Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority
| |
A Metro Route 41 bus heads West on Galbraith Road in North College Hill, Ohio in 2010 | |
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, Streetcar |
Number of lines |
|
Number of stations | 4,465 bus stops,[1] 18 streetcar stations |
Annual ridership | 48,000 unlinked passenger trips[2] |
Chief executive | Dwight Ferrell |
Headquarters | 602 Main Street, Cincinnati, Ohio |
Website | go-metro.com |
Operation | |
Began operation | December 30, 1952 (as Cincinnati Transit Commission) |
Operator(s) |
MV Transportation[3] Transdev[4] |
Number of vehicles | 353 transit buses, 46 paratransit vehicles, 5 streetcars |
Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, abbreviated SORTA, is the public transport agency serving Cincinnati and its Ohio suburbs. The agency provides Metro transit bus service, Access paratransit service, and the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar system in downtown Cincinnati. SORTA replaced the Cincinnati Transit Commission, which operated buses from 1952 to 1973. As of 2015, the agency operates 50 bus routes and facilitates approximately 16 million passenger trips annually.[5]
SORTA is funded primarily by Cincinnati's city earnings tax, second by fares, and third by federal sources, with some other minor sources. This stands 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 is about 0.3%.
Downtown Cincinnati is also served by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK), whose transit services extend over the Ohio River into Northern Kentucky.
Routes
SORTA 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 better frequency at the rush hours. Approximately 90% of all trips are made on the all-day routes, 10% on the express commuter routes. In 2012 SORTA released its schedule information in the General Transit Feed Specification, making schedules more easily available to customers.[6]
SORTA also provides school bus services to Cincinnati Public Schools with vehicles from their fleet of transit buses. School bus routes, called Metro XTRA, are technically open to any fare-paying customer. However, they are circuitous, not well advertised, and mostly used by CPS students. School bus routes are not listed in the table below.
SORTA operates the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar system between downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Cincinnati Bell owns the naming rights for the streetcar until 2026.[7] Service began at noon on September 9, 2016. General fare is $1 for a 2-hour pass and $2 for an all day pass; however, transfers to buses require paying difference in fares. Tickets can be purchased at ticket vending machines posted at each station.
Routes 29X, and 82X extend into neighboring Clermont County under an arrangement with the Clermont Transportation Connection. Routes 71 and 71X extend into neighboring Warren County under an arrangement with Warren County Transit. Routes 42 and 42X extend into neighboring Butler County under an agreement with Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA).
Number | Route name(s) | Service Days |
---|---|---|
100 | Cincinnati Bell Connector | Monday - Sunday |
1 | Mt. Adams- Eden Park | Weekdays |
2X | Madeira Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
3-3X | Montgomery Express
Montgomery Job Connection |
Weekdays During Rush Hour |
4 | Kenwood - Blue Ash
Ridge Road Silverton - Blue Ash Norwood |
Silverton & Norwood (Weekdays)
Kenwood & Ridge (Monday-Sunday) |
6 | Queen City | Monday - Sunday |
11 | Madison Road - Oakley
Erie Avenue - Hyde Park |
Monday - Sunday |
12X | Madisonville Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
14X | Forest Park Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
15X | Daly Express
Mt. Healthy Express |
Weekdays During Rush Hour |
16 | Mt. Healthy | Monday - Saturday |
17 | Seven Hills, Mt. Healthy, Mt. Airy, Northgate | Northgate (Monday-Saturday)
Mt. Healthy, Mt. Airy, Seven Hills (Monday - Sunday) |
19 | Colerain - Northgate | Monday - Sunday |
20 | Winton Road - Tri-County | Monday - Saturday |
21 | Harrison Avenue | Monday - Sunday |
23 | Forest Park Northside Job Connection | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
23X | Tri-County Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
24 | Uptown - Mt. Lookout - Anderson | Monday - Sunday |
25X | Mount Lookout Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
27 | Northside - Casey | Monday - Sunday |
28 | East End - Madisonville | Weekdays |
29X | Milford Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
