Public transit plays an important role in connecting people to work, school, health care, shopping and other destinations throughout Northern Kentucky and downtown Cincinnati. As rider needs continue to evolve, Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) has announced several service improvements that will take effect on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.

The improvements are designed to provide transit options that meet current rider needs while supporting sustainable operations. The most significant improvement is the introduction of two new high-frequency corridors connecting Newport, Covington and Cincinnati. These corridors replace the current Southbank Shuttle and Route 16.

Buses will arrive at stops in the blue corridor every eight minutes. In the green corridor, buses will arrive every 15 minutes. These high frequency corridors are designed to provide more convenience to riders.

Additional fall service improvements include the following:

  • Route 1 will be extended to Newport with service ending at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Ft. Thomas
  • Peak frequency on Routes 3, 7 and 12 will increase from hourly service to every 30 minutes
  • Peak frequency on Routes 5 and 8 will increase from hourly service to every 40 minutes
  • The TANK Plus zone will expand to include the Alexandria Walmart and Village Green Shopping Center, with a six-mile distance cap designed to improve trip efficiency
  • Interlined route pairings will be updated to improve service coordination. Beginning in November, Routes 3 and 12 will operate as an interlined pair, as will Routes 7 and 25 and Routes 5 and 8. Route 1 will operate as a standalone service. Current interlined pairings are Routes 1 and 25, 7 and 12, 3 and 16, and 5 and 8.

    In addition, route timetables will be updated to better reflect traffic conditions and actual travel times, helping improve on-time performance.

    TANK will host public meetings to discuss the upcoming improvements and answer questions from the community. The first meeting will take place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Campbell County Public Library’s Newport Branch (901 E. Sixth St.). A second meeting is scheduled for 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Kenton County Public Library’s Covington Branch (502 Scott St.).

    For additional information about the 2026 service changes, visit tankbus.org/building-better-transit/.