The first phase of the St. Clair County MetroLink extension opened for revenue service on May 7, 2001.  The 17.4 mile extension from the station at 5th and Missouri in East Saint Louis, Illinois, to the campus of Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Illinois, included eight new rail stations, seven of which have “Park-N-Ride” facilities for commuters. The extension utilizes both new right-of-way and abandoned CSX railroad right-of-way.

KWAME was responsible for delivering construction management services including construction inspection services, contractor administration and coordination, and site administration and mobilization for the project as part of the STV/PB Booker-led Program Oversight team.