Metro takes steps to avoid $4.8M budget deficit

 

Metro will raise some fares, adjust some routes and dip into its reserves to head off a projected $4.8 million operating budget deficit.  Costs are expected to increase for fuel, wages, parts and supplies, and utilities, Metro said.

 

The bus system said Monday that it worked with community leaders to address the expected shortfall and came up with these recommendations:

• Increase fares for Hamilton County outside city limits by 25 cents to $2.25;

• Drop the $5 discount for monthly passes, except for disabled and elderly persons;

• Increase the transfer charge by 10 cents, for a total of 35 cents;

• Increase fares for routes into Butler, Clermont and Warren counties by 50 cents.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/12/15/daily14.html

New Zoo Layover

From Metro Newsletter

 

Metro now has a new layover at the Cincinnati Zoo as part of the Zoo's new main entrance and pedestrian bridge construction. When construction is finished in May 2009, there will be a custom-designed shelter at the hub and two smaller shelters at Vine and Shields, but the layover itself is already in use. This means that Route 1 is no longer on detour, allowing for better transfers with Route 78.

 

Three saw-tooth lanes for buses have already been installed in the Zoo's new parking lot on Vine Street. Route 1 will approach this new layover via Erkenbrecher Avenue, turning left on Vine and then almost immediately into the parking lot. Upon leaving the layover, the bus will circle through the parking lot, turning left onto Vine and then right, back onto Erkenbrecher for the return trip. This routing is similar to that operated prior to the closure.

 

Route 1 schedules have not been reprinted yet, but a revised schedule with the new layover shown on the map is available for download HERE.

^the north terminus of the streetcar and transfer point?

^the north terminus of the streetcar and transfer point?

 

Let us hope.

Metro changing fares, routes

Budget-balancing includes suburban rate hikes

 

Facing a projected $4.8 million deficit, Metro plans to alter some bus route schedules and fares, but is not considering an overall price increase to help close its 2009 budget gap.  The changes, estimated to affect less than 1 percent of Metro's ridership, will not eliminate any routes, although a portion of Route 33 in Green Township will be dropped at the township's request.

 

Instead, Metro will tweak schedules on 20 routes by, for example, reducing the number of daily trips to focus service on the most heavily used time slots.  The proposals, some of which require Cincinnati City Council approval, are "structured to have the least possible impact on our customers" while balancing Metro's $94.6 million operating budget, said Melody Sawyer Richardson, chairwoman of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081226/NEWS01/812260338/1055/NEWS

I sent an email to Green Township expressing my concern over their request for the 33 route to be eliminated.  Here is the response I received...

 

Dear Mr. Simes,

 

Tim Reynolds from SORTA called me on December 10 to notify Green Township that the Bridgetown Loop segment of Route 33 would be deleted.  Mr. Reynolds did not give Green Township any input on this issue.  The decision was made by SORTA due to budget issues.  Green Township had NO input in the decision.  I asked Mr. Reynolds to put this “reduction in service” in writing.  He sent me the attached email.

 

In past years, the Trustees have supported this Bridgetown Loop.  Please call if you have any further questions. 574-4848 Kevin Celarek, Township Administrator.

 

 

From: Tim Reynolds [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 2:42 PM

To: Celarek, Kevin

Subject: Fwd: service reduction

 

 

Kevin,

 

As I described in our phone conversation this afternoon, The SORTA Board of Trustees passed the Metro operating budget for 2009.  There are a number of changes throughout the fixed route network.  One of these is in Green Township.

 

The "Bridgetown Loop" segment of Route 33 will be deleted from the network in March 2009.  It consists of six A.M. and seven PM trips on weekday only, operating along Glenway between the Cincinnati-Green Twp. line and Bridgetown Road, Lawrence between Glenway and Ebenezer, Ebenezer between Lawrence and Bridgetown Road, and Bridgetown Road between Ebenezer and Glenway.  The loop does not operate on Saturday or Sunday.

 

The loop is one of the least productive segments on the Metro network, averaging about one passenger per trip.  Budget conditions, which we are all having to deal with, necessitated this change and others throughout the Metro service area.  As you know, elimination of the loop had been requested by township officials in the past.

