Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT,) the advocacy group promoting public transportation in St. Louis, Missouri, knows a dedicated ally when it sees one. Recently, the organization presented St. Louis REALTORS® with the 2026 New Initiatives Award, citing its dedication to advancing transit in the region.
As the REALTORS®’ Chief Advocacy Officer Charlie Hinderliter explains, “The success of our work with CMT is in our ongoing process of relationship-building, exploration, and implementation. We are continually finding more areas where we can cooperate.” From placemaking to research to public opinion polling and advocacy, the REALTORS®’ transit initiatives promote a more vibrant and accessible St. Louis, benefitting its residents as well as the real estate market.
The REALTORS®’ partnership with CMT had a relatively modest beginning: a 2024 project that transformed an unremarkable bus stop into an attractive community gathering space. The association supplied a REALTOR® Party Placemaking Grant and elbow grease, working alongside CMT, AARP, and other community and municipal partners.
The following year, the REALTORS® secured an NAR Smart Growth Grant in support of another collaboration with CMT and AARP: a deeply researched analysis of the relationship between access to the city’s MetroLink system and its residential property values. This study now grounds discussions about the transit system, land use policy, and neighborhood revitalization in local data, bolstering the case for public investment.
In 2026, the REALTORS® tapped into NAR’s State & Local Growth Polling program, in advance of an April 2027 ballot question that will define the nature of the long-awaited north-south MetroLink corridor. Voters have already approved funding for the project; now, they will be asked if it can be applied to either a light rail system or Bus Rapid Transfer (BRT) – the latter had not been under consideration when the funding was first approved.
What the poll revealed was the need for a robust public advocacy campaign before Election Day. Hinderliter explains, “It sounds like a simple question, but what we’ve learned is that St. Louis residents don’t know what BRT is. It looks like light rail, but runs on rubber, instead of tracks. The stations, boarding experience, and fixed route structure are nearly identical. But BRT will go further, happen faster, and be roughly one-third cheaper to implement – the poll showed us that that’s the compelling message we need to convey to voters.”
Having recently helped draft the critical ballot question, he notes that public understanding will be critical as St. Louis decides how it moves forward with rapid transit. As an undisputed leader in matters of regional mobility and equitable growth, St. Louis REALTORS® is sure to have a role in getting the word out.
To learn more about how St. Louis REALTORS® is working to advance transit options in the city, contact Chief Advocacy Officer and Director of Commercial Services Charlie Hinderliter at chinderliter@stlrealtors.com or 314.348.1322.
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