Tri-State Public Transit - White Paper.

Friends of Tri-State Public Transit promotes the need for public transit bus and rail service as an integral part of a regional transportation system for the OKI (Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana) tri-state area. This white paper contains broadly stated ideas about transportation that could be more fully developed in subsequent papers. Ideas are presented to promote public discussion about the impact and contributions of transit.

Congestion and air pollution are a drain on the economy and quality of life of this region. They are public policy issues that need to be addressed for the long term vitality of the tri-state region. The portion of the transportation system in the OKI region of concern in this paper includes highways, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The automobile is the chief means of transportation in the tri-state region. Cars provide convenient, efficient door to door transportation for individuals. This efficiency comes with a cost to the owner and to the community. Beyond purchase costs, cars cost about $6,000 a year to operate, are less energy efficient per passenger mile than most other motorized means of transportation and require parking space which is an additional personal and community expense. Community costs include providing parking spaces, building and maintaining roads, traffic management and emergency response, air pollution and congestion.

While technology has contributed to reduced air emissions from vehicles, the increased number of cars on the road has overcome the gains achieved in reducing emissions. In 2000, transportation sources contributed about one-third of the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, and about one half the total regional emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), components of air pollution. Negative effects on the economy and health result.

There are more cars on our roadways, being driven more miles, and used on more trips often with a single occupant. In this region over the next 30 years, total vehicle miles traveled is projected to increase 43% while the supply of roadways will increase 17%.

When traffic exceeds road capacity, congestion results, mobility is reduced, fuel is wasted and air pollution increases. According to the 2002 Texas Urban Mobility study, an additional 74 gallons of fuel was consumed/wasted per traveler and the annual time lost was 43 hours per traveler in this region due to congestion. The response to roadway congestion has been to build more roads but highway-only solutions ultimately have worsened the problem. Providing alternate means of transportation relieves congestion and benefits everyone.

Recent development patterns which separate individual land uses, usually without connections to adjacent parcels, preclude walking or bicycle use and necessitate return to the main road between trips, adding to congestion. Outward migration of employment centers has followed residential development. These factors contribute to reliance on the automobile for travel in the area. Congestion has resulted, and it is expected to continue to increase. Congestion wastes time that could be spent at work or at home causing economic and social drains, contributes to air pollution and wastes gas in addition to restricting mobility.

Transportation choices lead to better use of the entire transportation system and provide advantages including economic, quality of life and health. Public transportation represents a community investment and is infrastructure like fire stations, libraries, parks, etc. Like other community investments such as roads and interchanges, public transit expenditures provide significant returns. Estimates are for every $1.00 invested in public transportation infrastructure, there can be up to $6.00 in economic returns.

Benefits of effective public transportation include convenient, safe, cost-effective transportation for individuals, enabling access to employment, services, recreation and other places important for everyday living. Everyone benefits. People with cars have travel options using whichever means would be more convenient and cost effective on a day to day basis, and traffic flows better. People without an automobile including the elderly, low-income households, people with disabilities and other households without a car, have increased mobility and access. Public transit creates and sustains jobs, eases traffic congestion, and contributes to economic development and increased property values while using energy more efficiently, and reducing transportation r! elated air pollution.

Currently three bus systems provide fixed-route service: Metro, mostly in the City of Cincinnati; Middletown; and TANK serving Northern Kentucky. Catch-A-Ride transit system (formerly Southeast Indiana Transit) provides a combination fixed-route and demand response service. Clermont County Transportation Connection and Warren County Transit System (WCTS) serve communities with demand responsive service where a rider prearranges a trip with the transit operator. The Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA) lost its funding to operate fixed-route and demand service. Parts of the region do not have public transportation and where it does exist, service is not uniform. There is s! ome interagency cooperation between Metro and TANK service but reciprocal services generally are not available in the region.

A full bus can take about 40 cars off the road. Buses carry about 45 passengers, stop close to departure and destination points and fares are reasonable. Locally a pass costs about $45 a month. Increased engine efficiencies have led to lower emissions from these vehicles and this is expected to continue in the near future.

Unlike roadway construction, the cost to build transit usually requires a vote of the people and 50% local match of federal funds. Funds to operate the system come from fares, local government and other local support. Revenue to build and maintain the road system comes from federal, state and local fees, and taxes. Regional data regarding costs to maintain the roadway system is not available but expenditures include construction, repair & maintenance of the road surface and adjacent area, highway safety and emergency response. Parking is an additional cost for the community or businesses.

Many cities have an integrated transportation system with light rail or other rail systems linked with the bus system. Rail attracts new transit riders: rail vehicles have more room, are easy to enter and exit and provide a smooth quiet ride for up to 150 passengers. Rail is more energy efficient and less polluting than cars, aides in reducing congestion and can bring large increases in property values. Costs to operate rail vary greatly depending on distances, stops, structures and whether the system is an initial segment. Additional segments spread the cost to construct and operate.

Attracting people who can drive but choose to take transit is the key to reducing traffic congestion. These so called choice riders are difficult to attract in this region because transit is not widely available. An integrated multi-modal regional transportation system that includes public transit bus and rail service, bikeways and pedestrian friendly infrastructure connecting with roads and highways enhances mobility and connectivity and would benefit all people in the area.

 Comments are encouraged.

With permission of the author and at the discretionof the LWVCA comments will be posted bi-monthly.
Submit comments to lwvcincy@eos.net