 

SORTA has scheduled a late afternoon-early evening public hearing for January 6, 2008 on its package of service change recommendations.  It will be held at the Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel in downtown Cincinnati.  Please check our website, www.go-metro.com , for details as the date approaches.

 

I hope this fully describes the service change proposal affecting Green Twp.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

 

 

Thank you,

 

Tim Reynolds

Director, Transit Development

Metro

602 Main Street, Suite1100

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-2549

So in a nutshell Green Township did request that the route be eliminated, but at the same time claim that they had "no input on the decision."  I might follow up with Tim Reynolds because something is off here.

I am not a fan of this move!

 

However, I will say that this IS probably the least productive route in the current bus system.  I grew up here, and it is very rare to see people waiting at any of the stops.  Most of the buses with ANY people on them are passengers that they probably picked up on Glenway before the turnaround.  I will say that Glenway NEEDS THIS ROUTE though.  Many of the local restaraunts are employers of quite a few riders of the system even though they may not be from the area.    This subdivision, albeit big and walkable, lies right on the border of where your standard grid hoods meet your sprawly curvy hoods.  AND EVERYBODY DRIVES to get from point A to point B.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45248&sll=37.926868,-95.712891&sspn=39.910165,79.628906&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=39.154907,-84.643843&spn=0.010067,0.019441&z=16&iwloc=addr

 

The folks who live here are 97% white and well to do middle class, so all of your stereotypes may apply toward any assumptions as to why people DON'T use public transit. 

 

Very interesting events, nonetheless!    Are they leaving the routes that use Eyrich and Moonridge????? 

 

EDIT:  No, they don't use Moonridge or Eyrich.  The 21 still goes the length of Glenway through Bridgetown.

See the action alert from the American Public Transportation Association posted at:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14971.msg357239.html#msg357239

Repeats what we already know!!

 

Metro cuts Bridgetown bus service Elimination due to low ridership

By Kurt Backscheider • [email protected] • January 16, 2009

 

Cindy Lanning wants Green Township residents to be aware a portion of Metro's bus service in Bridgetown is being eliminated effective March 1.  Metro announced last month it is altering some bus route schedules and fares to help address a projected $4.8 million deficit in its 2009 budget.

 

One of the changes set to take place in March is the elimination of the Bridgetown loop segment of Route 33 in Green Township. The Bridgetown loop runs from Glenway Avenue to Lawrence Road to Ebenezer Road to Bridgetown Road and back to Glenway.  Buses make six trips in the morning and seven trips in the evening along the loop Monday through Friday. There is no service along the loop on Saturdays or Sundays.

 

Read full article here:

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20090116/NEWS/901160358/

Green Township Administrator Kevin Celarek said neither the present board of trustees nor the administration requested Metro to reduce service in the township.

 

"They (Metro) didn't give us any input whatsoever," he said.

 

Interesting that they got an identical response to what I received.  The fact is that Green Twp had requested that this route be changed or eliminated in the past, and they have as recently as last year identified their opposition to any increased presence of Metro in Green Twp.

Bus fares going up for commuters

 

Beginning Feb. 1, 2009, cash fares will increase on Metro's Butler County and Warren County routes, the transit company has announced.  Fares for Rt. 42X West Chester Express, Rt. 42 West Chester Job Connection, Rt. 62X Fairfield Express, and Rt. 62 Fairfield Job Connection will increase to $3.50 one-way. Those fares currently are $3.

 

Fares for Rt. 71X Kings Island Express and Rt. 72 Kings Island Job Connection will increase to $4.25 one-way; up from $3.75. These routes use the shoulder lane for faster service during traffic jams.  The increases are needed because costs are rising for the longer-distance routes, Metro officials say.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090127/NEWS01/301270056

TANK says 'no smoking' at stops

TANK gets mini-grant for program

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090207/NEWS0103/902070374/-1/today

 

Passengers can no longer light up at TANK's bus shelters or the Covington transit center.

 

Ninety-five "no smoking" signs purchased with a $3,000 grant from the Northern Kentucky Health Department have been posted at the bus shelters and transit center. The money also paid for smoking cessation programs for TANK's 270 employees and family members.

 

Click on link for article.

