(Brendon Cull) (David Riposo) - Go Metro Packets... · 5. Financial Reports for January 2019 (David Riposo) 6. CEO Board Update (Darryl Haley) Other Items: New Business Adjournment

The SORTA Board of Trustees may go into Executive “Closed” Session under the Ohio Open Meetings Act: Section 121.22(G)(1) To consider appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee…; Section 121.22(G)(2) To consider the purchase of property for public purposes….; Section 121.22(G)(3) Conferences with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action; Section 121.22(G)(4) Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees…, Section 121.22(G)(5) Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or regulations or stat statues; Section 121.22(G)(6) Details relative to the security arrangements and emergency response protocols for a public body or a public office; Section 121.22(G)(8) To consider confidential information related to the marketing plans, specific business strategy, production techniques, trade secrets…

SORTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 – 8:30 A.M

SORTA/METRO BOARD ROOM 602 MAIN STREET, SUITE 1100

CINCINNATI, OHIO

General Items: Call to order Pledge of Allegiance Recite SORTA’s Vision and Mission Statement CEO Star Award: Michael Trollinger Hearings from citizens (3 minutes per person) Chairman Update Action Items:

1. Approval of Board Minutes: January 15th, 2019

Finance Committee (Heidi Black) Consent:

2. Proposed Motion: Approval of General Liability Reserve Policy Planning & Operations Committee (Brendon Cull) Consent:

3. Proposed Resolution No. 2019-04: Approval of Title VI Program Update 4. Proposed Resolution No. 2019-05: Approval to Purchase In-Ground Bus Lifts at Queensgate Garage

Briefing Items: 5. Financial Reports for January 2019 (David Riposo) 6. CEO Board Update (Darryl Haley)

Other Items: New Business

Adjournment

The next regular meeting of the SORTA Board of Trustees is scheduled for

Tuesday, March 19th, 2019, 6:00 P.M, the SORTA/Metro Board Room, 602 Main Street, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio

CEO Star Award Presentation

Queensgate Operator Michael Trollinger is receiving a CEO STAR Award for stopping to assist a Cincinnati Police Officer at an accident scene while operating the Rt. 81X Mt. Washington Express. Michael has worked for Metro since June of 2008. We appreciate your brave efforts!

BOARD OF TRUSTEES SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

MINUTES OF: Regular Meeting of the SORTA Board of Trustees DATE: Tuesday, January 15th, 2019, 6:00 P.M.

SORTA/ Metro 602 Main Street Cincinnati, OH 45202

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:

Maurice Brown, Brendon Cull, Blake Ethridge, Allen Freeman, Robert Harris, Roderick Hinton, Kreg Keesee, Pete McLinden, Mary Miller, Gwen Robinson, and Kathleen Wyenandt

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:

Heidi Black and Thaddeus Hoffmeister,

STAFF MEMBERS: Dwight Ferrell, Donna Adkins, John Edmondson, Dan Feldman, Patrick Giblin, Paul Grether,

Darryl Haley, Adriene Hairston, Mary Huller, Michelle Jeng, Brandy Jones, Caprice Jones, Maria Jones, Mark McEwan, Ted Meyer, Mary Moning, John Ravasio, Cindy Resor, David Riposo, Shannel Satterfield , Khaled Shammout, and Mike Weil

OTHERS: Kim Schaefer (VSSP), Chris Moran (LWV), Cam Hardy (Better Bus Coalition), Mark Samaan

(Better Bus Coalition), Craig Rozen (Better Bus Coalition), Nick Keeling (Better Bus Coalition), B. Wall (Better Bus Coalition), Gina March (Human Services Chamber), Taylor Liggins (Cincinnati Chamber), Diane Salvato (Citizen), Hannah Sparling (Enquirer), Dave Wormald (AECOM),

CALL TO ORDER Mr. Keesee, SORTA Board Chair, called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. VISION AND MISSION SORTA’s vision and mission statements were recited. MOMENT OF SILENCE Mr. Brown asked the Board, staff, and public for a moment of silence to the passing of Metro bus operator, Derrick Housley and Colerain Police Officer Dale Woods HEARINGS FROM CITIZENS Cam Hardy: Mr. Hardy from the Better Bus Coalition asked the SORTA Board to monitor drug activity at Government Square and requested additional re-enforcements from the Cincinnati Police Department. He also questioned the status of the Bus Only Lane support letter from the Board to the City Mayor. Mark Samaan: Mr. Samaan from the Better Bus Coalition expressed his concerns regarding re-enforcements at bus stops and the Bus Only Lane. He also asked SORTA staff to consider forming An in-house police force or partner with the Cincinnati Police Department to issue tickets for parking in bus only lanes and stops which could possibly generate revenue for the organization. The Board agreed to investigate and report back at the next scheduled Board meeting in February. CHAIRMAN UPDATE Mr. Keesee did not have a report. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 2018 BOARD MEETING MINUTES Ms. Robinson made a motion that the minutes of the December 18th meeting be approved as previously mailed and Mr. Cull seconded the motion. By voice vote, the Board approved the minutes. FINANCE COMMITTEE Mr. Hinton reported on the Finance Committee meeting that was held on January 8th and presented the following to the Board for approval:

SORTA Board of Trustees January 15, 2019

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CONSENT ITEMS: Mr. Hinton moved for adoption of the consent agenda items and Mr. Brown seconded the motion. By roll call vote, the Board approved Resolution No. 2019-01. Proposed Resolution No. 2019-01: Approval of Contract with Fifth Third Bank This resolution approves a five (5) 1-year options contract with Fifth Third Bank for banking and other related services at a total additional cost not to exceed $900,000 for a total contract value up to $2,400,000. By roll call vote, the Board approved Resolution No. 2019-01. PLANNING AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Ms. Robinson reported on the Planning and Operations Committee that was held on January 8th and presented the following to the Board for approval: CONSENT ITEMS: Mr. Keesee moved for adoption of the consent agenda items and Mr. McLinden seconded the motion. By roll call vote, the Board approved agenda items 3 through 7. Proposed Motion: Approval of Agency Safety Plan-Bus This motion allows the System Safety Program Plan (SSPP) – Bus, as the Interim Public Transit Agency Safety Plan. Proposed Motion: Approval of Agency Safety Plan-Rail This motion allows the System Safety Program Plan (SSPP) – Rail, as the Interim Public Transit Agency Safety Plan.

Proposed Resolution No. 2019-02: Approval of Contract for Security Services at Riverfront Transit Center

This resolution approves a three (3) year contract with a two (1) year options with National Alliance Security, at a total estimated cost of $384,982 for security services at the RTC.

Proposed Resolution No. 2019-03: Approval to Purchase Paratransit Vehicles

This resolution approves a five (5) year contract with Transportation Equipment Sales Corp (TESCO), for the purchase of paratransit vehicles, at cost not to exceed $4,251,995.

Proposed Motion: Approval of Modification for Appointment of OKI Board

This motion allows the appointment of Darryl Haley as SORTA’s representative to the OKI Board of Trustees and David Riposo as the alternate.

REINVENTING METRO COMMITTEE

Mr. Keesee reported on the Reinventing Metro Committee that was held on January 8th, 2019. Proposed Motion: Approval of Reinventing Metro Plan This motion accepts the Reinventing Metro Plan. BRIEFING ITEMS

MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2018 Mr. Riposo presented the December 2018 financial reports. Total revenues were $8.5 million, which is favorable to budget by $409,000. Total expenses were $8.5 million, which is unfavorable to budget by $475,000 or 5.9%. The final result was a net unfavorable variance of $41,000 for the month. Fare revenue was favorable to budget by $123,000 or 9.3%. Mr. Riposo then reviewed the contributing factors to these variances. He also presented the Cincinnati Bell Connector financial report for December 2018. Total revenues were $291,964 which is unfavorable to budget by $57,186 or 16%. Total expenses were $345,461 which is favorable to budget by

SORTA Board of Trustees January 15, 2019

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$3,689 or 1%. The end result is a net unfavorable variance of $53,497 for the month. Mr. Riposo then reviewed the contributing factors to these variances. The Committee accepted the report as presented. CEO BOARD UPDATE/YEAR IN REVIEW Mr. Ferrell thanked the Board and staff for their support and efforts over the years. He noted his last day is effective January 31, 2018. Lastly, the 2018 Year In Review video was displayed. NEW BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:45 P.M. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the SORTA Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 8:30 A.M., the SORTA/Metro Board Room, 602 Main Street, Suite 1200, Cincinnati, Ohio. APPROVED: ATTESTED: Kreg Keesee Chair, SORTA Board

David A. Riposo CFO/Secretary Treasurer

MOTION

ADOPTION OF GENERAL LIABILITY RESERVE POLICY I move that the SORTA Board adopt the attached General Liability Policy and authorize the Interim CEO/General Manager, Interim COO, or the CFO/Secretary-Treasurer to implement the policy contingent upon receiving the $3 million insurance related reserve fund from the City of Cincinnati.

**************

MOVED BY: Heidi Black SECOND BY: Brendon Cull VOTE Aye: Mr. Ethridge, Mr. Harris, Mr. Hinton, Mr. Hoffmeister, Mr. Keesee, Ms.

Robinson, and Ms. Wyenandt Nay:

None

Abstain:

None

ABSENT AT THE TIME: Maurice Brown, Allen Freeman, Pete McLinden, and Mary Miller APPROVED: February 19, 2019

Attachments: Action Item

Policy Other Attachments

February 2019

APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL LIABILITY RESERVE POLICY STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL / OBJECTIVE

• Operational Excellence RECOMMENDATION Approval of a resolution authorizing the Interim CEO/General Manager, Interim COO, or the CFO/Secretary-Treasurer to execute the General Liability Reserve Policy on behalf of SORTA, contingent upon receiving the $3 million insurance related reserve fund from the City of Cincinnati.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• This is a General Liability Reserve Policy in which Reserves will be set annually based on annual Actuarial Reports conducted by a licensed Actuary. The amount will vary each year based on the claims experience.

BUSINESS PURPOSE

• This policy defines the self-insurance reserve program that may be used to pay claims and other costs necessary to operate the self-insurance program. It establishes a fund to act as a reserve for the self-insured general liability program (Insurance Reserve). SORTA shall maintain self-insurance reserves in an amount not less than that required and calculated annually by a licensed actuary and reported as part of its annual external audit required by the State of Ohio.

PROCUREMENT CONSIDERATIONS

• N/A

D/M/WBE CONSIDERATIONS

• N/A

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Section 9.83 of the Ohio Revised Code allows SORTA to establish a Reserve Fund.

SUBMITTED BY:

Michelle Jeng Darryl Haley Director of Treasury Interim CEO/General Manager

Attachments: General Liability Reserve Policy

Metro Policy Number: FIN-902 Description: General Liability Reserve Policy

Revision Number: Page Number: Page 1 of 3

Prepared by: Treasury & Risk Approved by: Chief Financial Officer

Issued by: Sr. Director, Treasury & Risk Issue Date: January 17, 2019

Controlled Copy, Be sure to use the Latest Revision For Internal Use Only

Approval Signature: _______________________ Date: ____________

Change/Review Record Revision /Review Date Responsible

Description of Change

1.0 Introduction SORTA/Metro established a self-insurance program compliant with Ohio Revised Code Section 9.83. This policy defines the self-insurance reserve program that may be used to pay claims and other costs necessary to operate the self-insurance program. This General Liability Reserve Policy will establish a fund to act as a reserve for the self-insured general liability program (Insurance Reserve). SORTA shall maintain self-insurance reserves in an amount not less than that required and calculated annually by a licensed actuary and reported as part of its annual external audit required by the State of Ohio.

2.0 Policy The General Liability Reserve Policy establishes a fund to act as a reserve for the self-insured liability program (Insurance Reserve). This reserve fund shall be used for such purposes, which may include, but shall not be limited to, payments for any general liability claims and the payment of costs of the self-insurance program including, by way of example and not limitation, the costs of brokers/program, administrators, consultants, attorneys, actuaries, risk management, claims adjustment and related costs. The reserve fund may also be used to purchase additional insurance coverage and/or other services.

3.0 Procedure

All Accidents and Incidents that happen on SORTA/Metro Property are to be documented on Metro’s internal forms called Operator’s Report and/or Supervisor Report (Appendices 1 and 2,






attached). Whenever an accident or incident occurs, the operator and/or supervisor should complete the form thoroughly, providing as much detail as possible.

4.0 Monthly Review

4.1 On a monthly basis, the Claims Agent runs a “Claims Reserve” Report

from RiskMaster showing all of the outstanding claims with reserve amounts.

4.2 The Sr. Director of Treasury & Risk reviews the monthly report to ensure that it is accurate and reserve amounts are appropriate.

4.3 The Sr. Director of Treasury & Risk reconciles the differences from the

prior month; accounting for any new claims, settlements, and adjustments to current claims, and sends the report to Accounting to make any necessary entries and to properly fund the balance sheet reserve account.

5.0 Annually

5.1 SORTA will engage a licensed actuary to conduct an annual General

Liability study. This study will include:

5.1.1 An estimated liability amount (undiscounted and discounted) as of the prior year end for claims occurring December 31st and prior

5.1.2 An estimate of projected losses for the current year 5.1.3 Percentiles/confidence levels as requested

5.2 SORTA will use the results of this study to set the General Liability

Reserve amount for the year for Budget purposes. The Chief Financial Officer will annually recommend the dollar amount that shall be contributed to the reserve fund in accordance with this policy for approval during the annual budget process. 5.2.1 The amount will be allocated equally across the 12-month calendar

year.






5.2.2 Any differences between projected losses and actual losses from the prior year-end will be “trued-up” in period 13, resulting in either additional income or expense for the year.

5.3 This policy works in conjunction with SORTA’s General Liability Excessive coverage insurance program.

6.0 Responsibilities

6.1 Chief Financial Officer

6.1.1 The Chief Financial Officer will annually include the dollar amount that shall be contributed to the reserve fund in accordance with this policy for approval during the annual budget process.

6.2 Risk Department

6.2.1 Enter all claims into Risk Master and set initial reserve amounts. 6.2.2 Review, adjust and settle claims 6.2.3 Advise the CFO immediately of any claims where potential liability

is greater than $25,000

6.3 Accounting Department 6.3.1 Make all necessary accounting entries to properly fund the balance

sheet reserve account. 6.3.2 Monitor and reconcile, as needed, the amount maintained in the

reserve fund.

6.4 This policy will be reviewed and updated periodically as required, but no less frequently than every 3 years.

Distribution List: Metro Management and Supervisory Employees Appendix 1: Operator’s Report Appendix 2: Supervisor’s Report

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY RESOLUTION NO. 2019-04

APPROVAL OF 2019-2021 TITLE VI PROGRAM UPDATE WHEREAS:

1. As a recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) financial assistance, SORTA must carry out U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Title VI regulations. It is the policy of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority to follow Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended.

2. All recipients of FTA funds must submit an updated Title VI Program approved by the board of

directors to their FTA regional civil rights officer once every three years. 3. The last Title VI report was submitted to the FTA in December 2016 and was approved by the

Board under Resolution 2016-09. SORTA staff has completed the analyses and documented the results for the 2019 update that follows the revised rules described in FTA Circular 4702.1B dated October 1, 2012.

4. The Program Update is due April 1, 2019, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated by

reference herein. 5. Staff recommends the Board adopt the 2019 Title VI Update and authorize staff to submit the

Triennial Program Update to the FTA.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

6. The Board hereby adopts the 2019 Triennial Title VI Program Update as developed by staff and authorizes and directs the Interim CEO/General Manager, Interim COO, or the CFO/Secretary-Treasurer to submit the Program Update to the Federal Transit Administration on behalf of SORTA.

