TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa’s buses are going half-price this summer as part of a strategy for cleaner air and healthier neighborhoods. From May 23 to September 1, MetroLink Tulsa announced it’s cutting fares in half through its “Take a Ride, Clear the Skies” campaign, part of a renewed partnership with Tulsa Air Quality & Ozone Alert.
The goal is to get more people out of their cars and onto public transit during ozone season — the time of year when Tulsa’s air gets most dangerous. According a Tulsa Area Air Quality report, the city faced 6 days under Ozone alerts in 2024, a drop from 14 the year earlier.
However, data from the American Lung Association shows Tulsa’s Ozone smog has become one of the worst 25 ozone pollution cities in the nation. According to the ALA’s 2025 State of the Air report, Tulsa has dropped from 31st worst to 19th worst.
“The severity of the problem and the abruptness of the change are unprecedented in magnitude. Nationwide, nearly five times as many counties’ ozone levels worsened as improved,” the report states.
Tulsa ozone pollution hits hardest in Black, low-income communities
Ozone pollution is a public health crisis that makes it more difficult for people to breathe, especially for those living near highways, factories, and industrial zones. It often more Black and brown communities already facing higher rates of asthma and respiratory illness.
Fewer cars on the road = cleaner lungs for Tulsa’s most vulnerable residents.
- A full bus takes up to 50 cars off the street.
- Transit riders cut 4,800 pounds of CO? each year.
- Less traffic means less ground-level ozone, the primary cause of Tulsa’s summer air issues.
Here’s what riders pay this summer:
- 3-Hour Pass: $1.00
- Day Pass: $2.00
- 7-Day GoPass: $5.00
- LinkAssist Ride: $2.00 (discounted for riders with mobility needs)
(Note: 31-Day passes are not discounted.)
How to get involved
Check the daily air quality forecast or sign up for ozone alerts at TulsaAirQuality.com. You can also download the app for real-time updates and pollution-reduction tips.
This campaign is part of an effort to encourage collective public responsibility. If Tulsa wants cleaner skies and healthier communities, it starts with how we move through our city. Learn more at MetroLinkOK.org/ozonealert.