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The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is the public transport agency serving Cincinnati and its Ohio suburbs. SORTA operates Metro fixed-route buses, bus rapid transit, microtransit, and paratransit services. SORTA's headquarters are located at the Huntington Building in Cincinnati’s Central Business District. The agency is managed by CEO and General Manager Darryl Haley along with a 13-member board of trustees. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 13,091,500, or about 44,600 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
| Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County |
| Area served | Hamilton County (in addition provides commuter routes from Butler County, Clermont County, and Warren County into Cincinnati) |
| Transit type | Bus, Express bus service, Paratransit |
| Number of lines |
|
| Number of stations | 3,800 bus stops[1] |
| Daily ridership | 44,600 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[2] |
| Annual ridership | 13,091,500 (2023)[3] |
| Chief executive | Darryl Haley |
| Headquarters | 525 Vine Street, Suite 500 Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Website | go-metro |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | December 30, 1952 (as Cincinnati Transit Commission) |
| Number of vehicles | 353 transit buses, 46 paratransit vehicles |
Downtown Cincinnati is also served by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK), whose transit services extend over the Ohio River into Northern Kentucky.
SORTA replaced the Cincinnati Transit Commission, which operated buses from 1952 to 1973. In 2012 SORTA Metro released its schedule information in the General Transit Feed Specification, making schedules more easily available to customers.[5] The Cincinnati Bell Connector was operated by SORTA until 2019; the City of Cincinnati has since owned and operated the streetcar. Until 2021, SORTA Metro was funded primarily by Cincinnati's city earnings tax, second by fares, and third by federal sources, with some other minor sources. This stood in contrast to other Ohio transit agencies, such as COTA and GCRTA which are primarily funded by sales tax. For a sense of perspective, the portion of Cincinnati's earnings tax going to Metro's budget was about 0.3%.
Reinventing Metro
On May 14, 2020, Hamilton County voters passed Issue 7, which switches the source of SORTA funding to a sales tax levy of 0.8 percent. The sales tax in Hamilton County raised to 7.8% and the Cincinnati earnings tax was eliminated. The levy is projected to generate $130 million a year, which will be split 100/30 between Metro and road infrastructure respectively. The new sales tax rate went into effect on October 1, 2020.[6] The new funding will be used to implement Reinventing Metro, which is a transit network redesign of its fixed-route services, but also introduces Mobility on Demand and Bus Rapid Transit to the region.
An example related project is the Northside Transit Center, which is located in Northside and replaced a basic bus stop. The new transit center, which opened in 2020, features eight boarding bays, each with an architecturally designed shelter and enhanced streetscaping, lighting and amenities. In addition, the transit center features artwork designed by winners of the transit agency's art contest for Northside residents. The contest asked residents to submit designs following the theme, "What does Northside mean to me?”. The artwork is displayed prominently on installations at the transit center's entrance and exit. The Northside project was a partnership with the Federal Transit Administration, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and other local stakeholders.
Metro
SORTA Metro operates about 40 major fixed bus routes, as well as a demand-responsive paratransit service. Of the major routes, roughly half run only at rush hours and are essentially commuter services, some of them serving the reverse commute. The other half operate throughout the day, and some offer increased frequency during rush hours. Approximately 90% of all trips are made on the all-day routes, and 10% on the express commuter routes.
Routes 29X and 82X extend into neighboring Clermont County under an arrangement with the Clermont Transportation Connection.
Routes 71X & 72X extend into neighboring Warren County under an arrangement with Warren County Transit.
Route 42X was a route that extended into neighboring Butler County under an agreement with Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA). The route was discontinued at the end of 2023. On January 1, 2024, BCRTA started their own route and brand it as CincyLink[7] that will run from Middletown to Downtown Cincinnati.
