Cincinnati metro

Metro is holding a series of open houses about its coming "Metro Rapid" routes along Reading Road and Hamilton Avenue.

Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve an ordinance to ban loitering at future Bus Rapid Transit stops.

The ordinance says anyone who violates the proposed rules could be fined $250, jailed for 30 days, or both.

People would only be allowed to occupy the stop for as long as it takes to buy fare, wait for the bus, and board or de-board.

Metro considered relocating its Downtown hub, but a study determined that would increase costs and travel time.

Projects include building the Oasis Corridor of the Ohio River Trail, adding 10 hybrid buses to Metro’s fleet and constructing new bike and pedestrian walkways on the I-75 bridge crossings.

Route 36 is averaging 20,000 rides a month.

Some of those awards include almost $5 million for improvements to Cincinnati's Gilbert Avenue, $2.5 million for improvements to roads in Lincoln Heights and $2 million for improvements to Northland Boulevard in Springdale.

MetroNow mimics rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Greater Cincinnati's bus service launched the program in May.

The program provides on-demand rides within designated zones in special vans for $2 a ride.