Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority
Encyclopedia
Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (abbreviated SORTA), is the public transport
agency serving Cincinnati, Ohio
and its suburbs. The agency operates transit bus
services under the name Metro. SORTA replaced the Cincinnati Transit Commission
, which operated buses from 1952 to 1973.
Metro is funded primarily by Cincinnati's city earnings tax, secondarily by fares, and third by federal sources; other sources of income are insignificant. This stands in contrast to other Ohio
transit agencies, such as COTA
and GCRTA
which are primarily funded by sales tax. For a sense of perspective, the portion of Cincinnati's earnings tax going to Metro's budget is about 0.3%.
Downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are also served by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
(TANK). TANK also offers a Southbank Shuttle route.
In 1993, SORTA began experimenting with the use of biodiesel
. In 2001, SORTA operated about half of its bus fleet on a biodiesel blend. Since September 2005 (initially because of Hurricane Katrina
), SORTA has continuously operated its buses with a biodiesel blend. In 2006, SORTA consumed almost 1.8 million gallons of biodiesel made from soybeans grown in Ohio.
In the first quarter 2007, SORTA was among the 25 largest bus agencies in the U.S. It averaged almost 75,000 unlinked passenger trips per weekday.
On April 30, 2007, SORTA began a partnership with the University of Cincinnati
to provide free rides to its students, staff, and faculty. The partnership was scheduled to last for two years and the initial response to the offer had been positive. Current policy requires students and faculty to purchase a special UC*Metro card, costing $40 and $120, respectively.
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
agency serving Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and its suburbs. The agency operates transit bus
Transit bus
A transit bus , also known as a commuter bus, city bus, or public bus, is a bus used for short-distance public transport purposes...
services under the name Metro. SORTA replaced the Cincinnati Transit Commission
Cincinnati Transit Commission
The Cincinnati Transit Company was the public transit operator in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, from 1952 to 1973. It replaced the Cincinnati Street Railway, which ceased streetcar operations in 1951, and provided bus-only transit in the city. In 1973, the Commission was renamed Southwest Ohio...
, which operated buses from 1952 to 1973.
Metro is funded primarily by Cincinnati's city earnings tax, secondarily by fares, and third by federal sources; other sources of income are insignificant. This stands in contrast to other Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
transit agencies, such as COTA
Central Ohio Transit Authority
The Central Ohio Transit Authority is a public sector transit agency serving Franklin County and the rest of the central Ohio area, which includes Columbus, as well as Bexley, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Grove City, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall, and Worthington...
and GCRTA
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is the public transit agency for Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and the surrounding suburbs of Cuyahoga County. RTA is the largest transit agency in Ohio, providing over 44 million trips to residents and visitors of the Cleveland area in 2010...
which are primarily funded by sales tax. For a sense of perspective, the portion of Cincinnati's earnings tax going to Metro's budget is about 0.3%.
Downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are also served by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky is the public transit system serving the Northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio located in Kenton County, Boone County and Campbell County...
(TANK). TANK also offers a Southbank Shuttle route.
In 1993, SORTA began experimenting with the use of biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
. In 2001, SORTA operated about half of its bus fleet on a biodiesel blend. Since September 2005 (initially because of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
), SORTA has continuously operated its buses with a biodiesel blend. In 2006, SORTA consumed almost 1.8 million gallons of biodiesel made from soybeans grown in Ohio.
In the first quarter 2007, SORTA was among the 25 largest bus agencies in the U.S. It averaged almost 75,000 unlinked passenger trips per weekday.
On April 30, 2007, SORTA began a partnership with the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
to provide free rides to its students, staff, and faculty. The partnership was scheduled to last for two years and the initial response to the offer had been positive. Current policy requires students and faculty to purchase a special UC*Metro card, costing $40 and $120, respectively.