**************

MOVED BY: Blake Ethridge SECOND BY: Kathy Wyenandt VOTE Aye: Ms. Black, Mr. Cull, Mr. Harris, Mr. Hinton, Mr. Hoffmeister, Mr. Keesee and Ms. Robinson Nay:

None

Abstain:

None



Report Presentation

February 2019

APPROVAL OF 2019-2021 TITLE VI PROGRAM UPDATE

STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL / OBJECTIVE

• Strategic Partnering • Operational Excellence

RECOMMENDATION

Approval of the 2019-2021 Title VI Program Update


• No financial considerations

BUSINESS PURPOSE

• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires that all direct and primary recipients document their compliance with Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) Title VI regulations by submitting a Title VI Program Update to their FTA regional civil rights officer once every three years or as otherwise directed by FTA. For all recipients (including sub-recipients), the Title VI Program Update must be approved by the recipient’s board of directors or appropriate governing entity or official(s) responsible for policy decisions prior to submission to FTA. For State DOTs, the appropriate governing entity is the State’s Secretary of Transportation or equivalent. Recipients shall submit a copy of the Board resolution, meeting minutes, or similar documentation with the Title VI Program Update as evidence that the board of directors or appropriate governing entity or official(s) have approved the Title VI Program Update. FTA will review and concur or request the recipient provide additional information.

• Providers of fixed route public transportation shall also adopt system-wide service policies to ensure service design and operations practices do not result in discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The following service policies differ from service standards in that they are not necessarily based on a quantitative threshold:

o Major Service Change Policy o Disproportionate Burden Policy o Disparate Impact Policy


• No procurement considerations


• No D/M/WBE considerations

Attachments: Presentation


• 42 U.S.C. § 2000d • DOT 49 CFR Part 21

o Title 49 CFR Section 21.9(b) o FTA Circular 4702.1B

APPROVAL OF CONTRACT Khaled Shammout Darryl Haley Director of Transit Development Interim CEO/General Manager

TITLE VI PROGRAM 2019 UPDATE

PLANNING AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

February, 2019

1

Purpose

• Seek Board approval for the 2019 Title VI Program updates

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of

race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

--42 U.S.C. Section 2000d

2

Metro’s Commitment to Title VI • Demonstrates equal access:

– Services – Language

• Rail & bus system-wide service standards: – Service KPI – Amenities – Stops

• Policy definitions for equity analysis – Major service change, disparate impact (minorities) &

disproportionate burden (low-income persons) • Complaint procedures • Public Participation Plan

3

Changes in 2019 Program • No major programmatic changes since 2016 • Updates:

– Demographic data – Limited English Proficiency (LEP) – Public participation/outreach – Monitoring of service standards – Title VI complaints

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Limited English Proficiency (LEP) • Not much change since 2016 update

– 2.75% of service area population are LEP individuals – As in 2016 update, only Spanish language meets the LEP

threshold (over 1,000 individuals who speak English less than very well)

– Only 14 out of 4,621 surveys handed out (in 2018) were requested in Spanish

– Out of 3,400 calls the Customer Service office receives per month, less than one person requests language assistance

• As in 2016 update, SORTA is required to provide its vital documents in Spanish as a minimum.

5

Inclusive Public Outreach/Public Participation

• Completed 37 public outreach activities from 2016-2018

• Title VI Complaints:

– Two were received since 2016 – Both were investigated and

closed.

6

Monitoring – No Disparate Impacts or Disproportionate Burdens

• 2016 Mobile Ticketing Equity Analysis – No disparate impact or disproportionate burden were found

• 2017 Local Route Service Equity Analysis – No disparate impact or disproportionate burden were found

• 2018 Express Route Service Change Equity Analysis – No disparate impact or disproportionate burden were found

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Route Avg. Wkd Peak Headway

Avg. Wkd Off-Peak Headway

Avg. Sat. Headway

Avg. Sun. Headway

Avg. Vehicle Load (Wkd)

Avg. Vehicle Load (Sat.)

Avg. Vehicle Load (Sun.)

On-time Performance

System Avg. 36 min 41 min 44 min 47 min 0.36 0.32 0.32 82.0% Minority Route Avg. 32 min 41 min 44 min 47 min 0.36 0.32 0.32 81.5% Non-Minority Rt. Avg. 49 min No Routes No Routes No Routes 0.39 No Routes No Routes 83.8%

Service Area Demographics

Population 2012-2015 2016-2018 2019-2021

Service Area Minority 32% 32% 35.5%

Service Area Low Income 16% 16% 18.5%

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Next Steps

• Board approval of 2019 Title VI Program update

• Submission to FTA by April 1, 2019

9

THANK YOU

10

April 2019

TITLE VI PROGRAM UPDATE

SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY (SORTA) 602 Main Street, Suite 1100

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-2549

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 2

POLICY STATEMENT ................................................................................................................................. 2

PART 1 ..................................................................................................................................................... 4

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................... 5

1.1. TITLE VI POLICY AND COMPLAINT PROCEDURE ........................................................................... 5

1.2. ACCESS TO SERVICES BY PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ................................. 7

1.3. SORTA SUB-RECIPIENTS ............................................................................................................ 14

1.4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS ............................................................................................. 15

PART 2 ................................................................................................................................................... 18

2. PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................. 19

2.1. DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND MAPS ............................................................................................... 19

2.2. SERVICE STANDARDS ................................................................................................................ 19

2.3. SERVICE POLICIES ..................................................................................................................... 20

2.4. DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN & DISPARATE IMPACT POLICY .................................................... 24

2.5. MONITORING .............................................................................................................................. 27

2.6. PUBLIC NOTICE OF TITLE VI PROGRAM ...................................................................................... 28

APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................................... 29

APPENDIX A: PUBLIC NON-DISCRIMINATION NOTICE, COMPLAINT PROCEDURE AND COMPLAINT FORM 30

APPENDIX B: SORTA PUBLIC OUTREACH INFORMATION ........................................................................ 41

APPENDIX C: DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND MAPS ...................................................................................... 44

APPENDIX D: MINORITY/LOW INCOME RIDERSHIP AND POPULATION ..................................................... 48

APPENDIX E: QUALITY OF SERVICE MONITORING ANALYSIS .................................................................. 53

APPENDIX F: SORTA BOARD DEMOGRAPHICS AND TITLE VI PROGRAM RESOLUTION ............................ 55

APPENDIX G: 2016 MOBILE TICKETING EQUITY ANALYSIS ...................................................................... 58

APPENDIX H: 2017 LOCAL ROUTE SERVICE EQUITY ANALYSIS ............................................................... 59

APPENDIX I: 2018 EXPRESS ROUTE SERVICE CHANGE EQUITY ANALYSIS .............................................. 60

APPENDIX J: 2018 FARE CHANGE EQUITY ANALYSIS .............................................................................. 61

APPENDIX K: ON-BOARD SURVEY RESULTS ........................................................................................... 62

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Introduction Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is the primary transit authority of the Greater Cincinnati Area and carries about 14 million annual trips traveling over 9 million miles of revenue service. SORTA’s mission is to be a regional transportation system connecting people and places, driving economic growth and expanding quality of life choices. This document serves as SORTA’s Title VI Program update from the previous document submitted in April of 2016. Every three years transit agencies receiving funds through the U.S. Department of Transportation must update their program to avoid, minimize or mitigate disparate impacts on minority populations and disproportionate burdens on low-income populations. SORTA’s service has had minor changes since the last Title VI Program update. SORTA’s service area and demographic makeup have remained relatively constant when comparing American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates from the last update. In terms of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requirements, no significant changes have occurred since the last update. Currently 2.75% of the service area population (5 years and older) fall under LEP compared to 1.8% in the last Title VI Program update in 2016. Additionally, no actions were taken by SORTA (whether service changes, placement of amenities or infrastructure improvements) that caused disproportionate burden or disparate impact on minority or low income populations. This document is organized as follows:

1- General Requirements • Title VI Policy and Complaint Procedure • Access to Services by Persons with Limited English Proficiency • SORTA Sub-recipient • Public Participation Process

2- Program Specific Requirements • Demographic Data and Maps • Service Standards • Service Policies • Disproportionate Burden and Disparate Impact Policy • Monitoring

3- Appendices

Policy Statement As a recipient of funds administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, it is the policy of SORTA to effectuate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended. The Act requires that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in any program or activity which is federally funded. Prohibited practices include but are not limited to:

• Denying a person any service or benefit because of race, color, or national origin; • Providing a different service or benefit, or providing services or benefits in a different manner; and • Locating facilities in any way that would limit or impede access to a federally funded service or

benefit.

3

The Environmental Justice component of Title VI guarantees fair treatment for people of all races, cultures, and incomes regarding the development of environmental justice laws, regulations and policies. Under Title VI, SORTA must:

• Ensure involvement of low-income and minority groups in the decision making process (public involvement);

• Safeguard low-income and minority groups against disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental impacts of its programs, policies and activities; and

• Ensure low income and minority groups receive their fair share of benefits.

4

Part 1

General Requirements

5

1. General Requirements The general requirements of a Title VI Program discusses the various policies that pertain to Title VI, specifically as they relate to protecting individuals against discrimination in the way it delivers services. This section addresses the following policies:

1- Title VI Policy and Complaint Procedure 2- Access to Services by Persons with Limited English Proficiency 3- SORTA Sub-recipient 4- Public Participation Process

1.1. Title VI Policy and Complaint Procedure This section outlines the Title VI complaint procedures related to providing programs, services, and benefits. However, it does not deny the complainant the right to file formal complaints with any local or state organization, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), or seek private counsel for complaints alleging discrimination, intimidation or retaliation of any kind that is prohibited by law. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance. Appendix A includes SORTA’s Public Non-Discrimination Notice, the webpage containing the Title VI policy and complaint form. SORTA also displays its Public Non-Discrimination Notice on-board its buses. General Any person who believes that he or she, individually, or as a member of any specific class of persons, has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin as noted below may file a written complaint with the SORTA's Title VI Coordinator, 602 Main Street, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202. Complainants have the right to complain directly to the appropriate federal agency. Every effort will be made to obtain early resolution of complaints. The option of informal meeting(s) between the affected parties and the Title VI Coordinator may be utilized for resolutions. The Title VI Coordinator will notify SORTA's General Manager/CEO of all Title VI related complaints as well as all resolutions. Procedure

1. The complaint must be filed and include the following items: a. The complaint shall be in writing and signed by the Complainant(s). In cases where the

Complainant is unable or incapable of providing a written statement, a verbal complaint may be made. The Title VI Coordinator will interview the Complainant and, if necessary, assist the person in converting verbal complaints to writing. All complaints must, however, be signed by the Complainant or his/her representative.

b. The complaint shall include the following as applicable: date of the alleged act of discrimination; the date when the Complainants became aware of the alleged act of discrimination; the date on which that conduct was discontinued; and/or the latest instance of conduct.

c. The complaint shall present a detailed description of the issues, including names and job titles of those individuals perceived as parties in the complaint.

d. Federal and state law require complaints be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged incident.

6

2. Upon receipt of the complaint, the Title VI Coordinator will determine its jurisdiction, acceptability, need for additional information and begin investigating the merit of the complaint.

3. The Complainant will be provided with a written acknowledgement that SORTA has either accepted or rejected the complaint.

4. A complaint must meet the following criteria for acceptance: a. The complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged occurrence. b. The allegation must involve a covered basis such as race, color or national origin. c. The allegation must involve a SORTA service of a Federal-aid recipient, sub-recipient or

contactor. 5. A complaint may be dismissed for the following reasons:

a. The Complainant requests the withdrawal of the complaint. b. The Complainant fails to respond to repeated requests for additional information needed

to process the complaint. c. The Complainant cannot be located after three attempts.

6. Once SORTA's Title VI Coordinator decides to accept the complaint for investigation, the Complainant will be notified in writing of such determination. The complaint will receive a case number and will then be logged in a database identifying: Complainant's name, basis, alleged harm, and the race, color and national origin of the Complainant.

7. Within 90 calendar days of the acceptance of the complaint, SORTA's Title VI Coordinator will prepare an investigative report. The report will include a narrative description of the incident, identification of persons interviewed, findings and recommendations for disposition.

8. The investigative report and its findings may be reviewed by the General Manager/CEO, and in some cases by SORTA's Legal Counsel. The report will be modified as needed.

9. The Title VI Coordinator will make a determination on the disposition of the complaint. Dispositions will be stated as follows:

a. In the event SORTA is in noncompliance with Title VI regulations, remedial actions will be listed.

b. In the event SORTA is found to be in compliance, the reasons for this finding will be clearly described.

10. The notice of determination will be mailed to the Complainant. It will include information regarding appeal rights of Complainant and instructions for initiating such an appeal. Notices of appeals are as follows:

a. SORTA will reconsider this determination if new facts come to light. b. If Complainant is dissatisfied with the determination and/or resolution set forth by SORTA,

the same complaint may be submitted to the FTA for investigation. Complainant will be advised to contact the Federal Transit Administration, Office of Civil Rights, 200 W. Adams, Room 2410, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Telephone (312) 353-2789.

11. A copy of the complaint and SORTA's investigation report, compliance finding and final remedial action plan, if appropriate, will be issued to FTA within 120 days of the receipt of the complaint.

12. A summary of the complaint and its resolution will be provided during the Triennial Review.

Recordkeeping Requirement The Title VI Coordinator will ensure that all records relating to SORTA's Title VI Complaint Process are maintained and available for compliance review audits.

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Record of Title VI Investigations, Complaints or Lawsuits Two Title VI complaints (by the same individual) have been received by SORTA since the 2016 update of the Title VI Program. Both complaints were handled by SORTA’s outside legal counsel and proper procedures were followed. Based on the results of the investigations, it was determined that both allegations could not be substantiated and both cases were closed. 1.2. Access to Services by Persons with Limited English Proficiency A Handbook for Public Transportation Providers (Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights, April 13, 2007) describes a four-factor analysis that must be completed to determine the level of assistance required to provide Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons meaningful access to public transportation services. The four factors are listed below:

1. The Number and Proportion of LEP Persons Served or Encountered in the Eligible Service Population

2. The Frequency with Which LEP Individuals Come into Contact with SORTA Programs, Activities, and Services

3. The Importance of SORTA Programs, Activities and Services to LEP Persons 4. Resources Available to SORTA and Costs

The following sections describe the analysis followed by SORTA. Factor 1: The Number and Proportion of LEP Persons Served or Encountered in the Eligible Service Population According to the most recent (2012-2016) American Community Survey data (U.S. Census Bureau), SORTA’s service area had an overall LEP population of 12,506 or 2.75% of the total population(5 years and older). The service area defined for this analysis was based on a quarter mile buffer from all SORTA fixed-routes. Because of the new ACS classifications for languages in certain categories and geographies, SORTA used 5-year estimate Census tract level data. Since many tract areas are much larger than the size of the quarter-mile buffer, using the entire tracts population would have caused an overestimation. Thus, in order to use more accurate population figures, the staff (using GIS tools) calculated the ratio of each tract’s area that is inside the service area buffer to the tract’s total area and applied that ratio to the tract’s population numbers. This provided an estimated population and its related attribute figures that are within the quarter-mile buffer. According to the handbook, the LEP population is comprised of persons that speak English “well”, “not well” or “not at all”. Of this data, only Spanish reaches over 1,000 persons in the service area. Several language categories from the ACS data were over 1,000 persons but those included multiple languages. Some of the ACS changes made since the last Title VI Program update have resulted in grouping more languages into categories of languages instead of a single language. The number and percentage for each language category are summarized in Exhibit 1 at the Census tract level for the SORTA one-quarter mile service area.

