STATE OF METRO: At a Crossroads
Our commitment to you Our mission: Regional transportation connecting people and places, driving economic growth and expanding quality of life choices.
2017 budget
Metro by the numbers: 2016
SORTA Board of Trustees Chair Vice Chair Maurice Brendon Gary Kreg Jason Dunn Ken Reed Brown Cull Greenberg Keesee Mary Ron Gwen L. Karl Daniel Bradley W. Miller Mosby Robinson Schultz St. Charles Thomas
The good news… • We use technology and innovation to improve services, control costs • We involve the community in our plans • We develop regional partnerships • We stretch each dollar to provide the most service for our customers • Metro is the most efficient transit system among its peers
Tops in efficiency Minneapolis Cleveland OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY St. Louis Pittsburgh Denver Columbus CINCINNATI Indianapolis Cincinnati #1 Louisville Charlotte Austin Raleigh Source:
2016 accomplishments New direction New vehicles New amenities New service Adopted new Put 22 new Introduced Operating the strategic plan – commuter Cincy EZRide Cincinnati Bell 20 million rides buses into free mobile Connector by 2021 service on payment app express routes No Metro dollars used
New transit centers Northside • Plans underway for Northside, Oakley and Walnut Hills • Real-time screens and ticket vending machines Oakley • Shelters and seating • Groundbreakings scheduled for 2017
The bad news… • Costs are increasing faster than revenue • Ridership is declining because our service hasn’t followed the jobs; we’re no longer taking people where they need to go • Metro receives the least amount of state and local funding compared to its peers
Near the bottom in funding STATE/LOCAL Minneapolis Cleveland FUNDING St. Louis Pittsburgh Denver Columbus CINCINNATI Indianapolis Cincinnati #10 Louisville Charlotte Austin Raleigh Source:
Decreasing ridership 50,000 regional healthcare jobs not served by Metro 25,000 regional manufacturing jobs not served by Metro
Ridership began decline in 2009 • Reduced service 15% • Kept overall footprint • Thinned out service – frequency, evenings, weekends • Increased fares
Projected operating deficit 2017-2021 $96.1
Projected capital deficit 2017-2021
Metro Futures Task Force • 20 business and community leaders • Business model not sustainable • SORTA needs a permanent sales tax in Hamilton County or beyond and eliminate portion of City earnings tax SORTA Board directive: Take all appropriate steps to explore placing a ballot issue before Hamilton County voters in 2017
If we do nothing… • Service reductions • Possible fare increase • More people cut off from jobs • Impact on region’s competitiveness
If we get additional funding… • New routes • Faster service • Better connections • More amenities • Greater access to jobs, education, shopping and medical
Tough decisions in 2017 Make improvements & explore options Make improvements within existing budget and develop service improvement plan to share with community Implement the strategic plan Implement the new strategic plan, measure results and determine return on investment for all improvements Make a decision Collaborate with others to decide whether to ask voters for new funding, and if funded, eliminate earnings tax that it now receives
What we’ve done • UC Econ. Center study: 75,000 jobs don’t have access to transit • Budget projections: operations and capital • Got the word out via media and social media • Taken State of Metro “on the road” to community councils, elected officials, CEO On Board bus rides
What’s coming • AECOM comprehensive study update – Phase II • Community outreach per AECOM study • UC Economic Center economic impact study • State of Metro “on the road”… more community meetings, meetings will elected officials, CEO Coffee Chats • More media, social media to communicate need for better transit
How you can help • Let us know what you think… schedule a meeting with us • Get involved: – Host a meeting or attend a community meeting – SORTA Board meeting: 9 a.m., third Tuesday of month • Request a State of Metro presentation – Email ReinventingMetro@go-metro.com
Get involved, stay informed! Have questions? Contact us: ReinventingMetro@go-metro.com Contact me directly: TellDwight@go-metro.com Follow us on social media: GoMetro CincinnatiMetro CincinnatiMetro Cincinnati Metro
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