Metro Transit is partnering with Via to launch a new on-demand transit service for the St. Louis region. The new service, called Via Metro STL, will be introduced in two areas — in southwest St. Louis County including Fenton and Valley Park, and in North St. Louis County.

With Via Metro STL, transit riders in these two markets will be able to hail a vehicle directly from their smartphone using the Via app, and can travel to any location within the service area during operating hours. Via Metro STL is a shared ride service, and Via’s advanced algorithms match multiple passengers headed in the same direction to provide quick and efficient shared trips, without lengthy detours or inconvenient schedules.

The on-demand service will be available in the Fenton/Valley Park area seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and in North St. Louis County seven days a week from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Transit riders will be able to try the service for free through the end of August. After August, rides on Via Metro STL are only $2.

Requesting a ride on Via Metro STL is easy. Using the Via app, transit riders can book their ride by selecting a pickup and dropoff location within the service area. Once a ride is booked, passengers are directed to their exact pickup spot, and they can see the real-time location of their vehicle, the driver’s name, and other information to help them spot their ride.