FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 1, 2006

NEW ON-LINE TRIP PLANNER NOW ON METRO’S WEBSITE
Metro customers can plan bus trips on-line, anytime day or night;
one customer will win a year’s worth of free rides

A simple version of the new trip planner is available on Metro’s home page.  The more detailed version is just a mouse-click away, featuring frequently requested landmarks such as Metro park & rides, medical facilities, educational institutions, office buildings, entertainment, restaurants, shopping, hotels, and churches on special pull-down menus.  By selecting a pre-identified landmark, the customer doesn’t have to know the address.

To use Metro’s new trip planner, just key in:

·         Address, intersection or landmark where the trip will begin

·         Address, intersection or landmark where the trip will end

·         Date and time you want to leave or arrive

·         What’s most important to you: travel time, walking distance or transfers

·         Type of fare:  adult, Fare Deal or child

·         If you need a wheelchair-accessible bus

The personalized trip plan will offer several travel options.  Each option will provide bus stop, bus route and transfer information, fare, travel time, walking distance and a map.

Since this is a Beta site, Metro will be making adjustments to the trip planner and adding landmarks over the next several months.

Customers are encouraged to complete a form on Metro’s home page to comment on the new trip planner and make suggestions.  All customers who complete the form will be eligible to win a year’s free rides on Metro; deadline to enter is Friday, Nov. 24.  One winner will be selected on Monday, Nov. 27.  No purchase necessary.

Metro’s call center will continue to provide personalized bus information at

(513) 621-4455, weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The new trip planner will be of particular benefit to customers when the call center is not open.

“This is the age of information,” said Michael Setzer, CEO & General Manager of Metro.  “The on-line trip planner is just one of the technological improvements we’re made for customers this year.  Our new website, Project Lily Pad hot spots at Government Square and our new Anderson Center Station park & ride, and Commuter Alerts direct to our customers’ PDAs, cell phones and e-mail make transit information more accessible than ever.”

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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