David Cangany was named as Metro’s Station Manager for its Queensgate and Bond Hill operating facilities.

Metro has a big “green” gift for the community this holiday season… six new hybrid buses, with eight more on the way!

New park & ride and transfer connection for four major westside routes

Metro's new farebox transfers and winter service changes will go into effect Sunday, Dec. 4.

Holly Jolly Downtown Trolley Begins Runs Nov. 25

CINCINNATI - Metro buses will operate on a holiday schedule on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 24. Access, Metro's specialized service for people with disabilities, will also operate on a holiday schedule.

Federal Clean Fuels grant for buses with "mini-hybrid" technology

CINCINNATI - The Federal Transit Administration announced that Metro will receive more than $1.9 million in federal Clean Fuels funding to buy new buses featuring new, more environmentally friendly "mini-hybrid" technology. The award was made as part of FTA's 2011 Sustainability Awards.

CINCINNATI - William L. Mallory, Sr. is leaving the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority's board of trustees after six years of service. SORTA operates Metro and Access public transportation services in Greater Cincinnati.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between Nov. 5 and Dec. 24, ride the Duke Energy Holiday Train Express to the Cincinnati Museum Center to see the traditional holiday train exhibit.

Metro's new fareboxes make it easier and more convenient to go Metro

New fareboxes mean more fare payment options by early 2012

CINCINNATI - On Nov. 11, Metro will start installing new fareboxes on all 342 of its buses, thanks to federal funding for the project. Metro fareboxes collect about $22 million in fares annually, representing about 27% of Metro’s operating revenue. Metro’s current fareboxes are 17 years old and in need of replacement.

CINCINNATI - John Ravasio was named as Metro's Labor Relations and Employment Law Manager on Oct. 3.

CINCINNATI - Metro has received the Ohio Auditor of State Award with Distinction for its 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

CINCINNATI - Kenneth F. Reed, AIC, ARM-P, was named to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority's board of trustees on Sept. 20.

CINCINNATI - Through an innovative program nearly 1,000 Metro bus rides are provided to low-income riders each day. Each bus ride is a connection to jobs, education, healthcare and other vital services to help these individuals maintain their self-sufficiency.

Metro's new Western Hills route to Uptown FREE on UC's first day

CINCINNATI - UC's back in session on Sept. 21. To encourage westsiders to try new Rt. 38X Glenway Crossing-Uptown Express direct to the UC area, all rides on Rt. 38X are free on Wednesday, Sept. 21 only.

CINCINNATI - All of Metro's buses on the road on Sunday, Sept. 11 will run with their headlights on to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

CINCINNATI - After receiving nearly 600 contest submissions, Metro officials selected three finalists to enter a money booth filled with cash, provided by Cricket Wireless. The finalists, Ryan Caldwell, of Mt. Airy, Jade Kurlas, of Hamilton, and Carol Sampson, of North College Hill, were the stars of the event on the Fountain Square stage on Aug. 29.

CINCINNATI - Metro buses will operate on a holiday schedule on Monday, Sept. 5, in observation of Labor Day. Access specialized service for people with disabilities will also operate on a holiday schedule on Sept. 5.

CINCINNATI – Cincinnatians have spoken and they plan to do a lot with the money they save by riding Metro!

CINCINNATI – Cincinnatians have spoken and they plan to do a lot with the money they save by riding Metro!

CINCINNATI - Metro has named Carlos Rowland Metro's new Fleet & Facilities Director, effective Aug. 1. He reports to Metro's Chief Operations Officer, Inez Evans.

CINCINNATI - Colin Groth, Metro's Government Relations Director, received the Next Generation Leader Award for Government and Public Affairs on Aug. 10 from LEGACY, a leadership group for young professionals in Greater Cincinnati.

Also sign up for $4,500 “Money Grab” sponsored by Cricket Wireless

CINCINNATI - Metro provides about 8,000 rides a month on the Rt. 71X Kings Island Direct to and from downtown Cincinnati.

Hock and Evans join Metro as chief officers reporting to CEO

CINCINNATI - Metro has appointed two executives to top positions in the organization: Lou Ann Hock as Chief Financial Officer and Inez Evans as Chief Operations Officer. Both report to Metro's CEO, Terry Garcia Crews.