| Number | Route name | Service type | Service days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mt. Adams | Local | Weekdays |
| 2 | Madeira Commuter | Commuter | Rush hour weekdays |
| 3X | Montgomery Express | Express | Rush hour weekdays |
| 4 | Montgomery Road | Local | Every day |
| 5 | Blue Ash | Crosstown | Every day |
| 6 | Queen City Avenue | Local | Every day |
| 11 | Madison Road – Oakley | Local | Every day |
| Erie Avenue – Hyde Park | |||
| 12 | Madisonville Commuter | Commuter | Rush hour weekdays |
| 16 | Spring Grove – Daly | Local | Every day |
| 17 | Hamilton Avenue – Seven Hills | Local | Every day |
| Hamilton Avenue – Mt. Healthy | |||
| 19 | Colerain Avenue | Local | Every day |
| 20 | Winton Road | Local | Every day |
| 21 | Harrison Avenue | Local | Every day |
| 22 | Glenway – Madison | Crosstown | Rush hour weekdays |
| 23X | Forest Park Express | Express | Rush hour weekdays |
| 24 | MLK – Beechmont | Crosstown | Every day |
| 25 | Mt. Lookout Commuter | Commuter | Rush hour weekdays |
| 27 | Beekman – Linn | Local | Every day |
| 28 | East End | Local | Every day |
| 29X | Milford Express | Express | Rush hour weekdays |
| 30 | Beechmont Commuter | Commuter | Rush hour weekdays |
| 31 | Taft – McMillan | Crosstown | Every day |
| 32 | West 8th Street | Local | Every day |
| 33 | Glenway Avenue | Local | Every day |
| 36 | Price Hill – Uptown | Crosstown | Every day |
| 37 | MLK – Westwood | Crosstown | Rush hour weekdays |
| 38 | Uptown Commuter | Commuter | Rush hour weekdays |
| 40 | Montana Commuter | Commuter | Rush hour weekdays |
| 41 | North Bend Road | Crosstown | Every day |
| 43 | Reading Road – Sharonville | Local | Every day |
| Reading Road – Evendale | |||
| 46 | Avondale | Local | Every day |
| 49 | Fairmount | Local | Every day |
| 50 | River Road Commuter | Commuter | Rush hour weekdays |
| 51 | Uptown Connector | Local | Every day |
| 52X | Harrison Express | Express | Rush hour weekdays |
| 61 | Galbraith Road | Crosstown | Every day |
| 64 | Westwood | Local | Every day |
| 65 | Western Hills | Crosstown | Rush hour weekdays |
| 67 | Kemper Road | Crosstown | Every day |
| 71X | Kings Island Express | Express | Rush hour weekdays |
| 72X | Kings Island Direct | Express | Seasonal |
| 74X | Colerain Express | Express | Rush hour weekdays |
| Colerain Express via Banning | |||
| 75X | Anderson Express | Express | Rush hour weekdays |
| 77 | Delhi | Local | Every day |
| 78 | Springdale – Vine | Local | Every day |
| Lincoln Heights | |||
| 81 | Mt. Washington Commuter | Commuter | Rush hour weekdays |
| 82X | Eastgate Express | Express | Rush hour weekdays |
| 90 | MetroPlus | Limited stops | Weekdays |
MetroNow!
Throughout 2021 and early 2022, Metro worked on developing an accessible, on-demand and localized mobility service, including connections to Metro's network of more than 40 fixed bus routes.
Previously referred to as "Mobility On-Demand," this service is now called MetroNow!, with two zones that launched pilot service in Sping of 2023. Metro plans to roll out several additional service zones in the future.
Most of SORTA's roughly 3,600 stops are simply marked with a sign on a pole listing routes the stop serves, and are fairly infrastructure-light. Several dozen stops include bus shelters and covered benches. Several suburban stops are park-and-rides. Government Square is the main transit station, located downtown near Fountain Square. SORTA owns and operates several transit centers across the region including the recently constructed Northside Transit Center, Oakley Transit Center, and Glenway Transit Center. SORTA operates the Riverfront Transit Center though it's only used for a layover point for the Metro*Plus route and a stop for route 85.
On April 4, 2021, Metro introduced a simpler fare structure.[9] With this new fare model, base fare increased 25 cents to $2 per ride on all local routes. Express buses are $2.65 within Hamilton County. Certain express routes turned into commuter routes and have a $2 fare. Express routes that go into Butler, Clermont, and Warren County have a fare of $3.75. Zone fares and paper transfers were eliminated. Transfers are only available to those using the Transit app and to 5-ride ticket users. There are several day pass options available to purchase. Mobile fares must be purchased through the Transit app. Refer to the charts for more information. Transfers to higher-cost service require payment of the fare difference. Children under 36 inches ride for free with a fare-paying rider; a limit of 2 children applies.