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Exhibit 1 Population and Ability to Speak English

Exhibit 2 and Exhibit 3 are maps that help identify areas of contentrated LEP popluations within SORTA’s quarter-mile service area using ACS data. Exhibit 2 shows the percent of LEP population within service area. Exhibit 3 shows the areas where the LEP population exceeds the SORTA service area average (2.75% percent) to better identify areas of higher than average LEP populations.

2012-2016 ACS Estimate

Language Category Population 5 Years and OlderPercent of Population 5

Years and OlderTotal 453,868 100%English Only 418,709 92.3%Total LEP 12,506 2.8%Spanish LEP 4,465 1.0%Other Unspecified LEP 1,644 0.4%Other Indo-European LEP 1,635 0.4%Chinese & Other Mandarin LEP 1,050 0.2%Other Asian & Pacific LEP 790 0.2%French LEP 746 0.2%Russian LEP 567 0.1%Vietnamese LEP 461 0.1%

Languages Spoken Other Than English

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Exhibit 2

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Exhibit 3

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Factor 2: The Frequency with Which LEP Individuals Come into Contact with SORTA Programs, Activities, and Services The locations, programs, activities, and services where LEP persons most frequently come in contact with SORTA include:

• On board fixed-route buses; • Government Square information booth; • Downtown sales office; • Customer Service information line; • Route schedules, maps and other informational materials (Spanish info panel, Spanish fare

brochure); • Public meetings/legal notices (all info in Spanish, interrupter upon request) ; • Newspapers; • Web site (Google Translate); • Access (ADA Complementary Paratransit) vehicles, call center and training facility; • Facebook, Twitter and email; and • SORTA’s main office.

In order to understand the frequency with which LEP individuals come into contact with transit agency services, SORTA reviewed the number of surveys returned in Spanish during the on-board survey conducted in January of 2018. Out of 4,621 surveys handed out, only 14 were in Spanish. Additionally, SORTA reviewed the number of calls or visits made to our Customer Service Centers by LEP individuals. According to the Director of Customer Relations and Sales, the Customer Service office averages less than one request per month from LEP persons into SORTA’s customer relations department which averages over 3,400 calls a month. During last year, the Downtown Sales Office staff did not receive any requests for information from LEP persons. Bus drivers are also in contact with passengers with limited English skills, however, they can usually communicate with them well enough to provide essential route and schedule information. SORTA has started to provide much of its public documentation in Spanish and now provides documents in Braille, when requested. Over the past few years, SORTA has had intermittent contact with one of the key agencies that serves the largest group of LEP persons in the service area. Su Casa was founded in 1997 to focus on helping the Latino community. SORTA also utilizes Santa Maria Services as a sales outlet and outreach organization regarding service changes and communication. SORTA works with the Healing Center (that primarily serves Hispanic population for social services) and stays connected and does outreach with the University of Cincinnati International Group and international students from Xavier University. Cincinnati Public School (CPS) offers an English-Language Learners program out of its Burnet administration building for students. CPS allows every student to choose the high school they want to attend, so there are LEP students at every school. However, representatives from the CPS identified the three 7-12 grade schools that provide LEP programs and activities to the largest populations of LEP students. The three schools are:

• Dater High School – 2146 Ferguson Rd. • Withrow International High School – 2488 Madison Rd. • Aiken High School – 5641 Belmont Ave.

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According to CPS, the five most common languages (other than English) spoken in the district are:

• Spanish • Arabic • French • Nepali • Soninke

According to Su Casa, Santa Maria and CPS, LEP persons use SORTA on a frequent basis. The greatest need appears to be informational materials (e.g. route schedules, etc.) translated into Spanish that can be distributed to clients, at parent-teacher conferences, and in classrooms. SORTA already provides route schedules in Spanish. Factor 3: The Importance of SORTA Programs, Activities and Services to LEP Persons SORTA covers approximately 289 square miles with over 46 fixed-routes and ADA complementary paratransit services. As a result, LEP persons may come into contact with SORTA services and personnel in a variety of ways. One of the major areas where LEP persons might need assistance accessing SORTA service is trip planning and accessing bus service information. A limited ability to speak English could cause misidentification of the needed route or routes. Locating the proper bus stops at both ends of a trip and understanding the fare system are also important. SORTA’s website currently has a Google Trip Planner which is available in Spanish and other languages. The ability to speak English is slightly less critical after daily travel patterns are established, but it could become important in the event of unexpected situations like route changes, mechanical problems, or other emergencies. People who use the ADA complimentary paratransit service (Access) must apply for eligibility, obtain a picture identification card, and follow established procedures to make travel reservations. English skills or language assistance are required to complete these requirements, and social service agencies or friends and relatives usually are available to help existing and potential users obtain information and service. Access personnel are more familiar with handling passengers with disabilities including some who cannot speak at all. Pick-up and drop-off locations are provided to the driver so an inability to speak and understand English should not prevent them from using Access once their eligibility is established and their reservations become routine. The last area where LEP persons could possibly access information about SORTA is the public participation process. Public meetings are scheduled to collect public input if a major service change or fare change is proposed. An ability to speak and understand English is needed to participate in these public meetings, but there are alternative ways to submit comments and suggestions including comment cards and e-mail. An interpreter is used to translate these comments upon request. Factor 4: Resources Available to SORTA and Costs SORTA’s website translates SORTA’s route and schedule information into Spanish and 63 other languages. A Spanish version of the Title VI/EEO complaint process is also available on the SORTA web site (www.go-metro.com) in the default or English mode. Also, a fare summary brochure is available in both English and Spanish. SORTA’s fare media tickets and ticket vending machines (TVM) have both English and Spanish instructions on them.

http://www.go-metro.com/

http://www.go-metro.com/

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SORTA contracts with a language interpretation firm, Affordable Language Services, for translation and interpretation services in multiple languages. SORTA also provides periodic placement of transit cards on our fleet of buses Su Casa, Santa Maria Service, and Healing Center are important resources since Spanish-speaking persons are the largest LEP population in the SORTA service area. In addition to aiding in various services like employment, housing, and legal assistance, they also help instruct individuals on how to use SORTA services and invite SORTA in for communication, outreach, and information. SORTA will continue to explore ways to work even more closely with them and other agencies to provide assistance to LEP persons. The public also has access to mobile applications including (Transit App. Moovit, Cincy EZRide, and Cincy EZAlerts) that alert them when the next bus is arriving, provide a map of the route, and show the timetable. The applications can be set to communicate in the language that the mobile device is already set to. Language Assistance Plan Based on the four factor analysis, Spanish was identified as the primary language that SORTA needs to include in its Language Assistance Plan. It not only has over 1,000 persons in the LEP category, but it is the one language for which assistance is requested. Below are a number of actions that SORTA is currently taking to help improve access to SORTA information and services. These measures cover the five elements identified in the DOT LEP Guidance. 1. Identifying LEP Individuals who Need Language Assistance SORTA is currently providing the following assistance:

• Provide copies of the Census Bureau “I Speak” cards at headquarters, downtown sales office, and at public meetings to ascertain language assistance requirements and need for interpreter services.

• The Customer Service Department is responsible for recording requests for assistance from LEP persons. Compile contact dates, primary language, type of assistance requested and action taken by department. Our contract with Affordable Language Services provides translation services to those LEP persons calling in to our call center.

• Work with public and private agencies that assist LEP persons. Interview staff to solicit information about the locations and needs of LEP persons they serve. These include Su Casa, Santa Maria and Healing Center.

2. Language Assistance Measures SORTA is currently taking the following actions:

• Developing and distributing instructions to customer service and other staff members that are likely to encounter LEP persons on how to respond to oral and written requests for assistance or direct them to Affordable Language Services.

• Maintaining multilingual capabilities within SORTA’s call-in information service to the extent possible.

• Utilizing, the translation and interpretation service currently under contract with SORTA, on an as needed basis. Currently, when an LEP person contacts SORTA, the person is placed in a conference call with Affordable Language Services.

• Providing the SORTA route information on its website in Spanish and other languages including documents containing key information on how to access and use fixed route and paratransit

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services. Our IVR system is also available in Spanish, which provides route and schedule information over the phone.

3. Staff Training SORTA is currently providing the following:

• Identifying SORTA positions that might come in contact with LEP persons. • Including LEP assistance responsibilities into New Employee Orientation and other on-going

training and re-training opportunities. • Providing a copy of the “Basic Spanish for Transit Employees” flip-guide produced by the Roaring

Fork Transit Authority and Colorado Mountain College (or similar document) to SORTA bus drivers and other staff, as needed.

4. Outreach Techniques SORTA works with local agencies and organizations to meet the basic needs of LEP persons for oral and written information while new language assistance efforts and their costs are considered. A list of SORTA outreach activities in 2018 for LEP as well as minority and low income persons appears in Appendix B. 5. Monitoring and Updating the LEP Plan SORTA is taking the following actions:

• Requesting continuous feedback from departments regarding contacts with the LEP population to identify changes in the frequency of contacts or language assistance requirements.

• Evaluating the number of “I Speak” cards received, and the number of requests for SORTA information in languages other than English, to help determine the level of contacts and major primary languages of LEP persons.

• Keeping an open channel of communication with major agencies that serve the LEP population to identify new needs and trends.

• Monitoring the relationship between existing and proposed transit services and the areas that contain LEP persons.

If important changes are detected through feedback from staff, outside agencies or from LEP persons, SORTA will reevaluate the LEP effort and the agency’s financial situation to determine if the overall program needs to be modified. Notifying Beneficiaries of Their Rights under Title VI SORTA’s website notification is provided in Appendix A. This is provided in both English and Spanish and includes the Title VI complaint form. 1.3. SORTA Sub-recipients To meet its enforcement responsibilities under Title VI, SORTA has implemented a sub-recipient monitoring process. On an annual basis, the SORTA Title VI Coordinator will ensure the following actions are taken and documented in writing affirming that SORTA and its sub-recipients comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and FTA Circular 4702.1B.

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Each year, sub-recipients (other than those receiving vehicles through the 5310 sub-recipient program) must provide SORTA with an FTA Civil Rights Assurance/Signed Assurance signed by its Chief Executive Officer which attest that all records and other information required under FTA Circular 4702.1B have been or will be compiled, as appropriate, and maintained. Each sub-recipient must implement a Title VI complaint process and provide SORTA (or OKI in the case of 5310 sub-recipients) with a list of active lawsuits and Civil Rights Complaint summary alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin. Each sub-recipient must post its Title VI Policy Statement in prominent and accessible locations throughout its facilities. Sub-recipients must take responsible steps to ensure meaningful access to the benefits, services, information, and other important portions of their programs and activities for individuals who are Limited English Proficient (LEP). Sub-recipients are allowed to utilize SORTA’s Title VI complaint process. In general, sub-recipients should have a public participation process that offers early and continuous opportunities for the public to be involved in the identification of social, economic, and environmental impacts of proposed transportation decisions. Efforts to involve minority and low-income people in public involvement activities can include both comprehensive measures, such as placing public notices at all stations and in all vehicles, and measures targeted to overcome linguistic, institutional, cultural, economic, historical, or other barriers that may prevent minority and low-income populations from effectively participating in a recipient’s decision-making. Sub-recipients must file documentation of its public participation plan. Each sub-recipient further agrees to comply with, and assure compliance by its third party subcontractors at any tier under the Project, with all requirements of the FTA Title VI Program pursuant to FTA Circular 4702.1B. 1.4. Public Participation Process It is the policy of SORTA to encourage the broadest possible public participation in major decisions that affect our service, our customers and our community. SORTA employs an aggressive public participation process for all major changes including but not limited to the following:

• Change in fare (except temporary or promotional changes). • Major service reductions. This is defined as a change that impacts 25 percent or more of the

service hours or miles on any route. • Change in disparate impact, disproportionate burden, or major change in policies.

SORTA may also elect to hold public meetings or solicit public feedback on other proposed changes that affect service but do not meet the above criteria. Solicitation of comments SORTA encourages the community to comment on proposed fare changes and major service changes in the following ways:

• At public meetings, announced through public meeting legal notices in the Cincinnati Enquirer and/or other news outlets such as Web or special interest publications as appropriate, fliers on affected bus routes, news releases/news coverage, notice on SORTA’s Web site, and

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communications to elected officials. Community notification will occur not less than one week before the public meeting.

• Letters written to SORTA. • Comments through SORTA’s website and social media.

In addition to these, other mechanisms such as receiving comments through a telephone hotline or on-board surveys may also be used, if necessary, to gain a more complete overview of the public's opinion on the proposed change. Public meetings For fare changes and major service changes, a public meeting will be held with the intent of gathering broad public input about proposed changes. The format of the meeting will vary, depending on the audience and the magnitude of the proposed changes. For example, an "open house" format that spans several hours or is available at several different venues might be preferred for broad changes in service or fares, while a facilitated public meeting might work best for changes that affect a smaller geographic area or group of customers. The exact format of each meeting will be structured to efficiently and effectively solicit comments. SORTA’s public meetings for fare changes and major service changes will meet the following criteria:

• SORTA staff will be available at all times to explain the proposed changes and allow the public to ask questions.

• All public comments will be captured for the record electronically through the use of digital recording devices.

• Meeting materials will be available in ADA-compliant formats, such as Braille and Spanish language translation, on request at least five business days in advance of the meeting.

• A sign language interpreter or Spanish language interpreter will be available at the public meeting, on request at least five business days in advance of the meeting.

• SORTA will schedule the public meeting in an ADA-accessible location within the affected SORTA service area.

Consideration of public comments All comments concerning fare changes and major service changes received through the public participation process will be reviewed and summarized by Transit Development. After consideration and consultation with other affected departments, Transit Development will share the public participation results and staff’s recommendation with SORTA’s General Manager/CEO. The staff's recommendation will take into consideration the public comments and will itemize any changes that are being made based on public comments. All summaries of the public participation process will faithfully represent all comments and will be available, unedited, for review by the SORTA board, the General Manager/CEO and the public. The public participation results and any proposed changes will be presented to the SORTA board for action or acceptance.

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Responsibilities The primary responsibility for the public participation process for fare changes and major service changes rests with SORTA’s Director of Transit Development, assisted by the External Affairs staff. The Transit Development department will:

• Develop plans and make decisions concerning proposed changes • Convene the public participation team to assist in soliciting public comments • Review and summarize the comments • Make changes to the fare change or major service change proposals based on public comments, if

appropriate • Communicate the results to the General Manager/CEO for consideration and submission to the

SORTA board

The External Affairs department will:

• Determine the best format for the public meeting to elicit the broadest public participation. • Maintain all documentation related to the public participation process • Place public meeting legal notices in media outlets at least one week in advance of the public

meeting and secure affidavits of their placement. • Issue a news release to all major media and special interest media at least one week in advance of

the meeting. • Prepare a fact sheet to be used with the public, employees and media concerning the proposed

change. • Create accessible format (Braille) or Spanish translation materials and/or retain interpreters, if

requested at least five business days in advance. • Make all arrangements for the public meeting. • Arrange for the official record of the meeting (digital electronic recording), including sign-in sheets. • Issue Web site notice of public meeting and establish mechanism to accept comments via the Web

site. • Compile the public comments received through all venues, including the public record. • Issue audio records on the bus • Use EZRide and EZAlerts to communicate to customers who subscribe to those services

Public Participation and Outreach Activities – 2016-2018 Appendix B includes a list of 2016-2018 public meetings and outreach activities conducted by SORTA staff.