Bus routes
| Number | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mt. Adams - Zoo, Mt. Adams - Museum Center |
| 2X | Madeira Express |
| 3-3X | Montgomery Express, Montgomery Job Connection |
| 4 | Kenwood, Blue Ash, Ridge Road |
| 6 | Queen City |
| 10 | Western Hills - Price Hill |
| 11 | Madison Road - Oakley, Erie Ave. - Hyde Park |
| 12X | Madisonville Express |
| 14X | Forest Park Express |
| 15X | Daly Express, Mt. Healthy Express |
| 16 | Mt. Healthy |
| 17 | Seven Hills, Mt. Healthy, Mt. Airy, Northgate |
| 19 | Colerain - Northgate, Cheviot Rd. - Groesbeck |
| 20 | Winton Road - Tri-County |
| 21 | Harrison Avenue |
| 23X | Fairfield - Tri-County Express |
| 23 | Northside - Fairfield Job Connection |
| 24 | Anderson - University of Cincinnati |
| 25X | Mt. Lookout Express |
| 27 | Northside - Casey |
| 28 | East End, East End - Milford |
| 29X | Milford Express |
| 30X | Beechmont Express |
| 31 | West End - Evanston Crosstown via Dalton, West End - Evanston Crosstown via State |
| 32 | Delhi - Price Hill, Delhi - Price Hill via Matson |
| 33 | Western Hills - Glenway, Western Hills - Glenway via Gest |
| 38X | Glenway Crossing - Uptown Express |
| 39 | Western Hills - Uptown |
| 40X | Montana Express |
| 41 | Mt. Airy - Oakley Crosstown |
| 42-42X | West Chester Express, West Chester Job Connection |
| 43 | Reading Road |
| 43 | Bond Hill |
| 43 | Winton Hills |
| 46 | Avondale |
| 49 | Fairmount - English Woods |
| 50 | Sayler Park |
| 51 | Clifton - Hyde Park Crosstown |
| 52X | Harrison Express |
| 64 | Westwood - Ferguson |
| 67 | Sharonville Job Connection |
| 71-71X | Kings Island - Fields Ertel Express, Kings Island Express, Kings Island Direct, Kings Island Job Connection |
| 74X | Northgate Express, Northgate Express via Banning |
| 75X | Anderson Express |
| 77X | Delhi Express |
| 78 | Springdale - Vine, Lincoln Heights |
| 81X | Mt. Washington Express |
| 82X | Eastgate Express |
| 85 | Riverfront Parking Shuttle |
See also
- Central Ohio Transit AuthorityCentral Ohio Transit AuthorityThe Central Ohio Transit Authority is a public sector transit agency serving Franklin County and the rest of the central Ohio area, which includes Columbus, as well as Bexley, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Grove City, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall, and Worthington...
(COTA), serving Columbus, OhioColumbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... - Greater Cleveland Regional Transit AuthorityGreater Cleveland Regional Transit AuthorityThe Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is the public transit agency for Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and the surrounding suburbs of Cuyahoga County. RTA is the largest transit agency in Ohio, providing over 44 million trips to residents and visitors of the Cleveland area in 2010...
(GCRTA), serving Cleveland, OhioCleveland, OhioCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border... - Greater Dayton Regional Transit AuthorityGreater Dayton Regional Transit AuthorityThe Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, formerly known as the Miami Valley RTA, is a public transit agency that generally serves the greater Dayton, Ohio area. The GDRTA serves communities within Montgomery County and parts of Greene County, Ohio, USA. There are 29 routes...
(formerly the Miami Valley RTA), serving Dayton, OhioDayton, OhioDayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census... - Transit Authority of Northern KentuckyTransit Authority of Northern KentuckyThe Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky is the public transit system serving the Northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio located in Kenton County, Boone County and Campbell County...
(TANK), serving Northern KentuckyNorthern KentuckyNorthern Kentucky is the name often given to the northernmost counties in Kentucky...
External links
- Go Metro, SORTA official website
- Photograph of a biodiesel-powered Metro bus
