Metro & TANK Offering Free Rides to BLINK®
Metro, TANK and BLINK® Announce New Partnership for 2022
Cincinnati, OH (September 30, 2022) – Earlier today, leadership from Metro, TANK, and BLINK® announced a new partnership that will provide fare-free rides and direct access from Park and Ride locations to this year’s immersive art experience. In 2019, BLINK, illuminated by ArtsWave, attracted 1.3M people to downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky – a similar number of attendees is expected for this year’s iteration.
“Offering a cost-effective and efficient option to attend the event was a huge priority for BLINK 2022,” said Justin Brookhart, Executive Director of BLINK. “Our amazing transit agencies providing free rides will enhance the BLINK experience for attendees from across the region.”
Metro and Tank will offer fare-free rides beginning at 6 p.m. on October 13-16. All rides on both transportation networks, including direct routes to BLINK, will be free. Direct routes to BLINK will be available via four Park and Ride locations. These Park and Ride locations will drop attendees off at the Riverfront Transit Center for both Metro and TANK. TANK will also offer service to the Covington Transit Center.
The four Park and Rides will be located at:
· Cincinnati State
· Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education
· UC Digital Futures Building
· Northern Kentucky University
“We’re beyond thrilled for BLINK’s return this year!” said Metro CEO and General Manager Darryl Haley. “Not only is it one of the premiere art events in the country, but it also allows us the opportunity to show the public all the exciting improvements we’ve made through the Reinventing Metro plan and how easy it is to go Metro to connect not just to jobs, education and health care, but our region’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene, as well.”
“TANK is excited for the return of BLINK and our partnership to once again provide shuttle service to this amazing art experience for the people in our communities,” said TANK interim General Manager Gina Douthat. “BLINK is best enjoyed as a pedestrian, which is why we found it essential to offer free rides to everyone, so those that want to attend can enjoy this incredible event in the way it was meant to be seen.”
Full Details for TANK:
Beginning at 6 p.m. all TANK service – including direct bus service for BLINK- will be free of charge.
Park & Ride at Northern Kentucky University (Lots K, L, M).
· TANK will have promotional giveaways, drawings, refreshments, and fun at NKU as people wait for their bus to leave.
· Service begins each night at NKU at 6 p.m. Last trip from NKU to Covington is at 9 p.m.
· Bus makes no stops in between and goes straight to the Covington Transit Center.
· Beginning at 9 p.m. each night, buses will ONLY travel from the Covington Transit Center and drop off at NKU (no pick-ups).
· Buses will operate from the Covington Transit Center back to the park and ride for drop offs until 11 p.m. each night.
Southbank Shuttle from the Covington Transit Center to the Riverfront Transit Center in Cincinnati for anyone wanting to experience BLINK on both sides of the river.
TANK staff will be on-hand at Northern Kentucky University, the Riverfront Transit Center and the Covington Transit Center to assist with information, wayfinding and general help.
All local TANK service will operate as scheduled, with this exception– Bus service in Cincinnati will be limited after 6 p.m. and will only operate to the Riverfront Transit Center after 6 p.m. No “on street” service will be provided in Cincinnati by TANK after 6 p.m. for the duration of the BLINK event.
Full Details for Metro:
All Metro rides will operate fare-free after 6 p.m. all days of BLINK.
Metro Park & Ride locations (all drop off at the Riverfront Transit Center):
· Cincinnati State (3520 Central Parkway)
· CPS Board of Education (2651 Burnet Ave.)
· UC Digital Futures Building (3044 Reading Rd.)
Anyone who registers a new Transit with EZ Fare account (through the Transit app) during the 4-day event or uses the Transit app during the day to purchase Metro fare is entered to win a raffle prize from Metro.
All Transit users who use the app between Thurs. and Sun. – new and existing – to purchase Metro fare will be gifted a free Metro 24-hour pass through the app (gifted through the app, after the event on 10/17).
Due to street closures, Govt. Sq. will close nightly at 6:15 p.m. Any customers waiting at Gov. Sq. at 6:15 will be shuttled to the Regional Transit Center. Government Square will re-open nightly at 12:30 a.m. (subject to streets re-opening).
The Government Square information booth will be staffed from 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. nightly during the event.
Metro Customer Care Center (513-621-4455) will remain open until midnight nightly during the event.
