We’re fortunate to live and work in a city as vibrant as Cincinnati. The many thousands of businesses and organizations that call this region home — from startups to Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between — both contribute to and benefit from this economic strength.
At Metro, we’re proud to be part of this robust business landscape. We’re even more proud to be a major economic driver for the Cincinnati region.
Hamilton County voters placed their confidence in Metro by approving Issue 7, which supports service improvements and innovations through a sales tax.
Metro has been delivering on the promises we made to voters through our bold five-year Reinventing Metro plan, made possible thanks to the confidence voters placed in us by approving Issue 7 in 2020. Since then, we have been busy transforming service; expanding rider options; and contributing to the economy, for the benefit of everyone.
Here are a few highlights since introducing Reinventing Metro:
- More than 93,000 jobs are now accessible by Metro, reflecting $850 million in total wages.
- 20,000 more jobs now have access to 24-hour Metro service.
- 740 additional employers are now accessible by Metro.
- We’ve added 24-hour service, launched new crosstown routes; increased frequency and amenities; improved customer service; expanded hours; and introduced the new on-demand MetroNow! service.
Through the Metro Transit Infrastructure Fund (MTIF), made possible by Issue 7, we’ve awarded $333 million to support road, bridge, and sidewalk enhancements within ¾ mile of Metro’s service area in Hamilton County. This includes a significant investment in the Western Hills Viaduct Project. And later this year, we’ll announce the projects and municipalities that will be awarded the fifth round of MTIF funds.
We would not be the transit system we are today without the leadership of Darryl Haley, who retired as CEO and General Manager at the end of May. He led the organization through the most pivotal times in its history and charted a roadmap of innovation and growth for the entire region. I’m humbled to be in a position to build on his work and, with the support of the Metro Board, realize the full vision of a reinvented Metro system.
One of the most exciting innovations on the horizon is the upcoming MetroRapid Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, which will be a true game-changer for the region. MetroRapid will debut in the Hamilton Avenue and Reading Road corridors in 2028. Community input has been essential as we build out BRT, and we’d love to continue hearing from individuals and businesses each mile of the way. I hope you’ll consider attending one of our community meetings and keeping up on our progress at www.metrobrtproject.com.
No region can truly grow without a thriving public transit system. People must be able to get where they need to go efficiently, affordably, and safely. Companies, nonprofits, universities, and government centers need public transit that provides easy access to their employees and customers.
We remain focused on completing Reinventing Metro service improvements while building a highly skilled workforce dedicated to delivering safe, reliable service, excellent customer care, and rider satisfaction. As a key driver of regional growth and access, Metro is committed to being a strong community partner by connecting people to opportunity, fueling economic progress, and delivering on our vision to become the nation’s premier transit system. Your input plays a vital role in shaping the innovative service our region deserves.
Let’s keep the conversation going. I’d welcome the chance to connect. Feel free to reach out to me at aaiello@go-metro.com.
