The Metro Board of Trustees approved a new fare structure last year (2025). Under the new structure, local fares are $2.20, and express route fares are $3.00.

FREE Child Fare Policy for 10 year olds and under

Metro’s child fare policy allows all children under 55 inches tall (about 4 1/2 feet) to ride for free, with a fare-paying adult (limited to two free children fares per single adult ride). To support this policy, each bus features a height indicator at the 55-inch mark to help operators and customers easily determine eligibility. This new policy is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, which report the average height of a 10-year-old child is 54.5 inches—regardless of gender.

Maximum Travel Cost Capped

Metro’s Tap & Save payment model allows riders to load funds onto their smartphone (using the Transit app with EZfare) or smart card and simply tap or scan each time they board the bus, rather than buying a daily or monthly pass up-front. The system tracks daily and monthly spending and automatically caps costs at the equivalent of a 24-hour or 30-day pass. That means once a rider spends the daily or monthly cap, additional rides are free during that period—making transit more affordable and accessible for frequent riders. Physical passes remain available for purchase online and at Metro’s sales office (525 Vine St., Suite 500, Cincinnati, OH 45202). Buses will also continue to accept cash.

Metro’s Rider Rewards program

Launched last year, customers can earn points for riding and redeem these points for free rides and gift cards. You can get complete details about the fare rates, Tap & Save, and the Rider Rewards programs by visiting the metro website. For further inquiries or customer service assistance, you can contact the Metro Customer Care Center at 513-632-7575.

You can find more transportation resources by selecting the “Transportation” category tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.