The St. Louis region's planning authority has approved entering into a contract with AECOM to study a new MetroLink line that would run from north St. Louis through the city's south side.

The East-West Gateway Council of Governments voted to allow executive director Jim Wild to negotiate a contract not to exceed $2 million with the global engineering, construction and planning firm. AECOM was chosen over three other applicants. Subcontractors on AECOM's team include WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff, Development Strategies, Arcturis, RSG, Vector Communications, EDSI, and Kivindyo Engineering.

The study will update a 2008 analysis for the MetroLink line and look at running it near the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency western headquarters building planned in north St. Louis.

Wild said East-West Gateway hopes to have a recommendation ready by next month for a contractor to study the portion of the line that runs through St. Louis County in addition to three other routes that extend further into the county. The applicant pool is similar to the city-funded portion, he said.