CINCINNATI – The new Government Square will open for business -- and buses -- on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006.

The City of Cincinnati and Metro will officially dedicate the new downtown transit hub during a grand opening ceremony on Friday, Aug. 18.

The benefits of the Government Square redesign include improved safety, convenience and accessibility for people with disabilities. The new square features:

Larger shelters on the main square and new shelters under construction on Fifth, Walnut and Main streets
Safer bus boarding area
New Fifth Street sidewalk for pedestrians crossing between Walnut and Main
Consolidation of more routes for easier transfers
Security camera system
New information booth, staffed weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Journey Through History panels, chronicling the history of the Government Square area and transit in Cincinnati

Government Square will be the newest Lily Pad free wireless internet hot spot, thanks to the partnership of Metro, Project Lily Pad and Time-Warner Business Class.

“The new Government Square is a vital part of the downtown renaissance,” said Metro CEO and General Manager Michael Setzer. “The new design offers our customers and the entire downtown community improved convenience, safety and accessibility.”

The $9.3 million project was funded primarily through federal and state grants, including $4 million in federal funds and $3.7 million from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and its Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) process.

Cincinnati-based architects Michael Schuster Associates Inc. and engineers from

Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas Inc. created the new design. Government Square is owned by the City of Cincinnati and operated by Metro.

Located on Fifth Street between Walnut and Main, Government Square is Metro’s primary transit hub in downtown Cincinnati and the largest in Metro’s system. More than half of Metro’s total service is routed through the area. The Government Square area serves 15,000-20,000 customers per day.

A new look for Metro

When the new Government Square is unveiled, Metro also will introduce a new look to the community, including:

· New low-floor buses: By September, 40 new low-floor buses with no front steps will replace older buses that are not accessible to people with disabilities. Federal and state grants paid most of the cost of the new buses.

· New logo and colors: The 40 new buses will sport Metro’s new “wheel” logo and colors. The remainder of the fleet will change to the new design gradually, as routine repainting is done. The first new bus will be introduced at the Government Square dedication on Aug. 18.

· New website: Metro will introduce its new website, www.go-metro.com, complete with an on-line personal trip planner (similar to MapQuest), later this month.

“The Government Square construction and new buses provided a very cost-effective opportunity to redefine what Metro is today,” said Setzer. “The fresh and approachable "wheel" mark implies speed and efficiency, while reinforcing Metro's commitment to customer service and the environment. We want the community to view us differently and for more people to go Metro.”

Metro is a non-profit public service of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, providing about 22 million rides per year in Greater Cincinnati.

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