – will be designed and developed in such a way that they will become active, attractive, vital assets of the region’s neighborhoods.
AIT’s primary role was to establish and coordinate a unique collaboration of artists, engineers and architects on the design of the rail system. The result is an award-winning system that has exceeded all ridership expectations.
In 1989, while construction of MetroLink was in progress, AIT launched ArtLink, a series of temporary public art installations by regional and national artists along the developing route. These works brought community awareness and excitement to the transit system. AIT further encouraged community interest in MetroLink with speakers, neighborhood art exhibits, school programs, and the AIT Art Bus, a MetroBus vehicle painted with a transit theme that served as a traveling gallery exhibition of AIT projects.
AIT has become a catalyst for enabling neighborhood residents to weave MetroLink stations into the fabric of their community. As Gordon Linton, former Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration has noted: “The Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) and Arts in Transit have recognized that well-coordinated community involvement and excellence in art and design helps develop public environments that are well- used and that contribute to both the social and economic well-being of the community.”
In April of 1999, Metro's Board of Commissioners adopted a policy that emphasized the importance of design excellence, the integral role of artists and community involvement, and established a percent-for-art funding mechanism. The Commissioners also authorized the establishment of a public/private Community Partnership program to raise revenue and recognize the contribution of individuals and the community toward the funding of transit infrastructure projects and improvements. These policies provide a framework important for ensuring that future area transit projects – including MetroLink expansion and bus system enhancements – will be designed and developed in such a way that they will become active, attractive, vital assets of the region’s neighborhoods.
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