Cincinnati Public Schools and Metro on the joint panel on Wednesday laid out operational changes for student transit ahead of the 2025–26 school year, saying the system will support more than 12,000 student Metro passes, add color-coded transfer indicators and run expanded outreach the first weeks of school.

Officials said the RFID smart-card passes issued to students will be encoded to show whether a rider has a direct trip home or will need a transfer at a transit center; passes that require transfers will be color-coded so drivers and staff can identify them quickly. "We have over 12,000 CPS passes for all students grades 7 through 12," said Chris Burkhardt, chief operating officer for Cincinnati Public Schools.

The district and Metro said pass hours for regular students have been shortened to end at 5:00 p.m. to prioritize moving students quickly to their final destination; students who participate in extracurricular activities will receive separate passes that run later in the evening. "Those last well into the evening so they can, you know, go to football practice or debate club," Burkhardt said.

Why this matters: CPS and Metro said ridership increased by about 10 percent after the district added seats and buildings that changed routing needs; the changes are intended to reduce unnecessary stops at downtown transfer centers and to make routes easier for families and drivers to manage.

Key operational steps and supports
- Color-coded passes: Black indicates a direct trip; other colors indicate a required transfer at a hub, Metro and CPS said. Burkhardt said the system’s data last year let staff identify students who had a direct route yet were showing up at Government Square, and targeted parent outreach reduced those numbers.
- Parent riding window: Metro and CPS will allow parents to ride free with their children the first week of school; officials said parents can board and tell the driver they are accompanying a student. Metro and CPS said the free-ride window runs from August 20 through August 27.
- Open houses and staffing: CPS and Metro will staff open houses at middle schools and high schools from August 4 to August 15 and place Metro staff at transit centers and some bus stops the first week of school to assist riders.
- Trip planning tools: Metro recommended the transit app and Google Maps for planning trips on the new network. "When you go into the app...you can start to schedule and plan your trip," said Andy Aiello, Metro CEO.
- Lost students and tracking: Metro said drivers are instructed to call its RCC dispatch center when a student is "lost in the system"; CPS said parents can call the district line, 363-RIDE, where dispatchers will reach Metro for help. "We can actually track the card," Burkhardt said of the RFID passes.

Safety and staffing
Metro and CPS said they have deployed multiple safety measures at transit centers, including Metro supervisors, a contracted CPD detail and 311 community responder staffing at afternoon hubs. Metro said it is relocating a ticket sales office to a storefront on Government Square and adding an adjacent security door to improve visibility and safety. "We have a metro supervisor presence at Government Square," Aiello said.

Community outreach and expectations
Officials repeatedly urged families to plan ahead in the first week of school and to take the first bus that arrives, noting the opening week can have delays as riders learn new routes. Metro and CPS said they will post the parent pass printable on CPS’ transportation page and continue daily social-media outreach ahead of the first day.

What was not decided
There was no council or board vote recorded in the meeting establishing these changes; the presentation described operational decisions and outreach plans. Several board members and council members asked implementation questions about tracking, engagement and whether printed parent passes would be available at schools.

Ending note
Metro and CPS said they will continue biweekly coordination and monthly formal calls during the school year to adjust routes and to respond to feedback from families and schools.