Madison County Chairman To Lead East-West Gateway Council Of Governments  

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser will serve as chair of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, guiding regional transportation, infrastructure and economic development planning across the bi-state St. Louis metropolitan area.

The East-West Gateway Board elected Slusser to the position on Jan. 30. East-West Gateway serves as the metropolitan planning organization for the St. Louis region, coordinating long-range transportation planning, federal funding priorities and regional development initiatives across eight counties in Illinois and Missouri and the City of St. Louis. Established in 1965, the agency serves Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties in Illinois, along with Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis and St. Louis County in Missouri, and the City of St. Louis.

Slusser, who serves on the organization’s board of directors, said the appointment reflects Madison County’s expanding leadership in shaping the region’s economic, infrastructure and security priorities.

“Madison County continues to play a key role in shaping the future of the St. Louis region, particularly in economic development, transportation infrastructure, workforce growth, emerging technology and security,” Slusser said. “From freight mobility and transit modernization to regional emergency communications through STARRS, we are focused on building systems that strengthen connectivity, enhance safety and improve quality of life for residents throughout the metro area.”

East-West Gateway’s functional areas include transportation planning, community planning, research services, regional security and administration, providing a comprehensive framework for regional coordination. Through its regional security work, East-West Gateway supports STARRS — the St. Louis Area Regional Response System — which helps enhance regional preparedness and strengthen disaster response and recovery efforts.

East-West Gateway also oversees the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal transportation funding and plays a central role in shaping policies related to highways, transit, freight movement, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, environmental planning and public safety coordination.

Slusser’s leadership comes during a period of significant regional investment, including interstate modernization, transit upgrades, freight mobility initiatives and industrial corridor development.

Madison County’s expanding industrial base, enterprise zones, logistics assets and workforce development programs have positioned the county as a key driver of regional growth.

“Strong regional collaboration ensures every community has a voice in decisions that impact our economy, infrastructure and daily lives,” Slusser said.

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