STATE OF METRO: At a Crossroads...2016/01/04  · GoMetro CincinnatiMetro CincinnatiMetro Cincinnati...

STATE OF METRO: At a Crossroads

Our commitment to you

Our mission: Regional transportation connecting people and place s,

driving economic growth and expanding quality of li fe choices.

2017 budget

Metro by the numbers: 2016

SORTA Board of Trustees

Chair Jason Dunn Vice Chair

Ken ReedMaurice Brown

Brendon Cull

Gary Greenberg

KregKeesee

Mary Miller

Ron Mosby

Gwen L. Robinson

Karl Schultz

Daniel St. Charles

Bradley W. Thomas

The good news…

• We use technology and innovation to improve service s, 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 it s peers

Tops in efficiency

OPERATIONAL

EFFICIENCYCINCINNATI

#1Cincinnati

Charlotte

Cleveland

ColumbusPittsburgh

RaleighAustin

DenverIndianapolis

Louisville

Minneapolis

St. Louis

Source:

New direction

Adopted new strategic plan –20 million rides

by 2021

New vehicles

Put 22 new commuter buses into service on

express routes

New amenities

Introduced Cincy EZRide

free mobile payment app

New service

Operating the Cincinnati Bell

Connector

No Metro dollars used

2016 accomplishments

• Plans underway for Northside, Oakley and Walnut Hills

• Real-time screens and ticket vending machines

• Shelters and seating

• Groundbreakings scheduled for 2017

New transit centersNorthside

Oakley

The bad news…

• Costs are increasing faster than revenue

• Ridership is declining because our service hasn’t f ollowed 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

STATE/LOCAL

FUNDINGCINCINNATI

#10Cincinnati

Charlotte

Cleveland

ColumbusPittsburgh

RaleighAustin

DenverIndianapolis

Louisville

Minneapolis

St. Louis

Source:

Near the bottom in funding

Decreasing ridership

50,000 regional healthcare jobs not served by

Metro

25,000 regional manufacturing jobs not served

by Metro

• Reduced service 15%

• Kept overall footprint

• Thinned out service –frequency, evenings, weekends

• Increased fares

Ridership began decline in 2009

Projected operating deficit 2017 -2021

$96.1

Projected capital deficit 2017 -2021

• 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

Metro Futures Task Force

• Service reductions

• Possible fare increase

• More people cut off from jobs

• Impact on region’s competitiveness

If we do nothing…

• New routes• Faster service• Better connections• More amenities• Greater access to

jobs, education, shopping and medical

If we get additional funding…

Tough decisions in 2017Make improvements & explore options

Make improvements within existing budget and develop service improvement plan to share with

community

Implement the strategic planImplement the new strategic plan, measure results

and determine return on investment for all improvements

Make a decisionCollaborate with others to decide whether to ask voters for new funding, and if funded, eliminate

earnings tax that it now receives

• UC Econ. Center study: 75,000 jobs don’t have acce ss 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 cou ncils, elected officials, CEO On Board bus rides

What we’ve done

• 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 meeting s, meetings will elected officials, CEO Coffee Chats

• More media, social media to communicate need for be tter transit

What’s coming

• 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 mont h

• Request a State of Metro presentation– Email ReinventingMetro@go-metro.com

How you can help

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

Any questions?