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Part 2

Program Specific Requirements

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2. Program Specific Requirements 2.1. Demographic Data and Maps Using the most up-to-date demographic and service data, maps were prepared for the 2019 Title VI Program update. These maps illustrate the availability of fixed-route service to minority and low-income populations in the SORTA service area. Along with the mandatory base map in Exhibit C-1 of the appendix in section C, two other maps were prepared that show higher than the service area average of minority and low-income populations using ACS Census block group data. Exhibit C-2 shows the block groups that are 25 percentage points higher than the service area average for minority and low-income populations. Exhibit C-3 shows block groups that are 25 percentage points lower than the service area average for minority populations. 2.2. Service Standards The SORTA service standard program was updated and approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2015. Key Performance Indicators (KPI) have been determined for each type of service SORTA offers (local, express, and streetcar). Routes not meeting these standards will be reviewed for potential changes to service. Exhibit 4 shows the service standard KPIs for our different categories of service.

Exhibit 4 SORTA Key Performance Indicators

SORTA KPI Local Service Express Service Streetcar Service

Maximum Passenger Load 1.2 1.0 1.0* On Time Performance 85 percent 85 percent 85 percent

Headway Separation 20 min peak 30 min off peak 20 min peak 12 min peak

15 min off peak

• Maximum Passenger load: is the ratio of passengers carried versus the total passenger capacity of a given vehicle.

• On-time performance: a bus is “on-time” within a window of one minute ahead of schedule to five minutes behind schedule. The on-time performance is the percentage of time that a bus arrives at each time point where it is within the aforementioned window.

• Headway separation: is a measure that describes the time interval between vehicles operating in the same direction on a route.

• Service availability: is a measure that uses the percentage of households without automobiles as well as the population density in an area to determines a route coverage or spacing distance based on those metrics.

Exhibit 5 represents the recommended service availability in SORTA’s service area. The coverage or spacing of routes from each other is evaluated based on the population density and the percent of households without an automobile in the areas around those routes. For example, if an area has a population density of over 6,400 persons per square mile and over 15% of the households are zero car households, then that area should have a route within a quarter mile of another route. Areas with lower densities and/or fewer households without a car will typically require less service.

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Exhibit 5 Service Availability Chart

Percent of

Households w/out Autos

Population Density (Persons per Square Mile) Over 6,400 4,500 to 6,400 2,500 to 4,499 Under 2,500

Over 15.0 1,300 Feet (1/4 Mile)

1,300 Feet (1/4 Mile)

2,000 Feet (3/8 Mile)

2,600 Feet (1/2 Mile)

10.0 to 15.0 1,300 Feet (1/4 Mile)

2,000 Feet (3/8 Mile)

2,600 Feet (1/2 Mile)

5,280 Feet or Paratransit

5.0 to 9.9 2,000 Feet (3/8 Mile)

2,600 Feet (1/2 Mile)

5,280 Feet or Paratransit *

Below 5.0 2,600 Feet (1/2 Mile)

5,280 Feet or Paratransit * *

*Transit service is not provided for these areas. Exhibit 6 gives an overview of SORTA’s service guidelines use to measure the performance of routes and types of service. These KPIs are used to make decisions on potential service changes and have been used to help determine which routes to change service on in both the 2017 and 2018 Title VI service equity analyses.

Exhibit 6 Service Standards Table

Key Performance Indicator Metro*Plus or Limited Stop Metro Local Metro Xtra Metro Express Metro Job

Connector

Passengers per Hour 16.8 15.9 15.9 - -

Passengers per Trip - - - 11.4 6

Cost per Passenger $5.60 $6.30 $6.30 $10.50 $14.00

Farebox Recovery 18% 15% 15% 18% 15%

On-time Performance 85% 85% 85% 85% 85%

2.3. Service Policies SORTA has adopted system-wide policies that guard against service design and operational practices that have disparate impacts. System-wide policies differ from service standards as they are not necessarily based on a quantitative threshold. They do, however, take Title VI requirements into consideration in that they are designed to buffer against any adverse impacts on minority and low-income riders. The primary system-wide service policies address vehicle assignment and passenger amenities.

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Vehicle Assignment Bus: Vehicle assignment will be equitable throughout the system both at the divisional level and during daily vehicle assignment. Factors that will be considered for divisional assignment include age of fleet by division, peak vehicle requirement by division and maintenance capabilities by division. The daily vehicle assignment will result in an equitable distribution of vehicles among routes serving minority and low income areas and those that do not. SORTA operates fixed-route bus service out of two operations and maintenance facilities located in the Queensgate and Bond Hill sections of Cincinnati. Currently, a total of 218 buses are based at the Queensgate facility and 139 are based in Bond Hill. New bus purchases are assigned to each facility on an alternating basis with consideration for each facility’s capacity. In general, buses are randomly assigned to routes on a daily basis. SORTA does not permit any geographical priorities in the daily assignment of vehicles to individual routes or blocks with the exception of the four longest express routes (42X, 52X, 71X, and 82X). These routes are assigned commuter style buses with a single door and all forward facing seats. Currently, 162 buses are equipped with Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) system. These buses are assigned each day to randomly selected “blocks” to collect ridership data that is also used to support National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements. The SORTA fleet includes 27 diesel-hybrid and 330 diesel buses. Within the fleet there are four 30’ buses, five 60’ buses, and 22 commuter style 40’ buses, the remaining 326 are standard 40’ vehicles. SORTA deploys the 30’ and 60’ vehicles based on ridership demand. The 22 commuter style buses are deployed on select express routes with overall longer trips. All other 40’ buses are randomly assigned as described above. In April of 2018, SORTA started a pilot program to provide WiFi on 59 select buses in the fleet. The distribution of WiFi equipped vehicles was done equally according to the percentage of vehicles at each of the two garages. Those vehicles are also assigned to routes and blocks each day in order to have complete coverage of all SORTA’s service on a regular basis. SORTA plans on continuing this service into the future on these and new vehicles being delivered. Rail: All five (5) Cincinnati Bell Connector light-rail vehicles are identical and equipped with the same Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) such as CAD/AVL, APC, and other technologies that improve the passengers’ experience. These vehicles are randomly assigned each day based on availability. Transit Amenities Bus: Passenger amenities include passenger shelters, benches, on-street route/schedule information, transit centers/hubs, lighting, and security cameras. Standards for the installation of passenger amenities along bus routes will be based on established criteria that include the number of passenger boardings that occur at the proposed location and existing transfer activities.

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Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) include a variety of technologies to improve safety, operations, data collection, passenger information and other functions. These can include but are not limited to automated vehicle location, electronic fare payment, traveler information, collision avoidance systems, mobile data terminals, and passenger counting systems. SORTA deploys these types of technologies on a system-wide basis so all passengers benefit. A number of amenities are considered at stops depending on the ridership and transfer activity. Below are suggested amenities for each range of stops. For the purpose of illustration, Exhibit 7 below shows the type of amenity recommended for stops based on their boarding activities. S refers to a standard feature for a stop, while O refers to an optional feature in the table below.

Exhibit 7 Recommended Amenities by Daily Boardings

Daily Boardings Feature <25 25-49 50-99 100-250 >250 Sign and Pole S S S S S Accessible S S S S S Bench O S S S S Passenger Shelter O O S S S Timetable O O O S S Route Map/Info O O S S S Trash Receptacle O O O S S Bus Pads S S S S S Lighting O O S S S Electronic Sign O O O O S

The map in Exhibit 8 shows the routes, bus stops, transit facilities and amenities. SORTA has three divisions, two for fixed-route buses and one for paratransit service. There is also the Cincinnati Bell Connector (CBC) streetcar facility owned by the city of Cincinnati. The transit centers represent areas of high ridership, transfers, and in some cases layover locations. Transit Centers have amenities like real-time arrival signs, benches, shelters, lighting, and other details. One transit center that is currently in development and is expected to be completed in 2020 is the Northside Transit Center (in red). All 4,000+ bus stops are on the map and our process for amenities and improvements is based on thresholds identified in exhibit 7. Rail: All streetcar stations have benches, shelters, ADA accessible ramps/handrails, real time information displays, and a ticket vending machine. The stations were built to a universal specification wherever possible. The only exceptions are two locations with limited space and two locations regulated by historic preservation requirements. In these areas, minor modifications were made to accommodate the installation of the station. These station amenities and designs were approved through the NEPA-EA/FONSI process. Exhibit 9 shows the Cincinnati Bell Connector (streetcar) route, amenities, maintenance & operations facility (MOF) as well as a ½ mile service area around each of the 18 stations.

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Exhibit 8

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Exhibit 9

2.4. Disproportionate Burden & Disparate Impact Policy SORTA’s major service change, disparate impact, and disproportionate burden policies appear in the following subsections. These policies are remaining unchanged since the previous update. Major changes that occurred most recently include the service changes in December of 2017 to low performing local routes and in August of 2018 to low performing express routes based on the KPI service standards stated in section 2.2. SORTA’s policies appears in the following subsections. Major changes that occurred most recently include the service changes in December of 2017 to low performing local routes and in August of 2018 to low performing express routes based on the KPI service standards stated in section 2.2. Major Service Change Policy A major service change is defined as any change in service on any individual route that would add or eliminate more than twenty-five percent of the route revenue miles or route revenue hours. In addition, adding a new route or reducing or eliminating service in jurisdictions where minority and/or low-income populations exceed twenty-five percentage points of the transit system service area average will also be considered major service changes. All major service changes will be subject to an equity analysis which includes an analysis of adverse effects on minority and low-income populations.

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The following types of services and modifications are not classified as major changes and shall not require a Service Equity Analysis:

• Temporary service changes required by construction or maintenance projects • Special event or seasonal services • Trial (pilot) services provided with or without external funding assistance • Special service operated during emergencies

Adverse Effect An adverse effect is defined as a reduction in service which includes but is not limited to:

• Reducing the span of service (hours of operation) • Decreasing the frequency between buses • Eliminating route segments • Changing route alignment • Eliminating a route(s)

Disparate Impact Policy The purpose of this policy is to establish a threshold which identifies when the effects of a major service change, as identified in the Major Service Change Policy, or any fare change have a greater impact on the minority population. The minority population includes everyone that self-reports their race as any category other than white in the U.S. Census. A disparate impact occurs when the minority population adversely affected by a fare or service change is twenty-five percentage points more than the average minority population of SORTA’s service area. Disparate impacts on routes with span of service and/or frequency changes will be determined by analyzing all routes with such changes together. Disparate impacts on routes with segment elimination, re-routing, or route elimination will be determined on a route by route basis. If SORTA discovers a potential disparate impact, the agency will explore ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate the impact and then reanalyze the modified service plan to determine if the impacts were removed. If SORTA decides not to alter the proposed changes, the agency may implement the service or fare change if there is substantial legitimate justification for the change and the agency can show that there are no alternatives that would have less of an impact on the minority population and would still accomplish the agency’s legitimate program goals. Disproportionate Burden Policy The purpose of this policy is to establish a threshold which identifies when the effects of a major service change, as identified in the Major Service Change Policy, or any fare change have a disproportionate impact on the low-income population. The low-income population includes all people that are reported as being under the federal household poverty limit as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A disproportionate burden occurs when the low-income population adversely affected by a fare or service change is twenty-five percentage points more than the average low-income population of SORTA’s service area. Disproportionate burden on routes with either span of service changes and/or frequency changes will be determined by analyzing all routes with such changes together. Disproportionate burden on routes with segment elimination, re-routing, or route elimination will be determined on a route by route basis.

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If SORTA discovers a potential disproportionate burden, the agency will explore ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts and then reanalyze the modified service plan to determine whether the impacts were removed. If SORTA decides not to alter the proposed changes, the agency may implement the service or fare change if there is substantial legitimate justification for the change and the agency can show that there are no alternatives that would have less of an impact on low-income population and would still accomplish the agency’s legitimate program goals. Target Populations Certain population groups will be the subject of a special analysis whenever major service or fare changes are being considered. These are required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Environmental Justice regulations of the FTA. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, creed or national origin. Environmental Justice regulations require public transit agencies (and other federally funded organizations) to identify and address disproportionately high impacts of fare or service changes on low income populations. This Fare and Service Change Policy, therefore, incorporates Title VI and Environmental Justice requirements. Service and/or Fare Equity Analysis Whenever a “major” service change or any fare change is contemplated, SORTA will conduct a Service and/or Fare Equity Analysis as required by Title VI. This analysis involves a determination of whether the proposed action results in a disparate impact on minority populations and/or a disproportionate burden on low income populations, which will be based on a quantifiable factor(s). A Service and/or Fare Equity Analysis will include all items listed:

• Description of the SORTA Service and Fare Change Policy • Description of how the public was engaged in the development of the Service and Fare Change

Policy • Description of the datasets used in the Service and/or Fare Equity Analysis, including maps • Analysis of the effects of the proposed service and/or fare changes on minority and low income

populations • Assess alternatives to the proposed service and/or fare changes

Disparate impacts are acceptable under Title VI regulations if it can be shown that the proposed action is in the public interest or alternatives to the action would have more severe impacts on minority and/or low income populations. Service and fare equity analyses will adhere to the following three-step process:

1. Determine whether there are any minority and/or low income populations potentially impacted by the proposed service or fare change

2. Determine the potential effects of the activity on the minority and/or low income populations 3. Determine whether any disproportionately high effects of the proposed service or fare change on

minority and/or low income populations can be avoided, minimized or mitigated

Public Involvement When a change is made to any of the three policies, SORTA follows the public participation process outlined in Section 1.4.

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2.5. Monitoring In order to comply with the requirement in Chapter 4 section 6 of FTA C4702.1B1, SORTA adopted quantitative system-wide service standards to guard against discriminatory service design and operation decisions. SORTA frequently evaluates its service based on the following information:

• Passengers per platform vehicle hour – This is expressed in terms of the number of passenger boardings per platform vehicle hour for each individual route. When passenger productivity consistently exceeds 125 percent of the system average, SORTA should consider adding additional vehicle trips and improving headways. This metric is used as the passenger productivity measure for SORTA local routes.

• Passengers per vehicle trip – The number of passengers per trips is an indicator of how productive revenue service is by route. Similar to passengers per vehicle hour, when a route consistently exceeds 125 percent of the system average, SORTA should consider improving service. This metric is used as the passenger productivity measure for SORTA express routes.

• Maximum passenger loads – The ratio of passengers carried versus the total passenger capacity of a given vehicle. If a trip, block, or route averages more than the service standard, SORTA should consider adding additional vehicle trips and improving headways.

• Headway Separation - A measure that describes the time interval between vehicles operating in the same direction on a route.

• On-time performance – a bus is “on-time” within a window of one minute ahead of schedule to five minutes behind schedule. The on-time performance is the percentage of time that a bus arrives at each time point where it is within the aforementioned window.

• Distribution of transit amenities – Installation of transit amenities are based on the number of passenger boardings with less weight given to whether the stop services a major destination such as a hospital, senior housing, education institution, or other. Anytime SORTA plans route improvements or gets a request from residents concerning transit amenities, staff analyzes the boardings at affected locations to determine whether additional amenities are needed.

Data is continuously collected, processed and used to assess route productivity. This assessment is actively used to evaluate the productivity of individual routes. A report will be provided to the SORTA Board of Directors at least every three years on the results of the Title VI monitoring activities. It will include the following:

• Using the designation of routes as either predominantly minority or non-minority routes, SORTA will evaluate and compare the performance of these routes to each other and to the service standards and service policies.

