Cincinnati Stateis teaming up with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (Metro) to offer a discount card program that will allow participating students to ride for $1 on any route.

The Cincinnati State/Metro discount card program, which is subsidized by the college, is intended to lessen traffic congestion, free up valuable parking on and near campus, and reduce transportation costs for students.

The program provides $1 rides on any Metro route, any time, to Cincinnati State students with a special Cincinnati State/Metro discount card. This represents a significant savings over Metro’s regular fares of $1.75 to $4.25 per ride. Students who need to a transfer must also pay the $.50 transfer fare.

To receive a discount card, students must register on an internal Cincinnati State Website; cards bearing photo IDs are then mailed to their homes. There is no cost, but students will need to request a new Metro discount card every six months.

“Because of our enormous growth, we’re especially interested in making it more attractive for our students to use public transportation to get to and from campus,’’ said Cincinnati State President O’dell M. Owens. “We have long partnered with Metro to sell monthly passes, but this discount program represents a new opportunity to improve access without bringing more cars into Clifton and Northside."

Metro’s CEO Terry Garcia Crews said this is also an opportunity to harvest long-range benefits.

"With this program, Metro can introduce Cincinnati State students to public transportation. We hope to foster habits that will serve the community by reducing traffic congestion and create Metro riders well beyond graduation," Crews said. "Riding Metro will help students reduce their commuting costs and give them a little last-minute study time on the bus."