City employees now stand to benefit from a long-standing Metro and City of Cincinnati partnership through an arrangement that allows them to purchase discounted bus passes.
Metro and the City of Cincinnati are dedicated to enhancing transportation access and improving residents’ quality of life in the Cincinnati region. Recent partnerships include the Metro Transit Infrastructure Funds (MTIF), where in the past three years, Metro has awarded the City of Cincinnati $42 million to 16 transit-related infrastructure projects. Additionally, the two have collaborated on numerous initiatives with a shared vision of enhancing mobility, increasing economic development, and reducing the cost of living for Cincinnati residents.
Now, Metro and the City are partnering to provide the Metro Pass program to interested City employees. While final details are being negotiated, Cincinnati City Council approved a motion on May 8 introduced by Council member Reggie Harris that would allow City employees to purchase discounted monthly bus passes.
With many City employees living within Hamilton County, having transportation options, specifically affordable options, is a crucial benefit to attract and retain talented employees, Harris said. Discounted bus fare that can be used at any time benefits City employees not just for commuting to work, but for getting to stores, doctor appointments, entertainment and more.
“This partnership is a no-brainer for the City. Providing discounted bus passes for our employees aligns with our goals of sustainability, equity and employee attraction and retention,” Harris said. “We’re grateful for our partnership with Metro and CEO Darryl Haley and look forward to working with them to continue expanding access to quality public transportation in Cincinnati.”
Once the arrangement has been finalized, City employees can enroll in the Metro Pass program during their employee benefits open enrollment period. Employees who opt in to the Metro Pass program will receive a 25% discount on a monthly bus pass. The City also has the option to further subsidize the program for its employees in the future.
“The City has been a great partner of ours for many years,” said Darryl Haley, Metro CEO and General Manager. “We’re excited to offer the Metro Pass program to City employees. Together, we’re working to tackle the barriers to accessing great jobs and create a more thriving region through quality, affordable public transit.”
Metro and the City will also partner to offer education about riding the bus to help remove any perceived barriers for new potential riders.