• For cases in which observed service for minority routes fails to meet the standard or policy, SORTA will analyze why the discrepancies exist, and take steps to reduce the potential effects.

• Any service reductions to minority routes that do not meet the 25 percentage point rule will be noted and a determination will be made if there is a compelling reason for the service reduction and if it is in the public interest to do so.

• SORTA will evaluate its transit amenities policy to ensure amenities are being distributed throughout the transit system in an equitable manner.

1 Chapter 4 section 6 of FTA C4702.1B requires agencies that operate 50 or more fixed route vehicles in peak service and are located in a UZA of 200,000 or more in population to guard against discriminatory service design or operation decisions by analyzing and comparing minority and non-minority routes.

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Appendix D includes minority and low income ridership and populations by route. Ridership demographics were compiled using an on-board survey from January 2018. The population demographics were compiled using a GIS analysis of ACS data at the Census block group. Exhibit D-1 shows the percentage of each route’s minority and low-income population for both the on-board survey and ACS data within the ADA ¾ mile service area buffer. If the number of minority and/or low income persons exceeds 25 percentage points of the overall service area average in either dataset, the route was designated as a minority and/or low income route. Exhibit E-1 compares the quality of service of minority and non-minority routes. The data is broken down into Weekday peak and off-peak, Saturday and Sunday service for the maximum passenger load and headway separation calculations. The routes classified as minority routes will also be subject to a disparate impact analysis or a disproportionate burden analysis if service changes are planned. The analysis performed in appendix F indicates there are no significant disparities between the service standards in the routes where the number of low-income and minority residents is higher than the overall service area average. 2.6. Public Notice of Title VI Program SORTA provides the Title VI Program at all of its public facilities along with a notice of its non-discrimination clause. The facilities include the Gwynne Administration Building, Streetcar Maintenance & Operations Facility, SORTA Sales Office, Silverton Access Facility, Queensgate Garage, Bond Hill Garage, and Access Garage.

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APPENDICES

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Appendix A: Public Non-Discrimination Notice, Complaint Procedure and Complaint Form

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The following documents can be found at SORTA facilities as well as on SORTA buses in order to communicate SORTA’s commitment to non-discriminatory actions. The public non-discrimination notice and complaint form can also be found at SORTA’s website

Non-Discrimination Notice Bus Card

Public Title VI Notice Bus Card

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Public Non-Discrimination Notice

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Title VI Complaint Procedure

Complaint Resolution Procedure To Ensure Non-Discrimination In Federally Assisted Programs or Activities Participated in by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority

Purpose, Scope and Responsibilities Purpose This procedure covers all formal complaints and informal complaints filed by an individual or group of individuals under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, relating to any program or activity administered by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) as to sub- recipients, consultants, and contractors. Intimidation or retaliation of any kind is prohibited by law. Definitions An informal complaint is defined as any verbal or written communication received by customer service staff from members of the public referencing a general complaint regarding an alleged violation of ADA; and/or a general complaint regarding the inequitable distribution of benefits, services, amenities, programs or activities financed in whole or in part with federal funds. A formal complaint is defined as any written complaint of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or (in the case of an alleged violation of ADA, disability) filed by an individual or group; signed by the complaining party on SORTA's complaint form seeking to remedy perceived discrimination by facially neutral polices, practices or decisions, which have an adverse impact which resulted in inequitable distribution of benefits, services, amenities, programs or activities financed in whole or in part with federal funds. Such complaints include, but are not limited to, allegations of:

• failing to provide comparable services • policies and practices that act as arbitrary and unnecessary barriers to equal

opportunity; • denied opportunity for equitably participation • provision of fewer services or benefits and/or inferior services or benefits to members of

a protected group; • differential exposure of protected groups to environmental hazards • patterns of disparate treatment; and • disproportionate adverse effects on social and economic parameters (e.g. access to services,

healthcare facilities, employment opportunities and community cohesion)

This procedure explains each stage of the complaint processing process for formal and informal Title VI / ADA complaints, communicates the rights and responsibilities of the Complainant, and states the responsibilities of SORTA.

Informal complaints and formal complaints should be filed within 180 calendar days of the event which forms the basis of the claim; of if the concern is an ongoing one, the complaint should be filed within 180 calendar days of the last occurrence.

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This procedure does not preclude the right of any Complainant to file complaints directly with the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), or to seek private legal representation.

The time required to process investigations will vary depending on the complexity of the issue; however, every effort will be made to ensure a speedy resolution of all complaints at the lowest possible level within 60 business days. The option of informal mediation meeting(s) between the affected parties may be utilized for resolution.

Compliance with Title VI and ADA is the responsibility of every SORTA employee. The Office of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) is responsible for compliance, monitoring and reporting, investigation, and program administration.

Responsibility The Customer Service Department is responsible for intake of informal Title VI / ADA complaints and submission of those complaints to the Director of D&I. The Director of D&I will forward complaints to the accountable Executive team member who will forward to the appropriate party within their respective department to handle resolution, follow up to ensure that resolution/proposed resolution occurs, and communicate specifics of the resolution/proposed resolution to the D&I office. The Director of D&I is responsible for tracking the complaints to ensure that the affected department(s) have taken the recommended action to remedy any determination of discrimination and communicating findings to the Complainant. The Director of D&I is also responsible for reporting trends, action plans, and non-compliance to the executive management team and board of directors. D&I will forward a copy of all formal complaints filed to Customer Service for their records. Customer Service has no responsibility for processing formal complaints.

PROCESSING INFORMAL COMPLAINTS Intake Intake of an informal complaint is generated through communication, generally presented verbally to SORTA staff. Any SORTA employee who receives an inquiry or complaint of this type shall direct the Complainant to report the concern directly to the Customer Relations (call center) by telephone at (513) 632-7575, via e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to 602 Main Street, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Customer Relations (call center) representatives, upon receipt of an informal complaint shall record the complaint in their database and assign a number to be used for tracking purposes. After input of the complaint into its database, Customer Service staff shall promptly identify the appropriate department(s) to resolve the issue and forward the complaint directly to that department's head, with a copy to the Director of D&I who will ascertain proper jurisdiction and forward the complaint to the D&I staff for processing. D&I shall log the complaint, review the matter to determine Title VI / ADA applicability, investigate merits of alleged violations (if needed) and monitor response dates. If determination is made that the matter is outside the scope of Title VI / ADA, D&I will notify Customer Service and the affected department's head within a reasonable period. If the matter is determined to be within the scope of Title VI / ADA, the affected department head, within 5 business days of receipt, will forward the complaint to the staff member most appropriate to address the issue. The affected department will consult with D&I and offer a proposed resolution.

mailto:[email protected]

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Within 5 business days of receiving written notification of a proposed resolution, D&I representatives will offer suggestions, if any, to modify the proposed resolution. D&I or the affected department will communicate its written or verbal findings to the customer within 30 business days and explain any steps being taken to resolve the matter, and will forward copies of this communication to the affected department(s) and to Customer Service who will update their database to include this information. Every effort shall be made to process and resolve informal complaints within 30 business days. Appeal There is no right to appeal resolution of an informal complaint. However, the party reserves the right to file a formal complaint within 180 business days.

PROCESSING FORMAL COMPLAINTS Intake Intake of formal complaints is generated through written communication of a concern presented to SORTA staff. Any SORTA employee who receives a complaint of this type will direct the complaint to the D&I Office. D&I staff will provide a formal complaint form to the Complainant or direct complainant to retrieve the form online. Complainant must sign and submit the completed complaint form to the Director of D&I. Any person who believes himself, herself or any specific class of persons to be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin may also file a written complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of Civil Rights, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Processing The Director of D&I shall review the matter to determine Title VI / ADA jurisdiction, assign staff to investigate if it is determined that the matter merits investigation, and monitor response dates. The investigator shall log the complaint in to the Title VI /ADA Complaint database/log. Jurisdiction will be determined based upon information provided in the written complaint. A complaint shall be investigated unless:

• it fails to state facts which could establish ADA violation or intentional unequal treatment as described in the definitions section of this procedure;

• Complainant is not a primary beneficiary of the federal aid received by SORTA.

If determination is made that the matter is outside the scope of Title VI / ADA, D&I will notify Customer Service and the affected department head in writing within a reasonable period.

Investigation, Determination, and Recommendation

If jurisdiction is determined to exist and investigation is warranted, the assigned investigator will take the following steps:

• identify the basis of the alleged unequal treatment or alleged violation of ADA; • ascertain when and where the alleged unequal treatment or alleged violation of ADA occurred; • identify and interview all relevant parties, review documents, and make site visits to obtain

factual information.

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Upon conclusion of a thorough investigation, the investigator will prepare a report to summarize findings and suggest appropriate corrective action along with proposed resolution. The investigative report should be submitted to the Director of D&I within 60 business days. D&I will maintain a record of all discussions and retain all documents relating to the investigation in a confidential file.

, Communication of Findings and Complaint Resolution

The Director of D&I will accept, reject, or modify the investigative report and consult with the affected department to convey the preliminary findings and develop a proposal for resolution. The Director of D&I will prepare a written determination and submit the determination to the legal department for review of legal sufficiency. Once the final determination is ready for release, the Director of D&I and a SORTA legal representative will meet with the Executive team member of the affected department(s) to communicate the final determination and recommendations, if any, for corrective action. The Director of D&I will provide written notification to the Complainant of the investigation findings and SORTA's proposed resolution, if any. D&I will forward copies of this communication to Customer Service and the affected department(s).

If cause is found to indicate a potential occurrence of non-compliance, the Director of D&I will communicate this information to the executive management team before releasing its findings to the complainant.

Appeal The Director of D&I will explain to the Complainant their right to appeal to the Federal Transit Administration or seek private legal representation.

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Exhibit A-1 Complaint Form

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states “No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from, participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The ADA is a clear national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

The Environmental Justice component of Title VI guarantees fair treatment for all people. SORTA is required to identify and address, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse effects of its programs, polices, and activities on minority and low-income populations. SORTA is also required to take reasonable steps to ensure that Limited English Proficiency (LEP) person have meaningful access to the programs, services, and information SORTA provides.

If you feel that you have been discriminated against, a formal complaint may be filed with SORTA’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion physically located at, 1401 Bank Street, 2nd Floor, Queensgate Garage, Cincinnati Ohio 45214, 513-632-7614 (voice) or 1-800-750-0750 for Ohio Relay within 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination. These procedures do not deny you the right to file formal complaints with other state or federal agencies, or to seek private counsel. Intimidation or retaliation of any kind is prohibited by law. Should you require assistance in completing this form, please let us know. Once completed, return a signed copy via mail or hand delivery to:

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) METRO c/o Title VI / ADA Coordinator, Office of Diversity and Inclusion

602 Main Street, Suite 1100 Cincinnati, OH 45202

513-632-7614 Any person who believes himself, herself or any specific class of persons to be subjected to discrimination may also file a written complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of Civil Rights, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Note: To protect your rights, your complaint must be filed with 180 days of the occurrence. Failure to file within 180 days may result in dismissal of the complaint.

1. Complainant’s Name:

2. Address:

3. City: State: Zip Code

4. Telephone # (Home): (Work) (Cell)

Civil Rights - Title VI / ADA Complaint

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5. Person discriminated against (if someone other than Complainant) Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Telephone # (Home): (Work) (Cell) _________________

6. Upon what premise is your discrimination complaint based? (check all that apply)

Race/Color

Religion National Origin

Disability

Gender

Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

Other

Not applicable

7. Date of alleged discrimination or alleged violation:

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Complaint Form

8. Describe the alleged discrimination or alleged violation. Explain what occurred and who you believe was responsible. (For additional space, attach additional sheets of paper or use back of the form)

9. Where did the incident take place? Please provide location, time, bus number etc.?

10. Witnesses? Please provide their contact information.

Name:

Address:


Telephone # (Home): (Work) (Cell) Name:

Address:


Telephone # (Home): (Work) (Cell)

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11. How can this complaint be resolved (how can the problem be corrected)?

12. Did you file this complaint with another federal, state, or local agency or with a federal or state

court? (check the appropriate space) Yes No

If your answer is yes, check each agency with which a complaint was filed:

Federal Agency Federal Court State Agency

State Court Local Agency Other Please provide contact information for the agency you also filed the complaint with:

Date Filed:

13. If you need any special accommodations for communication regarding this complaint, please specify which alternative format you require.

Braille Large Print (specify the font size) CD

Sign Language Interpreter (specify language)

Language Interpreter (specific language)

Other

Sign the complaint in space below. Attach any documents you believe supports your complaint.

Complainant’s Signature Date

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APPENDIX B: SORTA Public Outreach Information

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SORTA Public Outreach Record 2016/2017

Neighborhood 2016/2017 VisitMetro

Representative(s) Contact Name EmailAddress Contact

Information

Northside Monday, November 21 at 7PMBrad Thomas, Butch Gaut Oliver (Ollie) Kroner [email protected]

McKie Recreational Center, 16655 Chase Avenue.

513-284-0899 Ollie's Cell

Bond Hill Thursday, December 1, 7PM

Maurice Brown / Ted Meyer / Brandy Jones

Kathi Ranford, Secretary and Contact (Jeffery

Davis, President)[email protected] /

[email protected]

Bond Hill Recreation Center, 1501 St. Elizabeth Place 513-490-2269

Kathi's cell

Lower Price Hill Monday, December 5, 7PM

Dan St. Charles / John Gardocki /Dave Etienne

Jack Degano [email protected]

Community Matters, 2110 St. Michael Street, Cincinnati, OH 45204 **Enter from the back of the building. Group meets on the 3rd floor. 513.471.9849

Hyde Park Tuesday, December 13, 7PM

Kreg Keesee /Gary Greenberg /Matt Conover / Dave Etienne

Andy Scarpitti [email protected]

Knox Presbyterian Church, 3400 Michigan Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208 Multipurpose room, east end of the church near the intersection of Observatory and Linwood.

(513) 313-4464 cell

Madisonville Thursday, December 15

SORTA TBATed Meyer Luke Brockmeier,

President and Contact [email protected]

Madisonville Recreation Center, 5320 Stewart Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45227 513-226-0134

Mt. LookoutMonday, December 19,

7:30PM

Mary Miller / Matt Conover Eric Flamme / Anne

Sesler [email protected]

Christ the King Parish Center, 3223 Linwood Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226

513-898-3914 Eric / 513-686-9192 Anne

AvondaleTuesday, December 20,

6:30PMSORTA TBA / Dave Etienne Patricia Milton [email protected]

Gabriel's Place, 3626 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45229

281-5999 office number

Oakley

January 3, 2017 (follow up if need be to smaller group on

1/19 or another month)SORTA TBA / Butch Gaut

Dave Schaff - our contact [email protected]

Oakely Community Center (Next to Remke's*to the left. Brown brick building/former Bigs)

513-470-3340 Dave's cell

Walnut Hills Area Council

January 12, 2017, 6:30PMSORTA TBA / Butch Gaut Toni Miller

[email protected] [email protected]

Bush Recreation, 2640 Kemper LaneDid not provide

a phone number.