Metro fares are available for mobile payment via Transit, an app that has been adopted for such purposes across several cities.[10]
| Fare type | Price | Half fare | Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County Local | $2 | $1 | 1, 4, 5, 6, 11, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 41, 43, 46, 49, 50, 51, 61, 64, 65, 67, 77, 78, 90 (M+). |
| Hamilton County Commuter | 2, 12, 22, 25, 30, 38, 40, 81 | ||
| Hamilton County Express | $2.65 | $1.30 | 3X, 23X, 29X, 52X, 72X, 74X, 75X |
| Suburban County Express (Clermont, Warren) | $3.75 | $1.85 | 71X, 82X |
| Access Fare | $4 | ||
| Metro*NOW Fare | $2 per ride. | No discounted fare. | |
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Hamilton County Local & Commuter 24-Hour Pass | $4 |
| Metro/TANK 24-Hour Pass | $5 |
| Hamilton County Express 24-Hour Pass | $5.30 |
| Suburban County Express 24-Hour Pass | $7.50 |
| 5-ride Hamilton County Local & Commuter Service Ticket | $10 |
| Half Fare 24-Hour Pass (Child Fare, Fare Deal, UC, Cincinnati State) | $2 |
| Hamilton County Local 30-day Pass | $80 |
| Hamilton County Express 30-day Pass | $105 |
| Metro/TANK 30-day Pass | $105 |
| Suburban County Express 30-day Pass | $150 |
SORTA operates about 350 buses on fixed routes, and about 50 smaller vehicles as part of their 'demand responsive services'. All vehicles in SORTA's fleet are ADA accessible. On average, vehicles in the fixed route fleet are 6.9 years old, and in the demand-responsive fleet 1.4 years. Vehicles in the fixed route fleet are rated, on average, for a capacity and 65 passengers, both sitting and standing.[11]
All fixed-route buses have a bike rack mounted on the front with room for two bicycles.
Garages
- Queensgate Garage 1401 Bank Street, Cincinnati, OH 45214
- Bond Hill Garage 4700 Paddock Road, Cincinnati, OH 45229
For more information about the history of Metro's fleet, including current and retired buses, go to CPTDB: Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority
| Year | Manufacturer | Model | Fleet numbers | Bond Hill | Queensgate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1201–1245 | 1207, 1210-1212, 1218-1220, 1225, 1228-1230 | 1231, 1233–1245 | 1201 is a 2011 model. In the process of being retired. 1201-1206, 1208-1209, 1213-1217, 1221-1224, 1226-1227, 1232 retired. |
| 2013 | Gillig | Low Floor BRT Plus | 1301–1310 | None | 1301–1307, 1309–1310 | Former METRO*PLUS buses. Now used on any route. 1308 retired in 2021. |
| 2013 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1321–1343 | 1331–1334, 1336–1343 | 1321–1330 | 1335 retired due to fire in August 2022. |
| 2015 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1501–1537 | 1501–1510 | 1511–1525, 1527–1537 | 1526 retired in August 2022 due to fire damage. |
| 2016 | Gillig | Low Floor Commute | 1601–1622 | 1601–1607 | 1608–1622 | Mostly used on express/commuter routes. Can occasionally be seen on local routes. |
| 2018 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1801–1819 | None | 1801–1819 | |
| 2018–19 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1820–1830 | None | 1821–1829 | 1824–1830 are 2019 models. 1830 out of service, possibly retired. Last seen 12/10/22. |
| 2019 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1901–1934 | 1901–1914 | 1915–1934 | 1934 has two different seat types. |
| 2020 | Gillig | Low Floor | 2001–2021 | 2001–2008, 2010–2011 | 2012–2016, 2018–2021 | 2009 was renumbered to 2020. 2017 was renumbered to 2021. 2018 out of service, possibly retired after being hit by another driver on 4/3/23. |
| 2020–21 | Gillig | Low Floor | 2022–2031 | 2027–2031 | 2022–2026 | 2028 out of service, possibly retired. Last in service on 7/15/2023 |
| 2021 | Gillig | Low Floor | 2140–2170 | 2140–2154 | 2155–2170 | |
| 2022 | Gillig | Low Floor | 2201–2225 | 2201–2215 | 2216–2225 | |
| 2023 | Gillig | Low Floor Hybrid | 2301–2310 | 2301–2310 | None | |
| 2023 | Gillig | Low Floor | 2311–2325 | None | 2311–2325 | |
| 2024 | Gillig | Low Floor | 2401-2412 | 2401-2412 | None | All in service as of 10/31/24. Will begin to replace 1200 series buses. |
| 2024 | Gillig | Low Floor Hybrid | 2421-2427 | None | 2421-2427 | All in service as of 11/14/2024. Will replace some 1200 series buses. |
Adjacent public transit agencies:
- Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA), serving Butler County, Ohio
- Clermont Transportation Connection (CTC), serving Clermont County, Ohio
- Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK), serving Northern Kentucky
- Warren County Transit, serving Warren County, Ohio
Other major public transit agencies in Ohio:
- Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), serving Columbus, Ohio
- Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), serving Cleveland, Ohio
- Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (formerly the Miami Valley RTA), serving Dayton, Ohio
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