SORTA: A regional system needs to be planned by all who use it

By Todd Portune

As published in the Cincinnati Enquirer, June 22, 2008

From the date of the first automobile it took until 2004 for gasoline to reach $2 a gallon. In only four years for the next $2 increase. Some analysts predict that yet another $2 increase will occur before the end of this year.

The facts are that the era of cheap gasoline is over. Our growth and transportation policies must be based upon this new reality. It is a reality requiring that we have multiple transportation options available to meet the needs of area commuters, motorists and recreational travelers alike.

To make multi-modal transit options available we must work on a regional basis to create a regional system that has these required elements:

It must be governed on a regional basis, with the communities in our metropolitan area each having a meaningful seat at the table of governance, policy formation and decision making.

Funding for existing maintenance and operations of the current system and for growth of the system must be fair, equitable, affordable and spread out over the entire regional service area.

Services provided must be fully integrated among several modalities of service (i.e. bus, shuttle, train).

Services must provide cross-community, cross-jurisdictional routes meeting the needs of our metropolitan region and the people in it.

At the same time, we must work just as hard on providing temporary, short-term transit options that are available immediately. Under the best of circumstances we are three to five years away from seeing the first new permanent system enhancement. Meanwhile, gas prices will continue to soar, forcing area families to make devastating financial choices as our air continues to suffer. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of regional leadership to identify transit options that can be put into place immediately - such as using the yellow bus fleet to expand service, and incentives for car and van-pooling.

So, where does that leave us? What must we do?

As responsible leaders we must treat this as the critical issue it is. With any emergency the public expects its leadership to be willing to set all other matters aside and work together for as long as it takes to get the job done. There is very little doubt that we are at such a stage.

Accordingly, the leadership of the region should prepare to convene this summer at a summit; agreeing not to leave the effort until commitments have been made and direction charted on how we will accomplish the goal of securing a regional transit authority that is regionally funded and that provides regional, multi-modal service to our region.

I am urging my friends at the city of Cincinnati to be a part of this regional partnership. While the city collects the only dedicated revenue source for transit today, the transit taxes Cincinnati collects are paid by people who live all over our region. In fact, 67 percent of all transit tax revenues are paid by people who live outside of the city of Cincinnati, yet less than 20 percent of the service extends beyond Cincinnati's borders.

We must, for the sake of the region, put aside historic grudges and distrust, and instead work together. A truly regional transportation system will come about only if all regional jurisdictions are in on the ground floor, working together to ensure that the product of their negotiations equals a fair and equitable system that meets the transportation needs of the region.

The opportunity is at hand. If we all work in good faith, and in regional partnership, we can get the job done this year.