30X | Beechmont Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
31 | West End - Evanston Crosstown | Monday - Sunday |
32 | Price Hill - Delhi - Sayler Park
Covedale - Price Hill via Matson |
Covedale (Monday - Friday)
Sayler Park (Monday - Sunday) |
33 | Western Hills - Glenway | Monday - Sunday |
38X | Glenway Crossing - Uptown Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
40X | Montana Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
41 | Glenway Crossing - Oakley Crosstown | Monday - Sunday |
42 | West Chester Job Connection | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
42X | West Chester Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
43RL | Reading - Lockland
Evendale - Woodlawn Roselawn Winton Hills Bond Hill |
Evendale & Roselawn (Mon-Fri) All others Mon-Sun. |
46 | Avondale - Zoo | Monday - Sunday |
49 | Fairmount - English Woods | Monday - Sunday |
50 | Sayler Park | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
51 | Glenway Crossing - Hyde Park Crosstown | Monday - Sunday |
52X | Harrison Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
64 | Glenway Crossing - Westwood | Monday - Sunday |
67 | Sharonville Job Connection | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
71X | Kings Island - Fields Ertel Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
71 | Kings Island Job Connection | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
72 | Kings Island Direct | Seasonal (June - October) |
74X | Colerain Express
Colerain Express via Banning |
Weekdays During Rush Hour |
75X | Anderson Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
77X | Delhi Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
78 | Springdale - Vine
Lincoln Heights |
Monday - Sunday |
81X | Mount Washington Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
82X | Eastgate Express | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
85 | Riverfront Parking Shuttle | Weekdays During Rush Hour |
90 | Metro*Plus - Kenwood | Weekdays |
Ridership
Transit ridership in Greater Cincinnati has generally been on the decline for at least the last several decades. Of particular note, the 2008 recession significantly cut into SORTA's budget, resulting in service cuts and fare increases which seem to have had a very large impact on overall ridership. A few main lines, those running most frequently, account for a majority of all trips, while weekday rush-hour express services account for only about 10% of all trips.
Ridership also varies dramatically by time of day. Almost twice as many people board transit during the peak of either rush hour as do during midday. This phenomenon is also observed on the all-day lines, even if peak-hour-only services are disregarded.
Year | Total unlinked passenger trips |
---|---|
1991 | 28,845,617 |
1992 | 27,883,500 |
1993 | 26,009,113 |
1994 | 25,212,426 |
1995 | 23,980,156 |
1996 | 26,456,015 |
1997 | 26,227,001 |
1998 | 28,809,040 |
1999 | 26,383,074 |
2000 | 26,637,640 |
2001 | 25,066,546 |
2002 | 24,615,383 |
2003 | 24,143,526 |
2004 | 23,319,650 |
2005 | 26,158,352 |
2006 | 25,555,566 |
2007 | 26,146,916 |
2008 | 26,072,321 |
2009 | 23,120,952 |
2010 | 19,007,620 |
2011 | 18,957,732 |
2012 | 17,553,120 |
Stops and stations
Most of SORTA's roughly 5,000 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 the Riverfront Transit Center though it's only used for a layover point for the Metro*Plus route. No passengers are allowed at this layover.
Fares
Currently, standard zone-1 fare is $1.75. Destinations outside the city of Cincinnati can cost between $2.65 and $4.25. Transfers are $0.50 extra, which can't be used for round-trips nor stopovers; no charge next two uses within 2 hours. Day Passes are $4.50 within Zone 1 or $6.30 within Zone 2, plus fare difference if past it. No fare to kids under 35 inches (89 cm); limit 2 per fare-paying passenger.[8]
On April 30, 2007, SORTA began a partnership with the University of Cincinnati to provide free rides to its students, staff, and faculty. The partnership was scheduled to last for two years and the initial response to the offer had been positive.[9] Current policy requires students and faculty to purchase a special UC*Metro card, costing $53 and $160 per semester, respectively.[10] A similar offer is available to students at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and to Antonelli College students. Students can register for a free card which provide them with a $1 fare for any bus ride one direction. University of Cincinnati students and faculty are also eligible to choose this card instead of purchasing the other UC*METRO card.
