A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Region’s poor ratings in transit delivery, compared to peer cities, could hurt economic development


By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor

The region that includes Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati lags behind peer cities in effective mass transit options and its poor record is likely to negatively impact economic development.

That was the message from “The Connected Region: Transit’s Role in Economic Development,” a study that compared the Greater Cincinnati area to peer cities.

TransitThe report was released at a Tuesday forum at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber on Fourth Street in Cincinnati.

The evaluation focused on information provided in a 2015 Regional Indicators Report that rated the Cincinnati Metropolitan Statistical Area against 11 comparable cities that compete for people and jobs. The Cincinnati MSA refers to the federally defined 15-couty region that includes parts of Northern Kentucky, Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana.

Among the key findings were that the Cincinnati region ranked at or near the bottom in several statistical areas.

Cincinnati MSA ranked seventh in access to jobs using transit and workforce commuting by transit and workforce walking or biking to work. The region ranked ninth in transit use per capita and transit operations funding per capita and the number of millennials commuting by car.

It also ranked 11th in number of jobs accessible by a walk of 30 minutes or less and last in the share of jobs in neighborhoods with transit.

Minneapolis, Denver and Pittsburgh have spent the most on public transit in recent years and have the highest ridership rates. Other cities compared in the report include Austin, Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Raleigh and St. Louis.

TANK General Manager Andrew Aiello listens to the discussion of how improve the region's transit options. Aiello said he was encouraged that so many community leaders recognize the need for a comprehensive regional transit network (photos by Mark Hansel)

TANK General Manager Andrew Aiello listens to the discussion of how to improve the region’s transit options. Aiello said he was encouraged that so many community leaders recognize the need for a comprehensive regional transit network (photos by Mark Hansel)

The Cincinnati MSA includes seven transit systems in three states, which presents a significant challenge to the development of an integrated transit system.

Metro in Cincinnati serves 71 percent of  the regions transit trips, followed by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) with 17 percent. The remaining passengers are served by local or regional transportation systems.

The forum featured a panel discussion that included elected officials and economic development leaders from throughout the Greater Cincinnati area.

Panelists were provided with the study prior to the discussion and offered observations based n the data.

The message from the panel and keynote speaker Gabe Klein is that public transportation is a regional issue that must be addressed using a comprehensive approach to help spur economic growth.

Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore and Dan Tobergte, president and CEO of the Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED), represented Northern Kentucky on the panel.

Moore said one of the challenges Northern Kentucky faces is the difference in the method used to fund public transit in the Commonwealth.

“Something that I see from the report and have understood for years, but I think this really accentuates, is that our political boundaries are a factor, and it also (shows) the funding imbalances that are created because of state law,” Moore said. “In Kentucky for instance, we cannot levy sales taxes at the local level, while in Ohio a sales tax is a great solution for funding transportation in general.”

A small portion of funding for TANK comes from federal pass-through funds and the State of Kentucky, but the majority is provided by municipalities.

“It’s up to the local government and the fare box to fund TANK,” Moore said. “That’s quite a challenge, when we are dealing with things like police, public safety…and the list goes on.”

DAn Tobergte, president and CEO of Tri-Ed and Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore provided insights into the transit challenges in Northern Kentucky.

Dan Tobergte (left), president and CEO of Tri-Ed and Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore provided insights into the transit funding challenges facing Northern Kentucky.

Tobergte said the role of transit in a region’s economic development picture is very important in the mind of site selectors. He pointed to the correlation between spending per capita and high ridership to demonstrate that increased funding provides additional options and encourages usage.

“What struck me in the report is what the transits spend per capita, where Pittsburgh is so much greater than we are,” Tobergte said. “We can beat them on the football field, of course, but they are beating us in the transit game right now, and we need to take a look at that. It’s a challenge…and only 20 percent of the total operations of TANK are paid for by ridership.”

TANK has increased its focus on tailoring routes to meet the demand of the Northern Kentucky workforce. It has entered into agreements with employers to provide expanded transportation options at peak times for employers, such as Amazon in Hebron, during the holiday season.

TANK General Manager Andrew Aiello said it is encouraging to see the region come together to compare its transportation system to peer cities and while nobody wants to rate poorly, it brings the challenge into focus.

Keynote Speaker Gabe Klein discusses how transit can impact economic development in metropolitan areas.

Keynote Speaker Gabe Klein discusses how transit can impact economic development in metropolitan areas.

“I think that a lot of people from a lot of different perspectives – government, business – understand how we are connected, how we can move workforce and how we can attract people to our region,” Aiello said. “At TANK we spend a lot of time trying to make sure we are connecting workforce to the jobs that are available in Northern Kentucky and in downtown Cincinnati. The idea that this discussion is being raised and elevated is great because it’s something we deal with every day.”

Other panel members included Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, Amy Murray, a Cincinnati City Council member and Darin Hall, Vice President of Real Estate Development, Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority.

Hall said transit is a key part of any economic development discussion among the region’s leaders and planners.

“Transportation needs to be thought of as an economic development tool, instead of a social service,” Hall said. “It is a business strategy for attracting and attaining talent, but it’s also a social strategy by which we can connect people to jobs.”

Klein is recognized as a national thought leader on transit. His book, “Start-Up City,” discusses how to affect directional changes in cities, with a focus on transportation.

Klein said developing a comprehensive regional transportation network is expensive, but it is a pro-business strategy that will reap long-term economic development benefits.

“If you don’t invest in public transit, we’re not going to see the big return,” Klein said.

The report was released by The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s Agenda 360, Skyward (previously Vision 2015) of Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati chapter of the Urban Land Institute.


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One Comment

  1. S. Whitehead says:

    Nice story on an issue that never seems to get the attention it deserves in my mind. Gary Moore’s point about the funding mechanisms in ky. Is important and I hope will fuel further discussion. And I could not agree more with Darrin Hall’s comment that “Transportation needs to be thought of as an economic development tool, instead of a social service. It is a business strategy for attracting and attaining talent, but it’s also a social strategy by which we can connect people to jobs.”

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