GREATER

OHIO POLICY CENTER

People. Land. Prosperity.

Ribbon Commission on Dedicated Funding for Transit

February 2015

To provide Ohioans with access to essential modes of transportation that will enable them to thrive for years to
come, the undersigned support the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on Dedicated Funding.
As proposed in Ohio Department of Transportations Statewide Transit Needs Study, Ohios Blue Ribbon
Commission on Dedicated Funding would identify innovative financing opportunities and support for
sustainable multimodal options in Ohios public transportation systems.
To empower future Ohioans, we must invest in public transportation. National demographic trends indicate that
employers and their future employees prefer to live in denser, mixed-use, and walkable communities with
accessible resources and attractions. In order to capitalize on these market shifts, Ohios metropolitan areas
need to develop robust transportation systems. By offering a range of transportation options, Ohio will become
a place where businesses and people can prosper together.
In 2015, Ohios Blue Ribbon Commission on Dedicated Funding would locate funding for the following projects:

$273.5 million for the necessary replacement of 1,175 urban and rural transit vehicles
$192.4 million for the purchase of 1,450 additional vehicles to meet Ohios current and unmet demand
$96.7 million for the cost of transit trips, including 1.7 million new trips in 27 rural counties that do not
currently have public transportation

Because the need for diversified public transportation will only continue to grow, Ohios Blue Ribbon
Commission on Dedicated Funding would focus on initiating and implementing short-term and long-term
sustainable strategies to benefit both the capital and operating components of Ohios transportation systems.
There are several benefits that come from the improvement of Ohios transportation systems:

Ohioans will save money by using transit systems, strengthening their local economies in the process
Workers will gain better access to valuable resources such as health care, job training, and education
facilities, increasing Ohioans quality of life
Transit systems will create 41,100 jobs for every annual $1 billion investment in public transportation
Property values will increase due to public transportation investments, leading to valuable
infrastructure opportunities

In recognizing the importance of building better transportation systems, Ohios Blue Ribbon Commission on
Dedicated Funding seeks to maximize Ohios potential as an attractive destination to visit and live.

Greater Ohio Policy Center 399 East Main Street, Suite 220 Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-224-0187 www.greaterohio.org