Westwood 1/17/2017, 7PMSORTA TBA / STAFF TBA

Shawntee Stallworth Schramm

[email protected] / [email protected]

m

Westwood Town Hall, 3017 Harrison Avene

513.364.9025

CorryvilleTuesday, February 14, 6PM

**Note, this is Valentine's DaySORTA TBA / STAFF TBA

Kay Weaks (Mike Ealy president)

[email protected] / [email protected]

Corryville Rec Center, 2823 Eden Ave513.349.7494 Mike Ealy's cell

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SORTA Public Outreach Record 2017/2018

Neighborhood Location Date of Meeting SORTA Representative(s) Presentation details Number of attendees

Green Township Green Township Public Library

Monday, May 8, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing Metro Presentation 1

Westwood Westwood Town Hall Monday, May 8, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing Metro Presentation 3

Anderson TownshipAnderson Center

Station Park and Ride facility

Monday, May 8, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing Metro Presentation 2

Downtown Cincinnati Downtown Public Library Tuesday, May 9, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing

Metro Presentation 17

Bond Hill Community Action Agency

Tuesday, May 9, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing Metro Presentation 3

Reading Reading Public Library Tuesday, May 9, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing


North College Hill Clovernook Center Wednesday, May 10, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing Metro Presentation 30

Oakley Oakley Recreation Center

Wednesday, May 10, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing Metro Presentation 5

Harrison Harrison Public Library Wednesday, May 10, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing


Blue Ash Blue Ash Recreation Center

Thursday, May 11, 2017 AECOM Staff, Dave Ettiene, Ted Meyer, Matt Conover AECOM - Reinventing Metro Presentation 9

Downtown Cincinnati Cincinnati Convention Center

Wednesday, August 23, 2017Dwight Ferrell, Kreg Keesee, Maurice Brown, Brenden Cull, Heidi Black, Rob Mosby, David Riposo, Darryl Haley, Sallie Hilvers, Ted Meyer, Mark McEwan, John Ravasio, Brandy Jones, Dave Etienne

2017 Local route optimization public meeting

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Downtown Cincinnati Cincinnati Convention Center

Thursday, December 7, 2017Dwight Ferrell, Kreg Keesee, Maurice Brown, Brenden Cull, Heidi Black, Rob Mosby, David Riposo, Darryl Haley, Sallie Hilvers, Ted Meyer, Mark McEwan, John Ravasio, Brandy Jones, Dave Etienne

2017 Proposed fare increase public meeting

15



Monday, February 12, 2018 Darryl Haley, Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones

2018 Express route optimization public meeting

31

Harrison Public Library Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Dave Etienne, Ted Meyer, John Gardocki, Brandy Jones2018 Express route optimization public meeting

14

Westwood Westwood Town Hall Thursday, February 15, 2018 Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones2018 Express route optimization public meeting

3

Downtown Cincinnati SORTA Offices (Board Room) Tuesday, February 20, 2018 Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones


4

Mt. Washington Mt. Washington Recreation Center Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Mark McEwan


25

Westwood, Cincinnati Westwood Town Hall Saturday, April 28, 2018 Dwight Ferrell, Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Brandy Jones Reinventing Metro Presentation 24



Monday, April 30, 2018 Kreg Keesee, Dwight Ferrell, Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones

Reinventing Metro Presentation 13

Colerain Township Colerain Township Community Center Tuesday, May 1, 2018 Dwight Ferrell, Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Brandy Jones Reinventing Metro

Presentation8

Downtown Cincinnati Public Library Wednesday, May 2, 2018 Dwight Ferrell, Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones

Reinventing Metro Presentation

46

Woodlawn Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries

Thursday, May 3, 2018 Darryl Haley, Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones


6

Blue Ash Blue Ash Recreation Center

Monday, May 7, 2018 Brenden Cull, Rod Hinton, Darryl Haley, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones


34

Bond Hill, Cincinnati Community Action Agency

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 Dwight Ferrell, Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Brandy Jones Reinventing Metro Presentation

11

Green Township Nathanael Greene Lodge

Wednesday, May 9, 2018 Dwight Ferrell, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones Reinventing Metro Presentation

16

Oakley, Cincinnati Oakley Recreation Center

Thursday, May 10, 2018 Dwight Ferrell, Ted Meyer, Dave Etienne, Mark McEwan, Brandy Jones

Reinventing Metro Presentation 18

2017/2018 Public Meetings

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Appendix C: Demographic Data and Maps

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Demographic Data and Maps The following maps show SORTA’s service area, routes, and demographic information based on American Community Survey 2016 5 year estimates. Exhibit C-1 shows the service area with a three-quarter mile buffer around all 46 fixed routes and 1 streetcar route. The demographic data was taken from ACS 5-year estimates at the Census block group level. For block groups that fell both inside and outside of the service area, the percentage of the area inside the service area was used as the ratio for the population of that block group. Based on this methodology, the percentage of minority population is 35.5% and the percentage of low-income population is 18.5% within the service area. Exhibit C-2 shows areas that are 25 percentage points above the average service area’s minority population, low-income population or both minority and low-income populations. For example, if a block group has a minority percentage of 75% it would be considered a minority block group because it is more than 25 percentage point compared to the service area average of 35.5%. A block group with 42% minority population would not be classified as a minority block group susceptable to a disparate impact. Exhibit C-3 shows areas that are 25 percentage points below the average aervice area’s minority population. Since the low-income percentage for the service area is 18.5%, there are no census block groups 25 percentage points below the average.

Exhibit C-1

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Exhibit C-2

47

Exhibit C-3

48

Appendix D: Minority/Low Income Ridership and Population

49

Minority and Low Income Ridership and Population To determine the demographic composition of SORTA’s routes two methodologies were used. Both methods compared demographic information at a route level to the demographics of the SORTA service area. The service area is defined as three quarters of a mile from any SORTA route and those areas completely surrounded by the three quarter mile corridors. The demographics of these areas were obtained through block group data, available from the American Community Survey 5 year estimate 2012-2016. Using ArcGIS the total population of block groups within the service area was identified. The population of the block groups that were partially within the service area was calculated based on the percent of the area within SORTA’s service area. This information was then overlaid with block group data to obtain an estimate of low income and minority populations based on the percent of population in the service area. The analysis indicates a total population of 744,901 are within the SORTA service area. Of this population an estimated 264,423 persons or 35.5 percent are minority individuals and 137,775 persons or 18.5 percent are low income individuals. The table in Exhibit D-1 shows the results for each route. In the previous Title VI Program update, several aspects of the methodology were different compared to the methodology used in this update. Moving forward, SORTA plans to use the methodology outlined above. The reason there is a significant change in the service area population from the last update (800,248 compared to current 744,901) was the way in which populations of block groups partially in the service area were calculated. The former methodology converted population densities into total population of these block groups instead of using the ratio of area within the service area. This yielded a higher total population. If you go back to the 2012-2015 Title VI program update the total population figure is more closely aligned (747,935) to this update based on regional population trends and uses the same methodology used in this update. SORTA’s Onboard Rider Survey, conducted in January of 2018 was compared against the identified service area demographics. A copy of the survey is shown in Exhibit D-2. For each route the percent of minority and low income riders was determined based on the total number of riders surveyed for that route. These results were compared to the overall service area’s average low income and minority populations. Those routes equal to or above the service area’s average were noted. Route 72 is a seasonal express route and was not in operation during the latest onboard survey, therefore it does not have survey data. The second methodology utilized GIS analysis to calculate the demographics within three quarters of mile of each route. All SORTA routes were analyzed using this methodology. As with the first methodology, these numbers were compared to the service area’s average minority and low income populations. Routes equal to or above the service area’s average were noted. Individual route demographics were calculated by identifying the census block groups within three quarters of a mile of each route. The total population, minority population, and low income population of each census block group was calculated based on the square miles of each census block group that fell within three quarters of a mile of a route. Block groups partially within the routes service area were calculated based on the percent of area within the route’s service area. Additionally, block groups served by multiple routes were calculated separately for each route because it is not possible to determine which route these individuals might chose to utilize.

50

Exhibit D-1

Total Population

Minority population

Percent Minority

Low-Income Population

Percent Low-Income

744,901 264,423 35.5% 137,775 18.5%ACS 2012-2016

Onboard Rider Survey

Route

Total Population Served

Minority Population

Low-Income Population

Percent Minority

Percent Low-Income

Percent Minority

Percent Low-Income

1 25,611 13,778 8,083 54% 32% 57% 30%2X 37,078 13,399 4,344 36% 12% 44% 25%3X 63,414 19,431 6,298 31% 10% 46% 13%

4 114,157 46,714 24,206 41% 21% 84% 66%6 71,250 33,492 22,593 47% 32% 75% 56%

11 82,104 30,800 17,181 38% 21% 71% 50%12X 31,502 8,675 5,024 28% 16% 33% 0%14X 40,774 21,526 6,767 53% 17% 75% 10%15X 52,083 28,962 10,739 56% 21% 52% 32%

16 84,848 44,920 25,239 53% 30% 94% 71%17 129,100 61,581 33,408 48% 26% 70% 54%19 95,595 41,336 27,125 43% 28% 76% 58%20 95,208 48,041 24,654 50% 26% 73% 55%21 77,812 36,153 25,390 46% 33% 78% 70%

23X 57,060 30,542 10,313 54% 18% 57% 26%24 106,586 36,246 25,358 34% 24% 66% 65%

25X 35,910 7,291 4,703 20% 13% 29% 7%27 46,978 25,249 19,292 54% 41% 88% 58%28 47,776 16,264 9,822 34% 21% 78% 78%

29X 28,731 3,461 3,548 12% 12% 16% 21%30X 41,813 4,271 3,855 10% 9% 38% 33%

31 72,490 36,743 26,154 51% 36% 85% 64%32 87,268 28,366 21,696 33% 25% 67% 70%33 70,918 28,911 20,339 41% 29% 73% 65%

38X 89,229 46,350 30,759 52% 34% 63% 25%40X 34,191 14,607 9,443 43% 28% 56% 19%

41 113,875 49,148 23,306 43% 20% 80% 60%42X 18,354 4,616 1,881 25% 10% 47% 21%

43 115,964 65,171 34,799 56% 30% 83% 70%46 56,735 32,412 22,251 57% 39% 78% 69%49 34,544 20,876 15,194 60% 44% 92% 77%50 52,912 18,042 14,800 34% 28% 54% 54%51 135,257 55,781 35,617 41% 26% 78% 64%

52X 7,011 155 429 2% 6% 14% 0%64 85,632 46,007 29,794 54% 35% 91% 72%67 18,010 4,862 2,078 27% 12% 100% 63%71 52,280 12,477 2,340 24% 4% 28% 0%72 5,395 811 205 15% 4%

74X 33,820 8,724 4,428 26% 13% 21% 19%75X 8,867 503 931 6% 10% 4% 4%

77 41,407 7,314 7,376 18% 18% 0% 6%78 109,948 57,715 31,850 52% 29% 77% 53%81 21,177 1,648 2,244 8% 11% 11% 0%82 2,925 199 294 7% 10% 0% 8%85 12,013 5,662 3,676 47% 31% 42% 4%90 115,549 53,404 31,920 46% 28% 67% 59%

0 (Streetcar) 26,173 13,195 10,662 50% 41% 39% 32%

*Service Area is defined as the 3/4 mile ADA service area with the addition of express routes

*Low-Income <$25,000 (Survey)

Service Area Population

American Community Survey Census Demographics

*Shaded Cells represent above average minority and low income populations

*Express route service areas exclude downtown and expressway routing combined.

51

Exhibit D-2

52

53

Appendix E: Quality of Service Monitoring Analysis

54

Quality of Service Monitoring Analysis SORTA uses several metrics and standards to monitor the quality of service provided to its customers. As a part of the analysis for Title VI, SORTA used on-board surveys to determine whether a route was a minority or non-minority route based on the routes percentage of minority population compared to the service area minority population average. For each route, a designation was given as a minority or non-minority route based on this methodology. Each route was analyzed based on the approximate headway during the weekday peak, off-peak, Saturday, and Sunday schedules. The average vehicle load was calculated for a period of time in 2018 and broken out by weekday, Saturday, and Sunday service. The on-time performance for each route used data from all of 2018. On-time performance is defined as the percentage of time a bus arrives at each time point where it is within the window of 1 minute early to 5 ½ minutes late. In order to analyze the difference in level and quality of service between minority and non-minority routes, all routes data were grouped into minority and non-minority categories and compared to each other based on the metrics stated above.. The data from exhibit E-1 shows that the level and quality of service does not have a disparate impact on minority riders. Ten of SORTA’s 46 routes are classified as non-minority routes and all of those routes are express routes that run only during the weekday peak periods. The headways for minority routes are better than non-minority routes and the vehicle loads are similar for each category of routes. On-time performance is slightly better for non-minority routes by 2.3% overall.

Exhibit E-1

RouteAverage Weekday

Peak Headway (minutes)

Average Weekday Off-Peak Headway

(minutes)

Average Saturday Headway (minutes)

Average Sunday Headway (minutes)

Average Vehicle Load (Weekday)

Average Vehicle Load (Saturday)

Average Vehicle Load (Sunday)

On-time Performace

System Average36 41 44 47 0.36 0.32 0.32 82.0%

Minority Route Average 32 41 44 47 0.36 0.32 0.32 81.5%

Non-minority Route Average 49 No Routes No Routes No Routes 0.39 No Routes No Routes 83.8%

55

Appendix F: SORTA Board Demographics and Title VI Program Resolution

56

Exhibit F-1 shows the demographic makeup of SORTA’s Board of Trustees as of January 2019. Exhibit F-2 is the Board of Trustees’ resolution to approve the Title VI Program for years 2019-2021.

Exhibit F-1

Name Appointment Gender Race RepresentingKreg Keesee Chair Male Caucasian City of CincinnatiGwen Robinson Vice Chair Female African American City of CincinnatiMaurice Brown Board Trustee Male African American City of CincinnatiHeidi Black Board Trustee Female Caucasian City of CincinnatiBrendon Cull Board Trustee Male Caucasian City of CincinnatiBlake Ethridge Board Trustee Male Caucasian Hamilton CountyAllan Freeman Board Trustee Male Caucasian Clermont CountyRobert Harris Board Trustee Male African American Hamilton CountyRod Hinton Board Trustee Male African American City of CincinnatiThaddeus Hoffmeister Board Trustee Male African American Hamilton CountyPeter McLinden Board Trustee Male Caucasian Warren CountyMary Miller Board Trustee Female Caucasian City of CincinnatiKathleen Wyenandt Board Trustee Female Caucasian Butler County

57

Exhibit F-2 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY RESOLUTION NO. 2019-XXXXXXX

58

Appendix G: 2016 Mobile Ticketing Equity Analysis

No disparate impact or disproportionate burden were found in this analysis, and the changes were implemented.

59

Appendix H: 2017 Local Route Service Equity Analysis

No disparate impact or disproportionate burden were found in this analysis, and the changes were implemented.

60

Appendix I: 2018 Express Route Service Change Equity Analysis

No disparate impact or disproportionate burden were found in this analysis, and the

changes were implemented.

61

Appendix J: 2018 Fare Change Equity Analysis

No disparate impact or disproportionate burden were found in this analysis, but the changes were not implemented.

62

Appendix K: On-board Survey Results The on-board survey was performed in January of 2018 on SORTA routes in accordance

with the Title VI fare equity analysis and used for ridership demographics in the 2019-2021 Title VI Program Update.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY RESOLUTION NO. 2019-05

APPROVAL TO PURCHASE IN-GROUND BUS LIFTS AT QUEENSGATE GARAGE

WHEREAS:

1. SORTA requires the removal and replacement of in-ground bus lifts at the Queensgate garage that have surpassed their useful life and need to be replaced.

