Cincinnati Metro Rider Alert: Fare Simplification Effective April 4, 2021
New Metro fares take effect next month as part of the Reinventing Metro plan. Starting Sunday, April 4, 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 and commuter 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 (Rts. 42X, 71X, and 82X)
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.
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New Fare Products
Along with these changes, Metro will offer several 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. If you previously used transfers, a Hamilton County local service day pass may be a more economical option. Free transfers will be available with every single ride purchased with the Transit app with EZFare and the new 5-ride Hamilton County local service ticket.
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Other Metro fare changes
- The Fare Deal and Metro Veterans 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 fares until December 31, 2021.
Full details and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at
go-metro.com/fare-simplification.
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Written by: Crystal Kendrick
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Metro Fare Changes Photo: Adobe/prostooleh
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