Blue Ash workers and University of Cincinnati students will get a direct bus connection between the Blue Ash campus and UC's Uptown campus when Metro launches Route 70 on Sunday, August 16.

The new UC Connector route eliminates what has been a two-seat ride requiring a transfer downtown. It will be the first fixed-route bus line linking the Blue Ash corporate corridor to UC's main campus without that detour, according to Metro's announcement published Tuesday.

Route 70 will run Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with buses arriving at least every 30 minutes, the Cincinnati Business Courier reported on July 8. The route is open to everyone, not just UC-affiliated passengers.

UC Blue Ash College sits on 135 acres at 9555 Plainfield Road and enrolls roughly 5,000 students, surrounded by the corporate office parks along the Plainfield Road and Reed Hartman Highway corridors. For employees at those offices, Route 70 offers a new commuting option to and from Uptown's medical and university district.

Fare-free for UC riders

Eligible UC students and employees already ride Metro at no cost through the university's fare-free partnership. They can register at go-metro.com/university. That means Route 70 will effectively be a free shuttle for much of its ridership.

Metro held two public input sessions on Wednesday, June 24 before finalizing the route. The agency sought feedback at a virtual meeting from 10 a.m. to noon and an in-person session from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Downtown Main Library, according to Metro's public notice.

Building on recent Blue Ash transit expansion

Route 70 is the latest in a string of Metro investments in Blue Ash. The agency launched MetroNow!, a $2.50-per-ride on-demand service covering Blue Ash and Montgomery, in October 2025. At the October 27, 2025 ribbon-cutting at Summit Park, Blue Ash Mayor Jill Cole called the service "a major perk for our residents and businesses."

Route 70 is one of three new routes launching Sunday, August 16. The others are Route 47 (Avondale–Oakley) and Route 53 (St. Bernard–Oakley).

What's next

Updated schedules for Route 70 and all August 16 changes will be posted at go-metro.com/serviceimprovements. Printed schedules are available at Metro's Sales Office, 120 E. Fourth St. in downtown Cincinnati, 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.