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UC and Metro Extend Bus Contract Another Year

   The UC*Metro agreement that has subsidized bus rides since 2007 for University of Cincinnati students, faculty and staff has been extended through September 2010. The extended contract incorporates significant changes, greater financial support by UC, but higher fees for participants.

Changes in the new agreement:

• The university is contributing an additional $100,000 to Metro in support of the program.
• For the 2009-10 academic year, students will pay $40 each quarter for a UC*Metro card. Faculty and staff will pay $120 per quarter.
• In addition to swiping a current UC*Metro fare card, all UC card holders must present a valid UC photo ID to the bus driver.
• UC*Metro cards are valid for full fare only within Metro Zone 1 (inside the city limits of Cincinnati).  Travel outside Zone 1 will require the UC student or employee to pay the difference between the Zone 1 fare and the applicable Zone fare when boarding the bus.

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

Sales of UC*Metro fare cards for the 2009-10 fall quarter will begin Thursday, Sept. 17 at https://www.uc.edu/af/facilities/metro/ , and the cards will be valid for use beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23. All registrations must occur at the UC*Metro Fare Card secure web site.  All Fare Card payments must be made by major credit card or debit card at the UC*Metro Fare Card secure web site.

Summer Quarter 2009 UC*Metro cards, currently in use, will be valid through Sept. 29.

The UC*Metro contract initially took effect in May 2007. Financed originally by UC Student Government and by the University of Cincinnati, the contract had allowed students, faculty and staff to ride Metro buses at no cost to riders who displayed a UC identification card. Beginning spring quarter 2009, UC card holders were assessed a fee to acquire their UC*Metro fare cards.