UC and Metro Extend Bus Contract Through This Summer

The UC*Metro agreement that has subsidized bus rides for University of Cincinnati students, faculty and staff has been extended through September 2009. While UC riders will continue to enjoy subsidized fares, the extended contract will require riders to contribute to the cost of the contract.

For spring quarter, students will pay $10 for a UC*Metro card. Faculty and staff will pay $50.

For summer quarter, students will pay $15 for a UC*Metro card. Faculty and staff will pay $60.

For information about the new cards required for spring quarter at the UC*Metro Web page http://www.uc.edu/af/facilities/go_METRO.html

“The UC*Metro program has been extremely successful,” said Rick Wiggins, UC director of facilities management. “The user fees included in this contract extension recognize the additional costs accepted by Metro. While the university will continue to subsidize riders, the additional costs should be paid by the riders who make use of the service.”

Approximately 10,000 of the 47,000 faculty, staff and students at UC make use of the UC*Metro program.

Winter quarter UC*Metro cards will remain valid through April 30. The last day to register for a winter quarter Fare Card is Saturday, April 11.  Registration for spring quarter UC*Metro cards will begin Friday, March 27. Spring quarter cards will be valid through June 29.

Summer Quarter 2009 UC*Metro cards, available in late June, will be valid through September 30, 2009.

The UC*Metro contract initially took effect in May 2007. Financed equally by UC Student Government and by the University of Cincinnati, the contract has allowed students, faculty and staff to ride Metro buses at no cost to riders who displayed a UC identification card.

Negotiation for a contract extension began in July 2008. A contract modification in autumn quarter required riders to apply for a UC*Metro card. Use of this card, Wiggins said, provided solid data to evaluate how much of the UC community was using the service, and to accurately measure the additional costs absorbed by Metro.

Negotiations continue to extend the UC*Metro contract beyond Sept. 30.