The Southbank Shuttle returns to service later this month, the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) announced Monday.
The shuttle, which served the urban centers of Covington, Newport, and Cincinnati until the COVID-19 pandemic arrived here in March of 2020, will roll through those cities again starting Saturday, August 20.
TANK said that even after pandemic restrictions eased, there was difficulty in finding operators for the shuttle.
“TANK’s trolleys will be back in business on August 20, just in time for the end of summer and fall fun in the riverfront cities, including Blink in October,” said Gina Douthat, TANK spokesperson. “We are very excited to bring this frequent and easy-to-use service back for the hotels, entertainment venues and tourists. The Shuttle is a great way for people that don’t want to fuss with driving, navigating, and parking to enjoy all that our riverfront and downtown areas have to offer.
“It’s time to bring people back to our riverfront and downtown destinations!”
The service will run every fifteen minutes on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
From November through March, those hours will adjust to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.
The cost to ride is $1.
There are two routes: One from Newport to Cincinnati to Covington, and another from Covington to Cincinnati to Newport. There is no direct connection between Covington and Newport.
In Covington, the shuttle makes stops and pick-ups at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Mainstrasse Village, riverfront hotels, and the TANK Transit Center.
In Newport, stops include Newport on the Levee, Newport Aquarium, riverfront hotels, and Riverboat Row. The shuttle also stops in Bellevue along Fairfield Avenue and Riviera Drive.
Downtown Cincinnati stops include the Banks, sports stadiums and arenas, Fountain Square, hotels, Duke Energy Center, Freedom Center, and Taft Theater.