Aug. 14 fall service change brings improvements

CINCINNATI - With a new express route from the to Uptown and two new park & ride options, Metro's fall service changes, which take effect Aug. 14 will provide more options to customers and improve the efficiency of Metro's service:

Park & ride at Glenway Crossing available during construction

CINCINNATI - Metro will launch a new route to provide direct service connecting Cincinnati's westside neighborhoods with the growing Uptown area, starting Monday, Aug. 15.

Also sign up for $4,500 “Money Grab” sponsored by Cricket Wireless

CINCINNATI -Metro provides about 8,500 rides a month on the Rt. 75X Anderson Express and 81X Mt. Washington Express to and from downtown Cincinnati.

Also sign up for $4,500 "Money Grab" sponsored by Cricket Wireless

CINCINNATI -Metro provides about 4,500 rides a month on the Rt. 82X Eastgate Express to and from downtown Cincinnati.

Also sign up for $4,500 "Money Grab" sponsored by Cricket Wireless

CINCINNATI -Metro provides about 4,000 rides a month on the Rt. 77X Delhi Express to and from downtown Cincinnati.

Also sign up for $4,500 "Money Grab" sponsored by Cricket Wireless

CINCINNATI -Metro provides about 5,000 rides a month on the Rt. 14X Forest Park Express to and from downtown Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI -Metro is partnering with Learning Through Art, Inc. to provide reduced fare on the Rt. 1 – The One for Fun for the Macy's Kids, Cultures, Critters and Crafts Festival at the Cincinnati Zoo. On Wednesday, July 20, all rides on the Rt. 1 will be $0.50 each way ($1 round trip) from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. There will also be entertainment on several of the trips.

Join representatives from the Federal Transit Administration, Ohio Department of Transportation, and local leaders as Metro breaks ground on its newest transit center at Glenway Crossing in Western Hills.

Troy Miller is new ATU Local 627 president, effective July 1

CINCINNATI - Mark Bennett, president and business agent for Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 627, will retire on June 30. The Ross Township, Ohio, resident was ATU 627 president for six years, vice president for three years, and a union representative for nine years. He was a Metro bus operator for 30 years.

CINCINNATI –Metro buses will operate on a holiday schedule on Monday, July 4, in observation of the Independence Day holiday. Access specialized service for people with disabilities will also operate on a holiday schedule on July 4.

Also sign up for $4,500 "Money Grab" sponsored by Cricket Wireless

CINCINNATI -Metro provides about 5,000 rides a month on the Rt. 52X Harrison Express to and from downtown Cincinnati.

Federal funds being used to improve fare collection, add new options

CINCINNATI - By the end of the year, Metro will install new fareboxes on all 333 of its buses, thanks to almost $3.6 million in federal funds (80% of the cost of the project).  Metro fareboxes collect about $23 million in fares annually, representing about 27% of Metro's operating revenue.  Metro's current fareboxes are 17 years old and in need of replacement.

With gas prices high, Metro had almost 11% more express riders in May

CINCINNATI - Metro's commuter express ridership in May increased 10.9%, compared to May 2010. Metro attributes the approximate 13,000 more express route rides in May to the high cost of gas. This marks the fifth consecutive month of express ridership increases for Metro.

$4,500 up for grabs on Aug. 29, thanks to Cricket Wireless

WHAT: Kickoff for $4,500 Money Grab Contest,
sponsored by Cricket Wireless

CINCINNATI –Visitors can fully experience Oakley After Hours with the help of a free Metro trolley on Friday, June 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free rides are being sponsored by Oakley Community Council and event sponsors.

Metro honors safe employees and celebrates Safety Month in June

CINCINNATI –Metro was recognized for its Pedestrian Safety Program with a Certificate of Merit from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at the 2011 Annual Bus Safety & Security Excellence Awards on May 22.

19 consecutive years of excellence in financial reporting

CINCINNATI –Metro has received a prestigious national award for excellence in financial reporting for governmental entities. This is the 19th consecutive year that Metro has earned this distinction.

CINCINNATI –Bus riders can now plan Cincinnati Metro trips using Google Maps, the most popular online mapping website in the world. The service, available free at www.google.com/transit, provides riders with customized routes to their destination online and on mobile devices.

Buses will detour for Taste of Cincinnati May 27 – 31

CINCINNATI –On Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, Metro will operate on a holiday schedule. Metro's administrative offices, call center, and sales office will be closed. Access, Metro's shared-ride service for people with disabilities, also will operate a holiday schedule on Memorial Day.

