Fare Restructure FAQ

What are the proposed fare changes?
Metro is proposing to restructure its fare to make riding the bus easier. The proposal will eliminate the route designations of Commuter Service and Suburban County Express, resulting in just two fare levels.

Here is a chart comparing the current and proposed fares:

Fare	Service	New Service Type	Current Fare	Proposed Fare
1-Ride	Ham. Co. Local	Local	$2.00	$2.20
	Ham. Co. Express	Express	$2.65	$3.00
	Sub. Co. Express	Express	$3.75	$3.00
	Ham. Co. Commuter Service	Local	$2.00	$2.20
1/2 Off 1-Ride	Ham. Co. Local	Local	$1.00	$1.10
	Ham. Co. Express	Express	$1.30	$1.50
	Sub. Co. Express	Express	$1.85	$1.50
	Ham. Co. Commuter Service	Local	$1.00	$1.10
Day Pass	Ham. Co. Local day pass	Local day pass	$4.00	$4.40
	Ham. Co. Express day pass	Express day pass	$5.30	$6.00
	METRO/TANK day pass	METRO/TANK day pass	$5.00	$5.00
	Sub. Co. Express day pass	Express	$7.50	$6.00
1/2 Off Day Pass	Ham. Co. Local day pass	Local day pass	$2.00	$2.20
Multi– Ride Passes	Ham. Co. Local 5-ride ticket	Local 5-ride ticket	$10.00	$11.00
	Ham. Co. Local 30-day pass	Local 30-day pass	$80.00	$88.00
	Ham. Co. Express 30-day pass	Express 30-day pass	$106.00	$120.00
	Sub. Co. Express 30-day pass	Express	$150.00	$120
	METRO/TANK 30-day pass	METRO/TANK 30-day pass	$105.00	$105.00
On-Demand	MetroNow! one-way	MetroNow! one-way	$2.00	$2.50
Paratransit	Access one-way	Access one-way	$4.00	$4.40
Reduced Fare	Fare Deal and MVP monthly stickers	Fare Deal and MVP monthly stickers	$40.00	$44.00
Reduced Fare	UC/Cin. State discount fare (one-way)	UC/Cincinnati State discount fare (one-way)	$1.00	$1.10

Why is Metro proposing to restructure its fare?
There are multiple reasons Metro is proposing this fare restructuring:

Metro’s fare structure is still more complex than it needs to be. Under this proposal, the result will be just two fares based on the type of service provided – local and express. Express service will be identified by the inclusion of an “X” in the route name; for example, Rt. 23X Tri-County-Forest Park Express. Customers will always know their fare based on the name of the route they are riding.
Regular, modest fare increases have always been planned for Reinventing Metro so Metro can continue to expand route span and frequency, launch new services, and improve the overall customer experience.
Due to inflation, the cost of goods and services has increased and Metro’s fare revenue must keep pace with this increased cost of doing business.

What about Fare Deal?
The proposed half-fare paid by Fare Deal and Metro Veterans Program (MVP) participants would be $1.10 for all local routes operating within Hamilton County and $1.50 for express routes operating in Hamilton County.

The proposed cost of the monthly Fare Deal sticker would be $44.00.

What about MetroNow!?
The fare for MetroNow! will be $2.50 under this proposal.

What about Access?
The proposed one-way fare for Access trips will be $4.40, and Access 10-ride ticket books will cost $44.00.

What about transfers?
For customers using the Transit app with EZfare, all Metro transfers will continue to be free and good for continuous travel on up to two Metro buses or for 120 minutes, whichever comes first. Free transfers will be available for every Metro single ride purchased using the Transit with EZFare app.

What about Clermont and Warren County services?
The fare for these two counties will be consolidated and these services will have a proposed one-way fare of $3.00 each since they are express services with an “X” in their names.

What about the UC and Cincinnati State discount fares?
These programs are offered under negotiated contracts with these educational institutions and their fare is going to be $1.10 regardless of the type of service.

Is the cost of 30-day rolling passes changing?
The cost of the 30-day rolling passes will be as follows under this proposal:

The cost for a 30-day rolling pass for all local routes will be $88.
The cost for a 30-day rolling pass for all express routes will be $120.
The cost for the Metro/TANK 30-day rolling pass will remain $105 to encourage regional mobility.

What about the children’s fare?
Children under 35 inches in height will ride free with a paying adult. Children between 35 and 45 inches tall will pay half-fare. Children over 45 inches tall will pay full fare.

Is the cost of day passes changing?
Under this proposal, day passes good for unlimited rides during the transit day for all local routes will cost $4.40 and a day pass for express routes will cost $6.00. The Metro/TANK day pass cost will remain $5.00 to encourage regional mobility.

Is Metro changing the values of its regional stored-value cards?
No, Metro will continue to offer regional stored-value cards for $10, $20, and $30 that can be used like cash on any Metro or TANK route.

