Jason Williams

jwilliams@enquirer.com

Greater Cincinnati residents calling for better public transportation will have a chance next week to tell Gov. John Kasich's administration what they want from the state.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is scheduled to hold a public meeting to discuss statewide transit usage and future needs from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Oct. 31 at the Warren County OhioMeansJobs center, 300 East Silver Street, Lebanon.

Local transit supporters commended the state for being open to discussing the issue, especially considering Kasich's track record of being anti-transit since taking office in 2011.

But some are wondering why ODOT chose to hold the Southwest Ohio meeting in Lebanon at a site that's not accessible by transit – the nearest Metro bus stop is 8.3 miles away. Meanwhile, similar transit meetings in Cleveland and Columbus are scheduled for downtown venues.

"You're going to talk about transit at a place that's inaccessible by transit – so all voices may not be heard," said Over-the-Rhine resident Derek Bauman, regional director for All Aboard Ohio, a Cleveland-based transit advocacy group. "It's unfortunate, but more so, I appreciate the fact they're taking the time to do this and receive public input."



ODOT spokesman Steve Faulkner said Lebanon is a central location to hold the Southwest Ohio meeting, giving people from Cincinnati and Dayton the opportunity to attend. ODOT is holding five transit meetings across the state this month, with the others being held Athens (southeast part of the state), Findlay (northwest), Columbus (central) and Cleveland (northeast). The series of meetings started Tuesday in Cleveland.

The meetings are part of a comprehensive look at transit that ODOT launched last fall. The process also included a public survey earlier this year; the results are not being released during the public meetings.

"Transit is evolving; you hear about Millennials not using cars and choosing different forms of transportation," Faulkner said. "We have to take a look at where we are and where we're headed. I think what you'll see from this is a blueprint to educate policy makers and help guide them on how transit could be funded in the future."

The Kasich administration has not placed a high priority on transit funding. The governor pulled all $52 million in state money for Cincinnati's streetcar project just two months after he took office. Since fiscal year 2011, Ohio's spending on mass transit has dropped by $3.3 million to $7.3 million – among the lowest of any state. (The state contributes $1.8 million toward Metro's $93 million annual budget.)

"I just don't think (cutting transit funds) is tenable going forward," Bauman said. "From Millennials to empty nesters, people want more transit options. It's no longer a political discussion. It's about economic development and providing services that the 21st century demands for the competitiveness of the region." •