CINCINNATI – Rebalancing transit service means finding ways to add new service that customers want by reallocating resources that are being under-utilized.

CINCINNATI –Metro has appointed Wright Parkes as Director of Procurement and Storeroom, effective May 16, 2011.

Free transit rides for bicycle commuters on Bike to Work Day

CINCINNATI –To celebrate Bike to Work Day, bicycle commuters can ride free on Metro, the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) or Clermont Transportation Connection (CTC) on Thursday, May 19, when they transport their bikes on the easy-to-use bus bike racks.

CINCINNATI –Metro's summer service change on Sunday, May 29, includes renumbering five routes, Rts. 18, 45, 47, 69, 72, and making minor schedule changes for other routes to better reflect actual running times.

5,000 Metro tokens will be provided to CPS Project Connect

CINCINNATI –The Everybody Rides Metro (ERM) Foundation is providing nearly 5,000 Metro bus tokens to help students attend Cincinnati Public Schools in partnership with Project Connect, an organization which helps homeless children regularly attend school.

CINCINNATI –Metro will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Good Friday, April 22, and a regular Sunday schedule on Easter, April 24.

Access service for people with disabilities will also be on regular schedule both days.

CINCINNATI –Beautiful butterflies are just a bus ride away from downtown on Metro's Rt. 1, The One for Fun.

The 2011 Butterfly Show "Butterflies of Brazil," at the Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park, is located on Metro's Rt. 1 and serviced by hybrid mini-buses, including one with a butterfly design.

CINCINNATI –Metro is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to develop a supplier diversity improvement plan.  The consultant will assist Metro in developing outreach and inclusion strategies to achieve a higher level of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation in Metro's procurement process.  This Request for Proposals (RFP) is for the development of the plan only, not for services associated with implementing the plan.

CINCINNATI –Ronald Long, of Southgate, Ky., and Mike McElroy, of Anderson Township, have been named Metro's 2010 Operators of the Year. Steve Gibson, of Ft. Mitchell, Ky., was named Metro's 2010 Maintenance Employee of the Year.

New three-year contract in effect through Jan. 31, 2014

CINCINNATI –Today, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority board of trustees approved a three-year labor contract, effective through Jan. 31, 2014. Earlier this week, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 627 voted to accept the three-year contract.

CINCINNATI –On Tuesday, March 15, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 627 membership voted to approve a three-year labor contract with Metro, effective through Jan. 31, 2014.  The vote was 409 to 49.  The current contract expired at midnight on Jan. 31, 2011.

A SLAM-DUNK FOR LOCAL CHARITIES
2,250+ bus tokens for low-income riders; $900 to NKY Welcome House

CINCINNATI – TANK may have had more points by the end of the game, but two local charities were the real winners, thanks to proceeds from the first annual Metro-TANK Tri-State Charity Basketball Shoot-Out on Feb. 26, 2011.

Sean Rugless continues as Chair; Margaret Gutsell named Vice Chair

CINCINNATI – Sean Rugless has been re-elected Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) for 2011. He has been on the board for more than two years and was named SORTA Chair in October 2010. Dr. Margaret C. Gutsell has been elected as Vice Chair. She has been on the SORTA board since 2007.

CINCINNATI -- Suzanne Burke has been appointed to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority board of trustees. SORTA operates Metro and Access transit services in Greater Cincinnati.

Gatherwright was also national "Two-Million Mile" safety award winner

CINCINNATI – After driving nearly three million miles in his career – enough to circle the globe more than 120 times – Metro bus operator Malcolm Gatherwright retired on Dec. 31, 2010. A Metro driver since 1976, Gatherwright was selected as Ohio's "Bus Operator of the Year" by the Ohio Public Transit Association in 2010.

Metro honors MLK Day by providing speech, participating in downtown march

CINCINNATI – Metro and Access will operate on a regular schedule on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 17. Metro telephone information is open, but Metro administrative offices and the sales office are closed for the day.

City's actions violate contract, reduce Metro's 2011 budget by $1 million net

CINCINNATI– The government board that operates Metro is taking steps to protect public transit interests, in response to the City of Cincinnati's decision to take more than $2.4 million from an account intended for transit funding only.