Oakley riders will get two brand-new bus routes in August, both terminating at the Oakley Transit Center, as part of Metro's fall service overhaul.

Routes 47 and 53 launch Sunday, August 16, according to Metro's official announcement published Monday, July 27. Metro Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Brandy Jones is the agency's listed contact for the changes. A third new route, the Rt. 70 UC Connector, starts the same day.

What the new routes look like

Rt. 47 (Avondale–Oakley) will run between Casey Apartments and the Oakley Transit Center, traveling Kirby Avenue, Chase Avenue, Spring Grove Avenue, Mitchell Avenue, and Dana Avenue before following the existing Rt. 51 alignment into Oakley.

Rt. 53 (St. Bernard–Oakley) will connect the Northside Transit Center to the Oakley Transit Center via Spring Grove Avenue, Mitchell Avenue, Vine Street, Ross Avenue/Tennessee Avenue, Sherman Avenue, and Robertson Avenue.

Rt. 70 (UC Connector) will link the University of Cincinnati's Uptown campus to its Blue Ash campus. The route is open to everyone.

What changes for existing riders

The expansion reshuffles some familiar lines. Rt. 51 (Uptown Connector) will be shortened to run between the Glenway Crossing Transit Center and Reading Road. Metro said the eastern portion of that route will be replaced by the new Rt. 47, so riders on that stretch should see the same stops served under a different number.

Rt. 27 (Beekman–Linn) will no longer serve Casey Apartments and Kirby. Instead, it will extend from the Northside Transit Center to the Kenard Kroger and Este Avenue. Schedule or route tweaks will also hit 18 other lines, including routes 4, 11, 17, 19, 20, 22, 31, 43, and 71X.

Free rides for CPS families

Metro and Cincinnati Public Schools will continue their partnership providing transit for 7th- through 12th-graders in the 2026-2027 school year. Parents and guardians can ride free with their students from Wednesday, August 19, through Wednesday, August 26, to help ease the back-to-school transition. Metro staff will be stationed at major transit centers during the first days of school to help with trip planning.

How to get details

Updated route schedules will be posted before the August 16 launch. Printed schedules are available at the Metro Sales Office, 120 E. Fourth St. downtown, weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Riders can also call Metro's Customer Care Center at 513-632-7575, weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., or use the Transit app to plan trips and track buses in real time.