HSC championed a Transportation Empowerment Fund to help low income riders in the Cincinnati region afford bus fares. This initiative, scheduled to launch in January of 2021, will provide free or discounted bus passes or other types of ride options to eligible low-income citizens through participating non-profit or government organizations. Participating organizations will be able to purchase a variety of bus passes at a 50% discount, then distribute them to eligible riders. This partnership between Cincinnati Metro and human services agencies will allow both organizations to focus on what they do best- Metro can focus on operating the public transit system and human services agencies can help the people they serve.
Thanks to the passage of the bus levy in 2020, Cincinnati Metro has agreed to fund the Transportation Empowerment Fund in the amount of $500K per year. This funding is expected to connect thousands of riders to jobs, medical appointments and the grocery store.