Metro gets council OK for Zone 2 fare hike

 

Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday approved a fare hike for Metro riders in the bus system’s Zone 2 (Hamilton County outside city limits).  Beginning Feb. 22, the Zone 2 fare will rise to $2.25 from $2, according to a news release. Zone 2 fares for elderly and disabled persons under the Fare Deal program, and for children under age 5, will jump to $1.10 from $1. Children under age 2 will continue to ride for free.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/02/09/daily47.html

Metro to debut 24 new buses

Business Courier of Cincinnati, February 24, 2009

 

Cincinnati’s Metro transit system is adding 24 news buses to its fleet, replacing some that are 10 years old.  The new buses have an accessible “low floor” design, with a ramp instead of a lift for wheelchair riders, according to a news release. They also feature lower windows on the “street” level, more comfortable seat designs and up-to-date emission control technology.

 

Read full article with link.

I got to ride one of the new buses on Monday night, I believe it was route 18. "Very Nice!" The bus actually smelled awesome, can't say that often! Seats had more space between them and the back door is now automatic, so it was a little testy for those used to slamming against the old ones.

Wait for a few months. You'll get the old bus smell back :D

http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.asp?id=9704

UC and Metro Extend Bus Contract Through This Summer

 

The contract between Metro and the University of Cincinnati has been extended through the summer, with changes for university bus riders.

Date: 2/25/2009

By: Greg Hand

Phone: (513) 556-1822

 

UC ingot    The UC*Metro agreement that has subsidized bus rides for University of Cincinnati students, faculty and staff has been extended through September 2009. While UC riders will continue to enjoy subsidized fares, the extended contract will require riders to contribute to the cost of the contract.

 

<b>For spring quarter, students will pay $10 for a UC*Metro card. Faculty and staff will pay $50.

 

For summer quarter, students will pay $15 for a UC*Metro card. Faculty and staff will pay $60.</b>

 

For information about the new cards required for spring quarter at the UC*Metro Web page http://www.uc.edu/af/facilities/go_METRO.html

 

“The UC*Metro program has been extremely successful,” said Rick Wiggins, UC director of facilities management. “The user fees included in this contract extension recognize the additional costs accepted by Metro. While the university will continue to subsidize riders, the additional costs should be paid by the riders who make use of the service.”

 

Approximately 10,000 of the 47,000 faculty, staff and students at UC make use of the UC*Metro program.

 

Winter quarter UC*Metro cards will remain valid through April 30. The last day to register for a winter quarter Fare Card is Saturday, April 11.  Registration for spring quarter UC*Metro cards will begin Friday, March 27. Spring quarter cards will be valid through June 29.

 

Summer Quarter 2009 UC*Metro cards, available in late June, will be valid through September 30, 2009.

 

The UC*Metro contract initially took effect in May 2007. Financed equally by UC Student Government and by the University of Cincinnati, the contract has allowed students, faculty and staff to ride Metro buses at no cost to riders who displayed a UC identification card.

 

Negotiation for a contract extension began in July 2008. A contract modification in autumn quarter required riders to apply for a UC*Metro card. Use of this card, Wiggins said, provided solid data to evaluate how much of the UC community was using the service, and to accurately measure the additional costs absorbed by Metro.

 

Negotiations continue to extend the UC*Metro contract beyond Sept. 30.

There's a lot of talk about Metro's increased cost because of the program. Could someone explain to me what those would be beyond swipe cards?

The first bad move was to make students apply for a special card.  I'm sure the numbers of participants fell off dramatically when that happened.  Making them pay even a cheap rate on top of that will reduce the program's participation even more.

 

I guess it depends what is the desired outcome.  Is it to get as many UC people riding the bus as possible, or is it to increase Metro's ridership and improve their bottom line?

That is still slighly cheaper than buying the old monthly passes. The system had many free-riders. I think the goal has to be both getting UC folks to take advantage of the system and to fully utilize Metro is a cost-efficient manner.

Metro reducing service by 3%

 

Cincinnati Metro will reduce service on 27 routes in order to balance its 2009 budget, the bus system said.  The changes will take effect March 1, Metro said in a news release. More information and new schedules are available here.