Riders may also use SORTA's Cincy EZRide App, which is free to download. The app allows riders to plan trips, track a bus, and pay the fare within the app.[11]
Garages & Fleet
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.[12]
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
Current Buses in Service
Year | Manufacturer | Model | Series #'s | Garage | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Gillig | Phantom | 924-974 | Queensgate | Only 8 remain in service: 961, 962, 968, 970-974 |
2002 | Gillig | Phantom | 2100-2137 | Queensgate & Bond Hill | 2100-2125 at QG (2100, 2103, 2104, 2106, 2120 retired). 2126-2137 at BH (2126 retired). |
2004 | Gillig | Phantom | 4000-4022 | Queensgate & Bond Hill | 4000-4008 at BH, 4009-4022 at QG |
2006 | Gillig | Low Floor | 6000-6039 | Queensgate | 6003 & 6022 retired. |
2008 | Gillig | Low Floor | 8000 | Queensgate | |
2008 | New Flyer | D40LF | 8001-8024 | Queensgate | First order ever of New Flyer buses |
2008 | New Flyer | DE40LF | 8025-8030 | Queensgate | First order ever of hybrid buses. |
2009 | New Flyer | D40LF | 9000-9031, 9038-9067 | Queensgate & Bond Hill | 9000-9011, 9038-9052 at BH. 9012-9031, 9053-9067 at QG. |
2009 | New Flyer | D60LF | 9033-9037 | Bond Hill | Used on routes 3, 43 & 78 Monday-Friday. |
2010 | New Flyer | DE40LF | 9068-9070 | Queensgate | |
2010 | New Flyer | DE30LFR | 1001-1004 | Queensgate | Only transit agency to order these. Used on routes 1, 28, 50, and 85. |
2011 | New Flyer | DE40LFR | 1101-1114 | Queensgate & Bond Hill | 1101-1107 at BH. 1108-1114 at QG. 1113 used on route 90. |
2011 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1201 | Bond Hill | |
2012 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1202-1245 | Queensgate & Bond Hill | 1202-1235 at BH. 1236-1245 at QG |
2013 | Gillig | Low Floor BRTPlus | 1301-1310 | Queensgate | Used on route 90. |
2013 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1321-1343 | Queensgate & Bond Hill | 1321-1330 at QG. 1331-1343 at BH. |
2015 | Gillig | Low Floor | 1501-1537 | Queensgate & Bond Hill | 1501-1525 at BH. 1526-1537 at QG. Equipped with Wi-Fi beginning 4/9/18 |
2016 | Gillig | Low Floor Commute | 1601-1622 | Queensgate & Bond Hill | 1601-1607 at BH. 1608-1622 at QG. Used on routes 42, 52, 71, and 82. Equipped with Wi-Fi service beginning 4/9/18. |
2018-19 | Gillig | Low Floor | TBD | Queensgate & Bond Hill | Order of 34 40 foot buses. ETA unknown. |
Public relations
In 1993, SORTA began experimenting with the use of biodiesel. In 2001, SORTA operated about half of its bus fleet on a biodiesel blend. Since September 2005 (initially because of Hurricane Katrina), SORTA has continuously operated its buses with a biodiesel blend. In 2006, SORTA consumed almost 1.8 million gallons of biodiesel made from soybeans grown in Ohio.[13]
See also
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
References
- ↑ "SORTA's current GTFS feed data". Go-Metro.com. SORTA. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ "National Transit Database, TS2.2 - Service Data and Operating Expenses Time-Series by System". National Transit Database. USDOT, Federal Transit Administration. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013" (PDF). Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. 2014. p. 19. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ↑ Coolidge, Sharon (October 6, 2016). "Full speed ahead: Streetcar operator will run more streetcars". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ↑ "About Metro". Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
- ↑ "Developer Data". Go-Metro.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ↑ Brownfield, Andy (August 18, 2016). "Cincinnati Bell buys streetcar naming rights". Cincinnati Business Courier. American City Business Journals. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
- ↑ "Fare Information". SORTA. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ↑ "New UC/Metro Partnership a Sizzling Summer Success".
- ↑ "UC*Metro". . University of Cincinnati.
- ↑ "Cincy EZRide App - Go Metro". www.go-metro.com. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
- ↑ "National Transit Database". National Transit Database. Federal Transit Administration. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ↑ "THAT'S A LOT OF SOYBEANS: METRO USED ALMOST 1.8 MILLION GALLONS OF BIODIESEL IN 2006".
External links
- Go Metro, SORTA official website