2. Detailed bus lift specifications were developed by SORTA staff to meet all requirements

and an Invitation for Bid (“IFB”) was sent to eight-teen (18) potential vendors.

3. One (1) bid was received. SORTA staff and is recommends that the Board accept the bid submitted by OTT Equipment Services Inc. for a five (5) year contract as the lowest responsive bid from a responsible bidder for the purchase of a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of twelve (12) bus lifts, at a total cost of $110,119 per unit and total contract value not to exceed $1,321,428. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

4. The Board hereby finds the bid of OTT Equipment Services Inc. as recommended by the SORTA staff to be the lowest responsive bid from a responsible bidder, and awards to it a five (5) year contract for the purchase of a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of twelve (12) bus lifts, at a total cost not to exceed $1,321,428, contingent on funding being available.

5. The Interim CEO/General Manager, Interim COO, or the CFO/Secretary-Treasurer shall

execute the contract on behalf of SORTA.

************** MOVED BY: Blake Ethridge SECOND BY: Kathy Wyenandt VOTE Aye: Ms. Black, Mr. Cull, Mr. Harris, Mr. Hinton, Mr. Hoffmeister, Mr. Keesee and

Ms. Robinson Nay:

None

Abstain:

None



Procurement Summary

February 2019

ACTION ITEM- APPROVAL TO PURCHASE IN-GROUND BUS LIFTS AT QUEENSGATE GARAGE

STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL / OBJECTIVE • Operational Excellence

RECOMMENDATION Approval of a resolution authorizing the Interim CEO/General Manager, Interim COO, or the CFO/Secretary-Treasurer to execute a five (5) year contract with OTT Equipment Services Inc. on behalf of SORTA for the purchase of a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of twelve (12) bus lifts, at a cost not to exceed $1,321,428.


• This is a five (5) year agreement with a total expenditure up to $1,321,428, contingent on funding being available.

• The not to exceed amount is calculated based on the purchase of 12 units at an average cost per unit of $110,119.

• This expenditure will be funding with 100% local funds.

BUSINESS PURPOSE

• There are twenty (20) in-ground bus lift at the Queensgate garage. These units are the originals and have surpassed their useful life and need to be replaced.

• Though, the in-ground bus lifts are original, most units have undergone preventative maintenance and repairs and have been maintained over the years.


• This is an Invitation for Bid contract.

• This is a contract for five (5) years

• OTT Equipment Service Inc. was determined to be the lowest responsible bid from a responsible bidder.

• The contract procurement summary is attached.


• This solicitation was sent to eighteen (18) potential vendors.

Attachments: Procurement Summary


• Section 306.43 of the Ohio Revised Code authorizes SORTA to contract for the provision of goods and services.

SUBMITTED BY:

Mike Nagy Darryl Haley Project & Facility Manager Interim CEO/General Manager

1/29/2019

February 2019

BRIEFING ITEM – MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS – AS OF JANUARY 31ST, 2018

STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL / OBJECTIVE

• Operational Excellence RECOMMENDATION This is a briefing item. No action is required at this time.

BUSINESS PURPOSE

• As part of the monthly closing of the general ledger, the Accounting Department prepares various financial reports.

• One of the key reports is the Statement of Revenues and Expenses, also known as an Income Statement.

• This report gives summary information about how actual SORTA revenues and expenses in the newly closed month (as well as calendar year-to-date) compare with budgeted and prior year values.

• A separate Executive Summary is also prepared to give narrative descriptions behind

key favorable and unfavorable actual results compared with budget values.

• Attached are Monthly Financial Reports for SORTA and the Connector as of January 31st, 2018.

SUBMITTED BY:

David A. Riposo CFO/Sr. Vice-President, Finance

Attachments: Executive Summary

Financial Report

SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Monthly Financial Report Executive Summary

January 2019 SORTA’s financial report for the month ending January 31, 2019 is attached. • Total Revenue of $8.4 million was favorable to budget by $52,000 or 0.6%.

• Total Expense of $8.6 million was favorable to budget by $105,000 or 1.2%;

o Operations expense of $7.5 million was 88.8% of revenue; and o Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expense of $1.1 million was 13.1% of revenue. o Depreciation expense of $1.1 million was incurred but not included in the budgeted expense figures.

• Result was a net unfavorable variance before reserves and prior year surplus of $(160,000) in the month of January.

• Budgeted reserves of $234,000 and prior year surplus of $83,000 were used in the month.

• The final result was a net favorable variance of $157,000 for the month. Below is a summary of the most significant factors driving the results for January:

• Fare Revenue: Favorable to budget by $42,000 or 3.1% primarily due to favorable fare price. The favorable Metro fare revenue of $44,000 resulted in a farebox recovery ratio of 16.6% which was favorable to budget by 0.7%.

• Non-Transportation Revenue: Favorable to budget by $8,000 or 4.5% due to favorable investment income of $22,000 offset by unfavorable RTC parking and billboard revenue of $(9,000) and $(3,000), respectively.

• Employee Wages: Wages from Operations were favorable to budget by $71,000 or 2.0% due to favorable operator wages of $95,000 partially offset by unfavorable building maintenance wages of $(24,000). SG&A wages were favorable to budget by $6,000 or 1.2% due to slightly higher than anticipated open positions during the month.

• Employee Benefits: Benefits from Operations were favorable to budget by $41,000 or 2.0% primarily due favorable timing from paid leave of $30,000 and OPERS from lower than anticipated wages. Benefits from SG&A were favorable $11,000 to budget or 4.3%.

• Parts & Supplies: Unfavorable to budget by $(40,000) or (8.4%) due to unfavorable revenue vehicle parts of $(34,000).

• Utilities: Favorable to budget by $44,000 or 27.6% due to favorable gas and electric expense of $43,000.

• Casualty & Liability: Unfavorable to budget by $(92,000) or (101.6%) due to unfavorable claims reserve of $(79,000) and unfavorable recoveries from physical damage of $(16,000).

• Salary Headcount: There were 12 open positions at the end of January.

One Month Ended 1/31/2019

Prior Yr

Actual

Fixed Route Ridership 613 0.1% 613 0.1% 1,094,429 Access Ridership (33) (0.2%) (33) (0.2%) 18,479

Total Ridership 580 0.1% 580 0.1% 1,112,908

Farebox Recovery Ratio (1) 17.5%

Dollars % Rev Dollars % Rev $ % Dollars % Rev Dollars % Rev $ % $

FaresMetro Fares (2) $ 1,325 15.8% $ 1,281 15.3% $ 44.0 3.4% $ 1,325 15.8% $ 1,281 15.3% $ 44.0 3.4% $ 1,389 Access Fares 77 0.9% 78 0.9% (1.8) (2.2%) 77 0.9% 78 0.9% (1.8) (2.2%) 76

Total Fares 1,402 16.7% 1,359 16.3% 42.3 3.1% 1,402 16.7% 1,359 16.3% 42.3 3.1% 1,465

CPS Contract Revenue 806 9.6% 810 9.7% (3.7) (0.5%) 806 9.6% 810 9.7% (3.7) (0.5%) 900Non-Transportation Revenue (3) 196 2.3% 188 2.2% 8.4 4.5% 196 2.3% 188 2.2% 8.4 4.5% 182

2,404 28.6% 2,357 28.2% 47.0 2.0% 2,404 28.6% 2,357 28.2% 47.0 2.0% 2,547

Transit Fund Receipts 4,242 50.7% 4,242 50.8% 0.0 0.0% 4,242 50.7% 4,242 50.8% 0.0 0.0% 4,450Federal Cash Grants 1,515 18.1% 1,515 18.1% 0.0 0.0% 1,515 18.1% 1,515 18.1% 0.0 0.0% 1,504State & Other Subsidy Revenue (4) 245 2.9% 239 2.9% 5.5 2.3% 245 2.9% 239 2.9% 5.5 2.3% 239

6,002 71.4% 5,997 71.8% 5.5 0.1% 6,002 71.4% 5,997 71.8% 5.5 0.1% 6,193

8,407 100% 8,354 100.0% 52.4 0.6% 8,407 100.0% 8,354 100.0% 52.4 0.6% 8,740

Wages 3,440 40.9% 3,511 42.0% 70.5 2.0% 3,440 40.9% 3,511 42.0% 70.5 2.0% 3,447Employee Benefits 2,059 24.5% 2,100 25.1% 41.4 2.0% 2,059 24.5% 2,100 25.1% 41.4 2.0% 1,968Fuel & Lubricants 390 4.6% 409 4.9% 19.0 4.7% 390 4.6% 409 4.9% 19.0 4.7% 453Parts & Supplies 495 5.9% 462 5.5% (33.2) (7.2%) 495 5.9% 462 5.5% (33.2) (7.2%) 421Purchased Transportation 566 6.7% 574 6.9% 8.2 1.4% 566 6.7% 574 6.9% 8.2 1.4% 510Services 157 1.9% 124 1.5% (33.2) (26.7%) 157 1.9% 124 1.5% (33.2) (26.7%) 80Utilities 104 1.2% 144 1.7% 40.5 28.0% 104 1.2% 144 1.7% 40.5 28.0% 139Casualty & Liability 182 2.2% 90 1.1% (91.5) (101.6%) 182 2.2% 90 1.1% (91.5) (101.6%) 140Taxes & Leases 73 0.9% 79 0.9% 6.5 8.2% 73 0.9% 79 0.9% 6.5 8.2% 79Other (5) 1 0.0% 7 0.1% 6.1 85.6% 1 0.0% 7 0.1% 6.1 85.6% 0

7,467 88.8% 7,501 89.8% 34.3 0.5% 7,467 88.8% 7,501 89.8% 34.3 0.5% 7,238

Wages 535 6.4% 541 6.5% 6.3 1.2% 535 6.4% 541 6.5% 6.3 1.2% 526Employee Benefits 234 2.8% 245 2.9% 10.6 4.3% 234 2.8% 245 2.9% 10.6 4.3% 225Parts & Supplies 25 0.3% 17 0.2% (7.2) (41.4%) 25 0.3% 17 0.2% (7.2) (41.4%) 12Services 208 2.5% 250 3.0% 42.4 17.0% 208 2.5% 250 3.0% 42.4 17.0% 284Utilities 12 0.1% 15 0.2% 3.6 23.7% 12 0.1% 15 0.2% 3.6 23.7% 15Taxes & Leases 44 0.5% 61 0.7% 16.3 27.0% 44 0.5% 61 0.7% 16.3 27.0% 37Other (5) 42 0.5% 41 0.5% (1.5) (3.7%) 42 0.5% 41 0.5% (1.5) (3.7%) 128

1,099 13.1% 1,170 14.0% 70.5 6.0% 1,099 13.1% 1,170 14.0% 70.5 6.0% 1,227

8,566 101.9% 8,671 103.8% 104.8 1.2% 8,566 101.9% 8,671 103.8% 104.8 1.2% 8,465Use of Prior Year Reserves 234 2.8% 234 2.8% 0.0 0.0% 234 2.8% 234 2.8% 0.0 0.0% 25Use of Prior Year Surplus 83 1.0% 83 1.0% 0.0 0.0% 83 1.0% 83 1.0% 0.0 0.0% 0

$ 157 1.9% $ 0 0.0% $ 157.2 $ 157 1.9% $ 0.0 0.0% $ 157 $ 299

Depreciation Expense $ 1,140 13.6% $ 1,140 13.6% $ 1,282

1,047,543 1,048,156

1,066,009 1,066,589 1,066,009 1,066,589 18,466 18,433 18,466 18,433

Surplus (Deficit)

Notes:(1) Farebox Recovery Ratio = Metro Fares Revenue / (Total Expenses less Purchased Transportation Expense); Full Year Budgeted Farebox Recovery Ratio is 19.1%(2) Metro Fare Revenue includes Regular Fares & Passes, Fare Deal, and Special Program Fares(3) Non-Transportation revenues include advertising, investment income, parking revenue, warranty recoveries & fee SORTA receives from the City to manage the streetcar.(4) Other Subsidy Revenue includes county contracts, and payments from 5/3 Bank, Duke Energy, UC and Cincinnati State.(5) Other includes advertising, training, dues and subscriptions, travel and incentive fares.(6) Full year 2019 Budget: Operating Expense @ 85.1% of Revenue & SG&A @ 14.9% of Revenue.

Total SG&A (6)

Total Expenses

Selling, General & Administrative

Total Cost of Operations (6)

Total Revenue

Cost of Operations

Subtotal Subsidy Revenue

Subsidy Revenue

Subtotal Operating Revenue

RevenueOperating Revenue

VarianceFav/(Unfav)

Profit & Loss StatementDollars In Thousands

Current Month Year To Date

Actual BudgetVariance

Fav/(Unfav)Actual Budget

1,047,543 1,048,156

0.7%16.6% 15.8% 0.7% 16.6% 15.8%

SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

CINCINNATI BELL CONNECTOR

MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

JANUARY, 2019

The Cincinnati Bell Connector financial report for the month ending January 31, 2019 is attached.

Total Revenues were $274,747 which is unfavorable to budget by $67,426 or 20%.

Total Expenses were $339,424, which is favorable to budget by $2,749 or 1%.

January income is unfavorable to budget by $64,677.

Year to date income is unfavorable to budget by $2,512.

A favorable adjustment from a prior month to the Transdev Contract Expense of $28,989 is reflected in

the year to date results.

Below is a summary of the most significant factors driving results for the month:

Ridership: Favorable by 3,172 or 17% for the month.

Fare Revenue: Unfavorable by $2,365 or 16% for the month due to actual fare revenue per ride of

$0.54 compared with budget fare revenue per ride of $0.76.

Connector Advertising: Unfavorable by $65,062 or 96% for the month due to advertising contracts

below budgeted expectations.

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority

Cincinnati Bell ConnectorYear to Date Financial ReportAs of January 31, 2019

Curr Mo

Actual

Curr Mo

Budget

YTD

Actual

YTD

Budget

Ridership 22,362 19,190 3,172 17% 284,999 311,551 (26,552) -9%

FaresRegular Fares & Passes $12,167 $14,532 ($2,365) -16% 188,420 $235,939 (47,519) -20%Charter Service 0 0 0 - 4,050 0 4,050 -

Total Fares 12,167 14,532 (2,365) -16% 192,470 235,939 (43,469) -18%

Other RevenueCity Parking Meter Contribution, (Net of City Overhead Expense) 78,693 78,693 0 0% 550,853 550,853 - 0%City Appropriated Surplus Parking 58,039 58,039 0 0% 424,668 424,668 - 0%Haile Foundation 75,000 75,000 0 0% 525,000 525,000 - 0%Tax Incentive Policy (VTICA) 10,833 10,833 0 0% 75,833 75,833 - 0%Federal Formula Funding 16,103 16,103 0 0% 177,130 112,718 64,412 57%Connector Advertising 2,994 68,056 (65,062) -96% 43,996 309,724 (265,728) -86%Naming Rights 20,918 20,917 1 0% 158,151 146,419 11,732 8%

Total Fares and Other Revenue 274,747 342,173 (67,426) -20% 2,148,101 2,381,154 (233,053) -10%

ExpensesTransdev Contract 289,894 289,894 0 0% 1,778,833 2,000,831 221,998 11%SORTA Management Fee 23,192 23,192 0 0% 160,068 160,068 - 0%Direct Costs 26,338 29,087 2,749 9% 211,712 220,255 8,543 4%

Total Expenses 339,424 342,173 2,749 1% 2,150,613 2,381,154 230,541 10%

NET INCOME / (DEFICIT) ($64,677) $0 ($64,677) (2,512) $0 (2,512)

Month Variance

Fav / (Unfav)

YTD Variance

Fav / (Unfav)

February 2019

Major projects: FAStops project: Outreach activity for the FAStops “bus balancing” outreach is underway. Twelve community information sessions were held in January and February with the final session taking place on Feb. 19 at the Cincinnati Public Library Downtown (Tower Room) from 5-7 p.m. So far, we’ve had 117 customers attend the info sessions and received 164 emails and surveys with customer’s feedback about the proposed changes. All feedback will be taken into consideration prior to any final decisions being made regarding stop changes.