 

Metro said in a news release that the reductions amount to 3 percent of service, mainly where ridership is low, and no routes or late-night service have been eliminated. The only street change is the elimination of the Bridgetown loop in Green Township.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/02/23/daily60.html

OKI has awarded $21,257,732 to Metro for a variety of projects.  Here's the breakdown:

 

• Nine Energy Efficient Hybrid Buses - $4,662,000
  
• Fleet watch RF hubos and system to operate automatic system - $299,732
  
• CAD/AVL System - $8,671,000
  
• Six 30' Hybrid buses - $2,100,000
  
• Mini hybrid thermal management bus kit - $525,000
  
• Preventative Maintenance - $5,000,000

 

http://www.oki.org/pdf/stimulusweb/March_TIP%20Amendment%20Table_Transit%20(2).pdf

OKI has awarded $5,350,000 to TANK for a variety of projects.  Here's the breakdown:

 

• Communications Systems - Phase I - $1,500,000
  
• Communications Systems - Phase II - $2,000,000
  
• Fare Collection - Phase I - $1,000,000
  
• Renovate Maintenance / Admin. Facility - $350,000
  
• Construction Maintenance / Admin. Facility - $100,000
  
• Park & Ride Lot Rehab - $200,000
  
• Transit Enhancements - $200,000

 

http://www.oki.org/pdf/stimulusweb/March_TIP%20Amendment%20Table_Transit%20(2).pdf

I'll be transferring to NKU in Fall 2009. Looking forward to being able to take TANK from school to downtown.

I'll be transferring to NKU in Fall 2009. Looking forward to being able to take TANK from school to downtown.

 

And it's free for students!

^I know, haha, that's the best part. I mean, I will have my car at school with me, but if I wanna go downtown for a Cyclones or Reds game and could just take the bus, that'd be great. I believe they have an express running on the weekends that goes straight to downtown from NKU, don't they? I'm not positive about that though.

I'm not sure about that, it's a ghost town on the weekends.  I graduated from NKU two years ago and never once rode the TANK to get to or from. 

Metro: Stimulus money will buy 15 hybrids

 

Cincinnati’s Metro bus system will receive $17.5 million in federal stimulus funding for a variety of capital projects. Metro General Manager Marylin Shazor celebrated the funding by participating in photo opportunity with Vice President Joe Biden at the New Flyer bus factor in St. Cloud, Minn. Metro is purchasing 15 new hybrid buses with its stimulus award. Nine of the new hybrids will replace vehicles overdue for replacement. Six are smaller, 30-foot vehicles that will be used for a shuttle service connecting Cincinnati’s museums, arts and entertainment venues.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/03/16/daily75.html

Metro debuts new hybrid buses

http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/04/metro-debuts-new-hybrid-buses.html

 

Metro will debut the first 6 of their 15 new hybrid buses on Tuesday, April 21st. The ceremony (10:30am) will take place at the Twin Lakes Overlook in Eden Park where Mayor Mallory, ODOT and others will dedicate the new buses that will then be paraded (11:00am) through Eden Park, past Mirror Lake and into downtown via 5th Street to Fountain Square.

 

The new hybrid buses will have a "unique go*GREEN hybrid design" that will reduce soot and hydrocarbon emissions by at least 90% and use about 30% less fuel that the typical Metro bus. Additional hybrid buses will be purchased next year with some of the $17.5 million that Metro received from stimulus funds in March.

 

The 6 new hybrid buses will go into service the next day and will be featured in a lunchtime Earth Day event on Fountain Square before officially being launched into service at 1pm. At the Earth Day event, there will be a fashion show of "environmentally-conscience and bike beautiful" fashions. The models will arrive on the new hybrid buses and will use the Flower Carpet, on Fountain Square, as their runway. Visitors will also be able to check out the new hybrid buses and get more information on Metro during the event.

 

To learn more about Metro's new hybrid buses check out this interactive diagram.

 

One of the new buses:

 

New 30 second TV ad for the new hybrid buses:

...did they really need a television commercial for that?

Are those the first low-floor busses operating in the Cincinnati area? They're pretty common in other cities by now, but I don't remember seeing any last time I was in Cincy.

...did they really need a television commercial for that?

 

It's a commercial encouraging people to take the bus...what's wrong with that?

