Opinion: Upgrades to bus system will provide better experience for riders
A thriving community requires a thriving public transit system.
It must get people where they need to go − jobs, shopping, doctor’s appointments, schools, entertainment venues − efficiently. It must provide options for all types of riders. And it must contribute to the region’s economic vitality.
Metro is transforming transit into the forward-thinking system Hamilton County needs and deserves. County voters placed their trust in Metro and its governing body, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, when they passed a historic sales tax in 2020, and we work to earn that trust every day.
Metro is executing its ambitious five-year Reinventing Metro plan, now in its second phase, unveiling improvements to elevate the riding experience and hone our region’s competitive edge. We’ve added vehicles, amenities, routes, shelters and more weekend and overnight service. That translates into more riders getting to more destinations and more employers and municipalities being served. This has led to ridership increases that are leading the nation, as noted in the Wall Street Journal just last week.
The transformation will continue throughout 2023 and beyond, as Metro rolls out initiatives that benefit the entire community. We are working hard to hire great people to help us execute this transformation. Here are a few of the big changes ahead:
Bus rapid transit
A game-changer, bus rapid transit offers the convenience and speed of light rail with less cost and faster construction. It’s designed for maximum efficiency, shorter travel times and enhanced network connectivity.
Features including smart traffic signals, dedicated lanes, and same-level entry will create an experience unlike anything Hamilton County has seen. BRT and related enhancements are designed to help the regional economy, as well.
Last week, Metro announced Hamilton Avenue and Reading Road as debut BRT corridors, with Glenway Avenue and Montgomery Road also receiving enhancements. They were selected after extensive data-gathering, technical analysis, meetings with businesses and municipal leaders and public input.
Visit MetroBRTStudy.com for updates as we work to make BRT a reality by an expected 2027 debut.
On-demand
In the next several months we are launching an innovative on-demand service called MetroNow!, which lets riders schedule trips inside specific areas. Featuring smaller vehicles in low-density neighborhoods that can’t accommodate larger buses, it will provide first- and last-mile connections to main routes.
MetroNow! will launch in two strategically chosen zones − Springdale/Sharonville, to improve access to health care, and Colerain/Northgate, to increase access to jobs and shopping.
Metro will launch four more zones later in 2023.
Sustainability
Metro is committed to creating a more sustainable fleet by replacing aging vehicles and infrastructure and purchasing more zero emission buses.
Thanks to the support of the county sales tax as well as federal and regional grants, we will debut two electric vehicles in our Access paratransit service in coming months, followed by dozens more low- to no-emission vehicles throughout our fleet in coming years.
Infrastructure
A grant program made possible by the sales tax levy lets Metro support infrastructure improvements through the Transit Infrastructure Fund.
Just last week, Metro announced that 25 communities will receive a combined $39.2 million for 36 transit-related projects through the second round of TIF grants. These follow last year’s inaugural round of $227 million − including $205 million over 25 years for the Western Hills Viaduct replacement − to 30 projects across 22 communities.
From intersection upgrades in Green Township to road repairs in Forest Park, the entire county will benefit from these projects and many more to come.
The road ahead
We’re living in transformative times for public transit. As Metro celebrates its 50th anniversary, I’m excited by the changes coming in the next few years and over the next 50 years as well. Together, we will build a more equitable, efficient and modern transit system in Hamilton County.
Kreg Keesee is chairman of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) Board of Trustees. He can be reached at kkeesee@go-metro.com.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: Upgrades to bus system will provide better experience for riders
