The last day streetcars operated on the Grand Line was Jan. 3, 1960. The streetcars stopped serving Grand Avenue because buses were replacing streetcars in St. Louis, and also because of the condemnation of the 1890 Grand Avenue Viaduct. The replacement of this bridge was the catalyst for replacing streetcars with higher-capacity buses. These buses matched the streetcar in passenger capacity and exceeded them in comfort by having air springs and air conditioning.
Today, the #70 Grand Line still remains the region’s busiest bus route in terms of ridership, averaging about 9,000 boardings each weekday. As they did in the past, today thousands still depend on the bus route to get to work and school, as well as to medical appointments, entertainment, dining and shopping venues.
