Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority

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For a definition of the word "sorta", see the Wiktionary entry sorta.

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 route map

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 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 [1].

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. [2]

As of April 30, 2007, SORTA began a partnership with the University of Cincinnati to provide free rides to its students, staff, and faculty. The partnership is scheduled to last for two years. Initial response to this offer has been positive. [3]

[edit] Bus routes

SORTA Routes
Number	Description
1	Mt. Adams - Museum Center
1	Mt. Adams - Zoo
2X	Madeira Express
3	Montgomery Job Connection
3X	Montgomery Express
4	Kenwood
4	Blue Ash
4	Ridge Road
6	Queen City
10	Western Hills - Price Hill
11	Madison Road
12X	Madisonville Express
15X	Clovernook Express
15X	Mt. Healthy Express
16	Mt. Healthy
16	College Hill
17	Seven Hills
17	Mt. Healthy
17	Mt. Airy
17	Northgate
18	Northgate - Mt. Airy
19	Colerain - Northgate
20	Winton Road - Tri-County
20X	Forest Park Express
21	Harrison Avenue
22X	Lexington Heights Express
23X	Tri-County Express
24	Anderson-UC
24	Mt- Washington-UC
25X	Mt. Lookout Express
27	Northside - Pullan
27	Northside - Casey
28	East End
28	East End - Milford
28X	Milford Express
30X	Beechmont Express
31	Evanston Crosstown
31	West End - Evanston Crosstown via State
31	West End - Evanston Crosstown via Queensgate
32	Delhi - Price Hill
32	Delhi - Price Hill via Matson
33	Western Hills - Glenway
33	Bridgetown - Glenway
34X	Western Hills Express
39	Western Hills - Uptown
40X	Montana Express
41	Mt. Healthy - Oakley Crosstown
42X	West Chester Express
43	Reading Road
44X	Roselawn Express
45	Bond Hill
46	Avondale
47	Winton Hills
49	Fairmount
50	Sayler Park
51	Clifton-Hyde Park Crosstown
52X	Harrison Express
62X	Fairfield Express
64	Westwood - Ferguson
64	Western Hills - English Woods
66	Blue Ash Job Connection
67	Sharonville Job Connection
69	Mariemont
69	Madisonville
71X	Kings Island Express
71X	Kings Island Fields Ertel Express
72	Kings Island Job Connection
72	Kings Island Direct
74X	Northgate Express
74X	Northgate Express via Banning
75X	Amelia Express
75X	Amelia-UC Express
75X	Anderson Express
76X	Wyoming Express
77X	Delhi Express
78	Springdale- Vine
78	Lincoln Heights
78	Woodlawn
81X	Mt. Washington Express
82X	Eastgate Express
85	Riverfront Parking Shuttle