What else is changing under this proposed plan?
Metro is pleased to offer a new program called Ride&Save which can actually save frequent riders money when they ride multiple times in a 24-hour or 30-day period:

Ride&Save guarantees the lowest Metro fixed-route fare over a 24-hour or 30-day period.
Once you reach the 24-hour or 30-day fare rate, you won’t be charged for additional rides during that period.
For those customers who do not use the Transit with EZfare app, a reloadable EZfare smart card will be available for a $5.00 purchase price to enjoy the “Ride&Save” benefits.
Fares are automatically tracked as you ride using your smart card or the Transit App with EZfare.
Simply keep scanning or tapping your card—no need to worry about overspending.
Charges resume at the start of the next fare cap period (24-hour or 30-day.)
Another benefit of Ride&Save is that, instead of having to pay $88 or $120 up front for a 30-day pass, riders can pay fare one ride at a time and still earn the benefits of a 30-day pass.
Single-ride tickets, day passes, and 30-day rolling passes will no longer be available to purchase in the Transit with EZfare app.
Instead, riders may still purchase day passes, 5-ride passes, and 30-day rolling passes at the Metro sales office, online, or through the ticket vending machines downtown, uptown, and at the Northside, Glenway Crossing, and Oakley transit centers.
5-ride tickets and 30-day rolling passes purchased at the Metro sales office or from a ticket vending machine will not be eligible for free fare under the Ride&Save program.

Get more information about the “Ride&Save” program at www.go-metro.com

I have several 1-ride tickets in my Transit with EZfare app account. What will happen to them if this fare restructuring goes into effect?
Under this proposal, Metro will honor all pre-purchased fare depending on how it was purchased:

Metro will accept all single-ride tickets, day passes, and 30-day rolling passes purchased in the Transit with EZfare app until one year from their date of purchase.
Metro will accept any pre-paid Access tickets until the end of this calendar year, Dec. 31, 2025.

I buy a Fare Deal sticker as soon as they go on sale every month. What will my July sticker cost if I buy it on June 16?
All Fare Deal stickers go on sale for the following month on the 15^th of the previous month. If you buy a Fare Deal sticker on June 16, it will cost $40 since the proposed fare restructuring won’t go into effect until July 16. However, when sales of the August sticker begin on July 15, the new price under this proposal will be $44.

I currently ride the Rt. 12 Commuter Service. What will my fare be?

Under this proposal, routes that have been previously designated as commuter services will now be called local services, whose fare will be $2.20. These routes include:

Rt. 2 Madeira
Rt. 12 Madisonville
Rt. 25 Mt. Lookout
Rt. 30 Beechmont
Rt. 38 Glenway Crossing-Uptown
Rt. 40 Montana
Rt. 77 Delhi
Rt. 81 Mt. Washington

I ride the Rt. 71X downtown to work every day. What will I pay under this proposal?

Rt. 71X is an express route with an “X” in its name, so your fare will be $3.00 under this proposal.

All routes with an “X” in their title are express routes with a $3.00 fare under this proposal include:

3X Montgomery Express
23X Tri-County/Forest Park Express
29X Milford Express
52X Harrison Express
71X Kings Island Express
72X Kings Island Direct Express (seasonally service to Kings Island)
74X Colerain Express
82X Eastgate Express

When would this proposed fare restructuring take effect?
The Metro fare simplification is proposed to be effective July 16, 2025. However, the proposal must first receive Metro Board approval.

How do Metro fares compare to other cities?
Here is a comparison of Metro’s single-ride base fare with some peer cities:

Columbus (COTA) $2.00

Cleveland (GCRTA) $2.50

Dayton (GDRTA) $2.20

Indianapolis (IndyGO) $1.75

Louisville (TARC) $1.75

Northern KY (TANK) $2.00

How can I provide feedback about these proposed changes?
The public may provide feedback in the following ways:

Attending an in-person meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 from 5-7 pm, in the 3 South Huenefeld Tower Suite of the downtown branch of the Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library.

Attending a virtual meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2025 from 10 am-Noon or 4-6 pm.
The public may attend any meeting during the posted times to hear a presentation and complete a written comment form.
Presentations of the proposed fare restructuring plan will be made regularly throughout the scheduled times.
Metro staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide basic information.

Will there be a sign language interpreter and accessible format materials at the public meeting?

Spanish and/or sign language interpretation for the in-person meeting will be available if requests are made in advance.

If I can’t come to the public meeting, are there other ways to comment?
Comments may also be submitted via:

Online: www.go-metro.com/input
E-mail: FareComments@go-metro.com
Fax: (513) 632-9202
Mail: Metro Public Meeting Comments, 525 Vine Street Suite 500, Cincinnati, OH 45202
All comments received by 11:59 p.m. on April 25, 2025 will become part of the official public meeting record.