REMINDER: Public Meeting for Proposed Fare Increase

CINCINNATI -- The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., at the Duke Energy Center, 525 Elm Street, in Rooms 232-233, to receive public comments about proposed Metro fare changes effective Feb. 4, 2007.

The public may come anytime during the meeting to give their comments.

A sign language interpreter will be available at the meeting; accessible format materials will be available.

All comments received by Nov. 30, 2006, will become part of the official public meeting record and will be considered. There are several ways for customers to comment if they cannot attend the public meeting.

Comments may be submitted in the following ways:

On-line comment form at www.go-metro.com
E-mail to farecomments@go-metro.com
Fax to (513) 621-5291
Surveys on buses
Mail to SORTA, 1014 Vine Street, Suite 2000, Cincinnati, OH 45202

For more information, call Metro at (513) 621-4455 or visit www.go-metro.com.

Higher fuel costs, decreases in state funding, and inadequate federal and state grants to replace old buses are budgetary factors driving the proposed fare increase.

The following proposed Metro fares, which reflect a $0.25 base fare increase, would be in effect at all times every day, beginning Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007:

$1.25 base fare for travel within Zone 1 (City of Cincinnati)
$1.75 base fare for travel to, from or within Zone 2 (Hamilton County)
$2.25 base fare for travel to, from or within Zone 3 (Clermont County contract services) and Harrison
$2.50 base fare for travel to or from Butler County or Warren County (contract services)

Fare Deal fare for older adults and people with disabilities and fare for children under age 5 (45”) would be half of the regular fare. There is no increase proposed for transfers or the Riverfront Parking Shuttle (which is subsidized by Duke Energy).

MetroCard and other monthly pass prices (including the Fare Deal sticker) would increase $5.

The SORTA board decided not to propose an increase in Access paratransit fares for people whose disabilities prevent their use of 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.