Half-Price Bus Rides in Cincinnati: Metro Fare Deal, MVP and Access
Cincinnati Metro cuts fares in half for riders 65 and older, people with Medicare, riders with disabilities, and veterans. Riders whose disabilities keep them off the bus can apply for Access, Metro's door-to-door paratransit service. This guide covers what each program costs, who qualifies, and exactly what to bring to the office so your application isn't turned away.
AT A GLANCE
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Metro fares in 2026
Metro (run by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, or SORTA) moved to two fare types on July 16, 2025: local and express. Any route with an "X" in its name is express. Here's the fare chart from Metro's fare update page:
Fare type | Full fare | Half fare (Fare Deal / MVP) |
|---|---|---|
Local single ride | $2.20 | $1.10 |
Express single ride | $3.00 | $1.50 |
Local day pass | $4.40 | $2.20 |
Express day pass | $6.00 | Not listed |
Local 30-day pass | $88.00 | $44 monthly sticker (calendar month) |
Express 30-day pass | $120.00 | $44 sticker covers any Metro route |
Five-ride local ticket | $11.00 | Not listed |
Two other free or discounted options are worth knowing:
Children under 55 inches tall ride free with a paying adult, up to two children per adult. Each bus has a height mark at 55 inches.
UC and Cincinnati State students and staff in Metro's University Discount Program pay $1.10 on fixed-route buses. Metro says this will continue "at no cost until further notice."
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Fare Deal: half fare for seniors, Medicare and disability
Fare Deal is Metro's reduced fare card. Once approved, you get a "tap and show" smart card: tap it on the farebox target, show it to the operator, and pay the amount shown.
Who qualifies
Age 65 or older. Proof of age is required.
Medicare card holders. Metro's Fare Deal page says Medicare card holders of any age are automatically eligible. The 2026 application instructions say "Medicare cardholders receiving Social Security benefits."
Riders with a qualifying disability who aren't 65 and don't have Medicare. You must apply and be certified.
Access paratransit riders. Metro's fare page says Access passholders ride fixed-route buses at half price.
The instructions say you don't qualify if your only condition is pregnancy, obesity, impairment from drug or alcohol abuse, or a condition that medication can control. Fare Deal is not income-based, so Metro won't accept a Medicaid card as proof.
What to bring
Applications are taken in person, and Metro rejects incomplete applications and photocopies. Everyone needs a current, unexpired driver's license, state ID card (any state) or passport. Then add the items for your group:
If you're applying as... | Bring |
|---|---|
65 or older | Completed reduced fare application and photo ID |
Someone with Medicare | Application, photo ID, your red, white and blue Medicare card, and this year's Social Security benefit statement |
Someone with a disability | Application, photo ID, the Physician's Statement of Medical Disability, plus a separate letter from the same health care professional on letterhead or a prescription form describing your diagnosis and why you meet the criteria |
Both disability documents are required, and form letters aren't accepted. For the Medicare route, you can get a benefit statement from Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or online at ssa.gov. Metro warns that this can take up to 10 days, so request it before you go.
Where to apply
Silverton office: 7000 Montgomery Rd. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m. Served by Routes 4, 5, 8 and Metro*Plus.
Downtown sales office: 120 E. 4th Street, across from Government Square. The instructions list applications there Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The instruction sheets say approved cards arrive by mail within 21 days.
Medicaid cards will not be accepted as the reduced fare programs are not income-based programs. (Metro Fare Deal application instructions)
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Is the $44 monthly sticker worth it?
The Fare Deal sticker gives unlimited rides for the calendar month and covers zone and transfer charges. It's sold from the 15th of the month before through the 10th of the month it's valid. For example, a December sticker goes on sale November 15 and is sold through December 10.
Our own math on when it pays off:
Half-fare local rides in a month | Cost at $1.10 each | Better choice |
|---|---|---|
20 (one round trip on 10 days) | $22.00 | Pay per ride |
30 | $33.00 | Pay per ride |
40 | $44.00 | Break-even |
44 (round trips on 22 workdays) | $48.40 | Sticker |
60 | $66.00 | Sticker |
If you commute to work five days a week, the sticker usually wins. If you ride a few times a week, paying $1.10 a ride is cheaper. Remember the sticker covers only one calendar month, not 30 days from purchase.
You can buy stickers by mailing a check or money order payable to SORTA to 1801 Transpark Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45229, by calling 513-632-7540, or in person at either office.
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MVP: the veterans version
The Metro Veterans Program (MVP) gives the same half-price fares to veterans (including the National Guard and Reserves) and active-duty service members. If you already have a Fare Deal card, you don't need an MVP card.
To apply, complete the MVP Reduced Fare Application (or call 513-632-7540 for one) and take it to the Silverton office with:
A current, state-issued photo ID showing your date of birth, and
One proof of service: a VA Veteran Identification Card, a driver's license or state ID showing veteran status, or a DD Form 214 with a General, General under Honorable, or Honorable character of service.
A U.S. Veteran Document Identification Card from Hamilton County works on its own, with no extra state ID. Metro says the card can be issued the same day if you bring federally issued proof of service, or mailed within 21 days if you use a DD-214. MVP cards last five years. MVP stickers also cost $44 a month, and questions go to MVP@go-metro.com.
MVP card holders also ride fixed-route buses free to VA medical appointments through Metro's partnership with the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission.
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Access paratransit: door to door for riders who can't use the bus
Access is a shared-ride service from origin to destination for people whose disabilities prevent them from riding Metro buses. It runs during Metro's regular service hours, within three-quarters of a mile of regular (non-express) routes, and costs $4.40 a ride. A 10-ride ticket book costs $44. You can pay with any mix of cash and Access tickets that adds up to the exact fare, but Access tickets can't be used on regular buses.
How to get approved
Apply. Use the digital application or the PDF on Metro's Access page. Metro no longer accepts applications by mail or fax.
Call 513-632-7586 after you submit to schedule an in-person transportation skills assessment.
Go to the assessment at 7000 Montgomery Road in Silverton. Bring a valid photo ID (state driver's license, state ID card or passport) and any mobility aid you use. Access will drive you there free from anywhere in its service area if you need a ride.
Watch for your decision letter. Metro sends a written decision within 21 days of the assessment. A denial letter explains why and how to appeal.
Metro can find you eligible in a few ways: you can't board, ride or exit an accessible bus on your own; you use a mobility device and the routes you need aren't accessible; a condition keeps you from getting to or from bus stops; or a temporary condition limits your mobility. Some riders get conditional eligibility, meaning Access for some trips and the bus for others.
Riding Access
Reservations: 513-531-8888. Have the date, both addresses, the time you need to arrive, your return pickup time, and whether a companion or personal care attendant is coming.
Pickup window: 30 minutes. The driver waits 5 minutes, then leaves and may mark a no-show.
Personal care attendants ride free. Drivers can't lift you in or out of a wheelchair, carry groceries, or clear snow from your steps.
Visitors certified by their home paratransit agency can use Access for up to 21 days a year. Contact 513-632-7586 or accessinfo@go-metro.com before your trip.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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Related guides
Official sources
Last checked: October 30, 2026. Fares come from Metro's fare update page (effective July 16, 2025). Application rules come from Metro's April 2026 instruction sheets and its Fare Deal, MVP and Access pages.
Metro customer service: (513) 632-7575 or customerservice@go-metro.com. Office hours and documents can change, so call the Reduced Fare Office at 513-632-7540 before you go.
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