Metro News

Metro will roll out new fares on Sunday, April 4, as part of its Reinventing Metro plan.

CINCINNATI – Metro will roll out new fares on Sunday, April 4, as part of its Reinventing Metro plan. Riders will see a simpler fare structure that makes riding the bus even easier.

 Metro’s across-the-board fare simplification will eliminate all zones and zone fares, transitioning from six zone-fare rates to just three fare types:

• $2.00 fare for all Hamilton County local routes
• $2.65 fare for all Hamilton County express routes
• $3.75 fare for Suburban County express routes that service Warren, Butler and Clermont counties

Under the new fare structure, nine express routes, Rts. 2X, 12X, 15X, 25X, 30X, 38X, 40X, 77X and 81X, will be re-designated as commuter local service with a fare of $2.00.

Along with these changes, Metro will offer a number of new fare products:

• $4.00 Hamilton County local service day pass (replacing the former Zone 1 day pass priced at $4.50)
• $5.30 Hamilton County Express day pass
• $7.50 Suburban County Express day pass
• $10 5-ride Hamilton County local service ticket
• $2.00 half-fare day pass for eligible riders, including:

• – Fare Deal, Metro Veterans Program and Access customers with valid ID cards
• – UC students and staff and Cincinnati State students with valid Metro discount cards
• – Children between 35 and 45 inches tall who qualify for child’s fare

As part of the new fare structure, paper transfers will no longer be issued. For those riders who previously used transfers, a Hamilton County local service day pass may be a more economic option. Free transfers will be available with every single ride purchased with Transit app with EZFare and the new 5-ride Hamilton County local service ticket.

Other fare changes include:

• The Fare Deal Program monthly sticker will increase from $38.50 to $40.
• The Access Zone 2 fare will be eliminated. All Access one-way rides will cost $4.00.

Metro will continue to offer regional stored-value cards for $10, $20 and $30. The costs of the Metro/TANK day pass ($5) and 30-day pass ($105) will remain the same.

All pass types that are being eliminated under the new plan that were purchased before April 4 but not activated will be accepted as fare until December 31, 2021.

Full details and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at go-metro.com/fare-simplification.

Metro sought public comments on the new fare structure and held a public meeting on the plan last November, and it was approved by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) board in February of this year.

Metro is a non-profit, tax-funded public service of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, providing about 13.5 million rides per year.