Go Metro Ridership Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Go Metro announced that its ridership overall is more than 80% toward achieving pre-pandemic figures, compared to an average monthly ridership of 1.1 million in 2019, according to the agency's news release.

Metro said it provided more than 900,000 trips in August.

Several routes have exceeded pre-pandemic levels courtesy of recent service improvements and promotions, according to Metro. In May 2021, Metro introduced 24-hour service on seven routes, two new crosstown routes, increased frequency, and service-hour span across most routes, in addition to new weekend service and buses offering free Wi-Fi and charging ports as part of its "Reinventing Metro" plan.

“The success we’ve seen with the 'Reinventing Metro' plan and these recent programs can only be described as historic,” said Darryl Haley, Metro CEO/GM. “What these ridership numbers tell us is that we are on the right track with building and delivering on the service our community wants. What we’ve seen is that once an individual gives Metro a try, they’ll keep coming back and choose transit over driving more and more to get to their destinations.”

Metro currently has a partnership with the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati State to offer students a discounted bus fare. This school year, Metro said it has rolled out a four-week fare-free promotion for students who created an account using the Transit app.

As a result of the promotion, enrollment in UC’s Metro discount program grew by 20% in the first few weeks of school, and Cincinnati State’s by 65%, according to the agency.

Metro said it has decided to extend the fare-free offer for UC students and staff and Cincinnati State students for another month, through Oct. 24 and Oct. 31.