 

Are those the first low-floor busses operating in the Cincinnati area?

 

No.

A hybrid bus is great and all, but I just think a commercial to announce a new bus during a time when Metro is pinching pennies and reducing routes is not a good use of public money. Commercials are expensive, and I'm sure that more people will see these buses in operation that can provide free advertising. Nice use of an advertising wrap to promote the hybrid buses, though.

The main point of the commercial is to encourage people to ride Metro.  They use the new hybrid buses and "green" advantages as a selling point, but the root of the message is to ride Metro.

They had one parked curbside to Fountain Square yesterday .... everyone was checking it out.

^The fact that it was full of models for the fashion show probably helped

 

 

 

I know the girl in that second shot...and I'm diggin' that Cincinnati bag the girl is sporting in the last photo.

That's Kim; I can't remember where she got her bag, but I think it was Park+Vine, made by Fabric Horse. I have an identical bag design, but with trees. Fabric Horse is a Columbus-based outfit that is small, eco-friendly and run by only a few younger adults. Really cool operation.

You're not fooling anyone, you were looking at the bikes!

Eco Go Go comments please go here :)

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,19025.0.html

 

Bikes? What? Where?

Metro opens ‘green’ zoo transit hub

 

Cincinnati Metro on Saturday opened its “Zoo Hub” adjacent to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s new Vine Street entrance.  The transit hub includes a shelter that connects to a pedestrian bridge over Vine Street, a bus lane and three bus bays, according to a news release. The hub will be served by Metro’s Route 1: Museum Center-Mount Adams-Zoo, and will be a transfer point for Route 78: Springdale-Vine-Lincoln Heights-Woodlawn. It will also serve shuttle buses in the Zoo area.

 

The hub is expected to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification, according to the release. It has LED lighting powered by solar panels, and a rain garden that utilizes rainwater runoff from the roof.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/05/18/daily2.html

^having a transit hub at the northern terminus of phase 2 of the streetcar makes sense.

:-o  More cuts in service: :-o

 

http://www.sorta.com/news/2009/nr22.html

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2009

 

METRO'S SUMMER SERVICE CHANGES ON SUNDAY, MAY 31

More service to Kings Island for summer jobs; adjustments to improve productivity

 

CINCINNATI – Metro's summer service change will go into effect Sunday, May 31. The following routes have schedule changes:

 

Rt. 4 Montgomery Rd. corridor

Rt. 6 Queen City (reduce weekday service after 6 p.m.- adjusted running times and eliminate eight p.m. trips)

Rt. 10 Western Hills-Price Hill (adjusted weekday running times)

Rt. 17 Hamilton Ave. corridor (adjusted weekday running times)

Rt. 20 Winton-Tri-County (adjusted weekday running times after 6 p.m. and eliminate two p.m. trips)

Rt. 23X Tri-County Express (two timepoints removed from the map, but no schedule changes)

Rt. 25X Mt. Lookout Express (eliminate one a.m. and one p.m. trip)

Rt. 28 East End-Milford (eliminate three a.m. trips on Saturday)

Rt. 30X Beechmont Express (eliminate one p.m. trip)

Rt. 31 West End-Evanston Crosstown (reduce Saturday service before 8 a.m. and after 10 p.m.- eliminate three a.m. and three p.m. trips plus running times)

Rt. 32 Delhi-Price Hill (adjust weekday running times)

Rt. 33 Western Hills-Glenway (adjust weekday running times and eliminate four a.m. trips)

Rt. 34X Western Hills Express ( eliminate one a.m. and one p.m. trip)

Rt. 40X Montana Express

Rt. 43 Reading Road (adjusted weekday running times and eliminate one p.m. trip)

Rt. 44X Roselawn Express (eliminate one a.m. and one p.m. trip)

Rt. 45 Bond Hill (adjusted weekday running times and eliminate two p.m. trips)

Rt. 47 Winton Hills (adjusted weekday running times and eliminate two a.m. and six p.m. trips)

Rt. 49 Fairmount (adjust weekday running times and eliminate two a.m. trips)

Rt. 50 Sayler Park (eliminate two a.m. trips on Saturday)

Rt. 51 Clifton-Hyde Park Crosstown (eliminate one a.m. and one p.m. trip on Saturday)