Signage has been placed at each of the bus stops being considered for the pilot along routes 15X, 17, 31, 33 and 41. The pilot will begin on March 3. Customers are invited to provide their feedback, view photos of each bus stop in the system and learn more about the overall project at go-metro.com/fastops.

New on-bus marketing campaign: “You should be riding this bus” is the tag line for our new back of the bus ad campaign. Whether it’s highlighting catching a few extra winks or finishing up the latest novel, the campaign reminds motorists of the many reasons they would rather be on-board instead of behind the wheel.

Metro PERK$ program: Metro’s new PERK$ Program now includes discount tickets to FC Cincinnati games. The Metro PERK$ program began in October to reward loyal customers with discounts at local restaurants, retail and attractions. Riders just show their proof of Metro fare payment (30-day rolling pass, day pass, Fare Deal sticker, etc.) at participating locations to receive discounts. To redeem the FC Cincinnati discount, Metro pass holders may use the promotion code (Metro19). More perks will be added soon. Ohio Loves Transit Week: On Feb. 11-15, Metro joined the Ohio Public Transit Association along with systems across Ohio in highlighting the many benefits of using public transit. The week included a social media campaign and prizes for riders who shared how using Metro impacts their daily lives and a letter to the community submitted to the Enquirer from our very own Operator Marten Zimmerman. In honor of Valentine’s Day, we shared the love with a free ride giveaway on Fountain Square and Government Square to encourage non-riders to give us a try and “fall in love with Metro.”

In the community: Look for Metro’s Hydi the Hybrid mini-bus in the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 16 and the Opening Day Parade on March 28.

Employee relations: Bus operator recruitment progress report:

• Open bus operator jobs on Jan. 31 29 • Number of applicants in January 79 • Number of operators hired in January 6 • Number in training as of Jan. 31 7

Transit Operator Appreciation Day: Transit drivers don’t have an easy job, they just make it look that way. Please join us on March 18 in celebrating our many operators and maintenance employees who work every day providing safe, friendly and reliable service to our community. On social media, use #TDAD to recognize the work of our outstanding team members. In the garages, we’ll have special goodies, testimonials from appreciative customers and much more to celebrate the day and to say “Thank you!” Artswave Employee Giving Campaign: The arts make our community a vibrant place to live, work and play. That’s why Metro is proud to once again participate in the Artswave employee giving campaign to take place March 25th through April 5th. Commendations: Metro’s employees serve the community well every day. Last month, our employees received many commendations, including the following email (edited): “I would like to start off this happy new year giving acknowledgement to Bus Drivers who get me to work safely day in and day out. Riding the bus saves me a lot of money and it’s very convenient and I appreciate the quality of service. This morning I rode the 29X Milford Express and had the pleasure of riding with D’Angilo H…I appreciate how he was on time as it’s cold in the morning and he greeted me with a warm and bright smile and drove the bus safe. I was having a bad morning and just his simple and professional approach soothed my soul. If you have any questions, please call me at (513) 632-7690. Darryl Haley Interim CEO and General Manager

REINVENTING METRO: The Connected Region

SORTA Board Meeting February 19, 2019

Regional Business Transportation Committee

REINVENTING METRO: The Connected Region

Agenda 2

Quick review/Current Status Why it matters! Summary of Plan Approved by board Fares going forward Tax Implications of various plans Infrastructure Needs Research/Public Opinion County Coverage vs City

SORTA Today Basic Facts: » 14 million rides per year » 46 total routes » 357 buses » 101 buses that are 12+ years old

(outdated) » 49 Access paratransit vehicles

SORTA Today Structure and Funding: » 7 City Appointees; 6 County Appointees » Funded through City income/earnings

tax (0.3 of 2.1 tax is dedicated to transit) which was intended to be temporary when created in 1973.

» Cincinnati is only city in state (and one of just a few in U.S.) funding transit through earnings taxes.

» Transit is generally a county function; Cincinnati only major City in Ohio responsible for funding the region’s transit system.

» Total budget of approximately $100MM; approximately 55% comes from earnings tax; remainder from fares, federal and state support.

A Quick Review

A Quick Review

Unsustainable funding model: Continually increasing operating costs Stifling capital costs Insufficient local funding Virtually no state funding

Plan development and refinement: Reinventing Metro (developed options for consideration at different

funding levels) 19 community meetings conducted during 2017 and 2018

External review and affirmation: Metro Futures Task Force (2015) EY SORTA Financial Review (2018)

Validated $184 million 10-year projected deficit; SORTA is a well run organization

4

» Improving Access and Transit is Stated Priority for:

• REDI • The Port • CBC/CRBC • Chamber • Partners for A Competitive

Workforce • United Way • Child Poverty Collaborative

» Transportation is a key factor in every major civic and community priority in the region.

⋄ Economic Development ⋄ Talent Attraction ⋄ Population Growth ⋄ Reducing Poverty ⋄ Connecting People to Jobs,

Health Care, & Education

Why it Matters! 5

SORTA’s hub and spoke route structure is a result of the county’s non-grid geographical layout and serves legacy job hubs. SORTA lacks resources to connect to new job hubs and to more of Hamilton County.

Current System does not meet the needs of the community

Focus on Jobs

Census tract employment Job centers:

Downtown Cincinnati

Uptown

Blue Ash

Southern Butler and Warren County

Covington

Airport

Southern Boone and Kenton Counties

7

Butler Warren

Clermont

Hamilton

Boone

Kenton Campbell

From Local to Regional Connectivity

Coordinated Transit Service

Integrated Transit Technologies

Integrated Bus Service

Integrated Fares

Coordinated Paratransit Service

8

Hamilton County at the Core

9 New Routes & Extensions

Frequency Improvement

Service Span Improvements

System improvements focused on improving job accessibility through shorter commuting times

9

Proposed Service Improvements

Service every 15 mins. or better all day, every day -------- on major routes More frequent service on routes -------------------------------- Longer hours of service on routes ------------------------------- New bus routes ---------------------------------------------------- Route alignment changes ----------------------------------------- More weekend service ------------------------------------------- 24-hour service on major corridors ----------------------------- Access service growth for people with disabilities ------------ Bus Rapid Transit Corridors (new) ------------------------------- New transit centers ------------------------------------------------ New park & rides ------------------------------------------------- Bus Stop Optimization (New Bus Shelters/Benches) Wi-Fi and Charging Stations onboard Demand Response Service Fit for Purpose Vehicles

10

Yes

29 18 8 8

Yes 6

Yes 2 3 1

Yes Yes Yes Yes

The objectives are financial sustainability, more frequent service, longer hours of operation, shorter trip times, more customer amenities, and the flexibility to take advantage of innovations.

Dramatically expanded service 11

Future Service

Increased frequency, service and span

Reinventing Metro Plan – 2020: Major Local Corridor Improvements

12

15 minute Frequency 13

Future Service

Increased frequency deeper into county

Increased Crosstown Service 14

Future Service

Reinventing Metro Plan – 2021: New Crosstown Service

15

24 Hour Coverage on Major Routes 16

Future Service

Reinventing Metro Plan – 2022: New Express Services

17

Reinventing Metro Plan – 2023: Secondary Corridors

18

Reinventing Metro Plan – Beyond 2023: BRT Corridors

19

Connected Region: Potential Route Network

20

Access Service

Increased coverage: Expanded service as a

result of new routes Coordinated regionally Potential for County-

Wide service Aging population Shorter average trip

lengths More access trips

outside the city than inside

21

» Improved partnerships with ride-sharing firms such as Uber and Lyft » Investments in payment technology, on-demand service, and apps » More frequent route adjustment and ability to create routes based on job growth

and new development » More improved position to align regionally with TANK, BCRTA » More ability to secure federal grants results from a sustainable system » Innovating with new technologies as they develop (TransitX)

Most importantly, SORTA’s ability to be nimble and to adapt to a rapidly changing transportation landscape will be improved.

On-going System Design

Fares 23

Fare box Recovery Ratio of 20% Small increases to keep up with inflation Transportation Empowerment Fund to support low

income riders

Expectation to align fares to funding mechanisms (i.e., county wide funding – county wide fare)

Fare simplification to better integrate with other Regional Transit Authorities (1 zone for local, 1 for express)

State Wide Infrastructure Challenge 24

–

Local Experience with Infrastructure 25

» Nearly 1000 lane miles of road in the City of Cincinnati rated fair or worse, even with increased spending on road repaving.

» At any given time, more than 50% of county maintained roads are rated fair or worse.

» 38 functionally obsolete or structurally deficient bridges in Hamilton County.

» Recent estimate that road damage costs average of >$390/year per car » Local governments grappling with smaller budgets and an inability to invest

in road construction and maintenance. » The Western Hills Viaduct is a key bridge priority in the region. » Roads, bridges, sidewalks support Metro » Shelters and Benches needed to support riders » Integrating committee set up to authorize infrastructure spending

Hamilton County has urgent needs

Metro relies on this infrastructure to operate

Enquirer Article – January 5, 2019 27

…The SORTA board officially will decide whether a levy will happen, but the mayor and county commissioners really call the shots. A majority of the board members are Cranley appointees. The commissioners appoint everyone else, and Todd Portune said top county leaders haven't warmed to the idea of a bus levy in 2019 yet. Cranley has met with more than 20 suburban politicians in the past few months, including from Green, Delhi and Anderson townships, Evendale and Harrison. He's heard two recurring themes regarding what it's going to take to get suburban buy-in for a ballot initiative: • The city-SORTA streetcar divorce has to happen before a levy goes on the ballot. In addition to running Metro buses, SORTA operates the city-owned streetcar. Suburbanites can't stand the often-empty streetcar, which they rightfully see as a waste of taxpayer money. As long as SORTA runs the streetcar, critics will push a narrative that a bus levy would help pay for the streetcar. Attorneys are working through the legal challenges of undoing the operations agreement to allow City Hall to run the rail line. • State lawmakers must pass legislation to allow levy money to be used for both bus and infrastructure projects. Cranley is working with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and House Floor Leader Bill Seitz, R-Green Township, on the legislation. Suburbanites don't ride the bus much, so better roads are what the suburbs could get out of a levy. “If it’s bus-only, it won’t work," Cranley said. "If it’s tied to the streetcar, it won’t work.“ Cranley added: "We have to clarify that it definitely involves infrastructure spending – significant, permanent funding for roads, bridges, potholes. And we have to make it clear that it has nothing to do with the streetcar. We will legally, explicitly and formally separate any and all levy dollars from the streetcar." Cranley's right: Leaders will get one shot to get a bus levy right in a car-centric region. They need more time to build a countywide coalition and focus on public engagement. 2020 makes more sense. Trump-loathing Democrats will turn out in droves in a presidential year, and those voters are more favorable to tax levies.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics-extra/2017/12/12/px-3-ways-potentially-change-cincinnatis-negative-streetcar-perception/945128001/

https://eb2.3lift.com/pass?tl_clickthrough=true&redir=https://bttrack.com/Click/Native?data%3DOuJifVtEKZqw3ATn6f7yW7Pq5khNw0g98FSYAuXiSe3Z9sWyKoTa82uZdveqrUCc22b3KjLt6QHd4oTaPJOH4JpLWYm_SG_DvAKWTeKGz9u_e5d8dCMW_tjFyMUED1Dh8UJ-i33iuu4hpMcr7HFbDP--fc87IMYaMzqJKsgOYkSVwhQx_PFjpv3BoarlBHa8jk4cpWzv56CQXL0Nk3Os-FMgT9rLmHcNAfnYw3VweJEe8qHSDfehTNBymTdLQEtmwYmqL7y9bYhsuLv11MmzsY8WhGXzk8Wqw05gNB7BFulieYeYk5SFhql8RKbj6uiwhkiw9j3FGr7Dwz7WbzNh8i23YyWe9LpkHSBCavRj8l3VFSuzzyr0YENXnopHsT2616WGK8_XZTQGg8o3eS61hMNtNA-a2LyeFr7YA01Yx_1a3_k64h0BQaaxBsZZnAiHgItXJ8Bbe_W3pR6dHiv9Z7Lq4rM7kW_FScdX8jsG55GBMj56wJaw05i8-CSe4vIIu9bm-tqbzy1XC66rrZeQ1nXgB_iaJacpcmm4_jTq5uTnA3tQRyTBRqe39g_K2QOCEw2

Research – as reported in Business Courier 8/9/18

28

Bus & Infrastructure (1% Sales Tax)

Cincinnati Ham County Suburbs Total Ham CountyFor 70% 60% 67%

Against or Unsure 30% 40% 33%

Tax Impact – Earnings Tax vs Sales Tax

29

Persona

Annual Earnings Tax Paid – Current

(0.3%)

Annual Sales Tax @ 1% –

Annual Projected Net Tax Impact

Family of 3, works in city and lives in outside the City still in Hamilton County. Earns $50,000/yr.

$150 $130 $20 less

Family of 3, lives and works in the City still in Hamilton County. Earns $17,000/yr.

$51 $60 $9 more

Tax Reduction for most citizens who live or work in the city (even with vastly expanded service)

Timeline 30

Oct

2020

First new funding

to SORTA

Aug

2020

Tax collections

begin

Nov

2020

Service Improvements

begin

March

2020

Levy successful

Dec

2019

Ballot Language due for Mar 2020

August

2019

Ballot Language due for Nov

2019

Increased 2016

Increased 2009

Maintained 2016

Increased 2016

Earnings Tax Rates

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Cincinnti Cleveland Columbus Dayton Toledo

Non-Transit Transit

With sales tax increase of 1%, in 2020, Hamilton County would have 7.75% sales tax.

» Nearly 75% of Ohio counties have sales tax between 7%-8%.

» State Sales Tax: 5.75% » Existing Hamilton Co. General Revenue: 0.5% » Stadiums: 0.5% » Union Terminal: 0.25% (expires in 2020)

Sales Tax Rates

33

County Combined State County Transit

Cuyahoga 8.00% 5.75% 1.25% 1.00%

Licking (COTA)* 7.75% 5.75% 1.50% 0.50%

Delaware (COTA)* 7.50% 5.75% 1.25% 0.50%

Franklin 7.50% 5.75% 1.25% 0.50%

Montgomery 7.50% 5.75% 1.25% 0.50%

Union (COTA)* 7.50% 5.75% 1.25% 0.50%

Fairfield (COTA)* 7.25% 5.75% 1.00% 0.50%

Mahoning 7.25% 5.75% 1.25% 0.25%

Portage 7.25% 5.75% 1.25% 0.25%

Hamilton 7.00% 5.75% 1.25% 0.00%

Lake 7.00% 5.75% 1.00% 0.25%

Summit 6.75% 5.75% 0.50% 0.50%

Stark 6.50% 5.75% 0.50% 0.25%

Sales/Transit Tax Rates

Thank You 34

Documents

(Brendon Cull) (David Riposo) - Go Metro Packets... · 5. Financial Reports for January 2019 (David Riposo) 6. CEO Board Update (Darryl Haley) Other Items: New Business Adjournment