Rt. 66 Blue Ash Job Connection (eliminate weekend service)

Rt. 72 Kings Island Job Connection (add Kings Island service 7 days a week plus special $1.75 fare on 72 only)

Rt. 75X Anderson Express, Anderson-UC Express (eliminate one p.m. trip)

Rt. 78 Vine St. corridor (adjusted weekday running times and eliminate one a.m. and two p.m. trips)

Rt. 81X Mt. Washington Express ( eliminate one a.m. and one p.m. trip)

Many of the changes reflect Metro's continued efforts to reduce costs by eliminating unproductive trips and adjusting the schedules to compensate.

 

Two routes have more significant changes:

 

Rt. 66 Blue Ash Job Connection: Weekend service is being eliminated due to extremely low ridership. This is only one morning and one afternoon trip.

 

Rt. 72 Kings Island will add more trips to accommodate increased ridership due to summer employment at Kings Island. The change includes more late night and weekend service and a reduced $1.75 fare, funded by a federal Job Access/Reverse Commute (JARC) grant through OKI Regional Council of Governments.

Get information and new bus schedules: Metro will distribute bus schedules and answer customer questions in the Mercantile Building arcade, 120 E. Fourth Street, across from the Government Square transit hub, on Monday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 19, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

 

Metro staff will also be on Government Square on Friday, May 29 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. to distribute bus schedules and answer questions.

 

The new May 31 bus schedules are now available on www.go-metro.com. For information, call Metro at 621-4455, weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon.

 

Thousands of dollars saved annually by commuters who "ride out" the recession on Metro

http://www.go-metro.com/news/2009/nr25.html

 

Cost-conscious commuters are riding out the recession and savings thousands of dollars by riding Metro.

 

Based on the local average gas price of $2.35 per gallon and a $120 monthly parking cost, it costs a commuter driving 30 miles round-trip per day from the suburbs to downtown more than $7,200 a year – that’s more than $600 a month – to drive.  A Metro pass good for unlimited use is just $90 a month for Hamilton County service. In this example, the savings by riding Metro is more than $500 per month or $6,000 a year.

 

To calculate your cost of driving, go to http://www.go-metro.com/costofdriving.html, plug in the numbers and see for yourself.  Metro monthly passes start at just $55 for City of Cincinnati and $90 per month for Hamilton County; outlying counties are higher, but the distance is also greater so the savings increase.

 

“Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days,” said Metro Chief Administrative Officer Sallie Hilvers.  “By riding Metro, commuters can keep more dollars in their wallets and reduce wear and tear on their vehicles.  The savings really add up.”

 

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) found similar savings occurring nationwide.  Go to http://www.publictransportation.org to calculate individual savings with or without car ownership.  In addition to saving money, riding public transportation takes cars off the road, reduces carbon emissions and mitigates America's dependence on foreign oil.

 

Regarding parking costs, the national average for the monthly unreserved parking rate in a city’s downtown business district is $143, according to the 2008 Colliers International Parking Rate Study.  Over the course of a year, parking costs alone can amount to an average of $1,720.

UC students to pay more for Metro cards

 

The University of Cincinnati has increased fees for ID cards that let UC students and faculty ride Metro buses without paying a fare. UC and Metro are renegotiating the terms of their two-year-old pilot project, which means student costs could rise again in the fall.

 

UC announced yesterday that UC*Metro cards would cost $15 for students and $60 for faculty for the summer quarter. This is the latest in a series of changes for the program, which began with Metro offering free rides to anyone who produced a university photo ID. The program was expanded to include NKU students last May and in September, UC issued special IDs to track usage and costs. In the spring, UC charged for the cards for the first time, $10 per student.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/06/08/daily22.html

I don't think anything new was actually announced here.  We already knew that passes were going up to $15 for students starting Summer Quarter.

 

I'm just confused as to why UC and student government are still paying Metro so much, after the program was reduced from 8,800 free riders to 2,800 paying riders.  Seems UC could negotiate a better deal for students.

TANK wins $4.5 million in stimulus funds

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/06/15/daily67.html

 

The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) has been awarded $4.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to upgrade its bus system, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Friday.

 

Click on link for article.