A Peer City Public Transportation Review
In 2013, Metro engaged with the UC Economics Center to prepare “A Peer City Public Transportation Review: Evaluating Metro’s Operational Efficiency, Service Capacity and Fiscal
Impact.”1 This study compared Metro against public transportation systems in Cincinnati’s 11 peer regions, as identified by Agenda 360 and Vision 2015. These are cities against
which Cincinnati often competes for labor and employers. Using the same benchmarks, methodology and data sources, the 2013 study was updated in 2014 (the comparison year
was from data available for 2012). Peer cities include: Austin, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Indianapolis, Louisville, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, and St.
Louis. Bus-only peer cities include: Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Raleigh.
Metro’s 2014 Ranking :
1.
2.
Peer Cities (12):
Bus-only Cities (5):
Operational Efficiency:
Operational Efficiency:
CINCINNATI #1
CINCINNATI #1
Service Capacity:
Service Capacity:
CINCINNATI #8
CINCINNATI #1
State/Local Funding:
State/Local Funding:
CINCINNATI #10
CINCINNATI #4
Accessibility to Jobs:
Accessibility to Jobs:
CINCINNATI #12
CINCINNATI #5
The complete report can be obtained at http://www.go-metro.com/about-metro/goforward.
The complete report can be obtained at http://access.umn.edu/research/america/transit2014/
Key Takeaways:
UC Economics Center “Peer City” study:
Metro is #1 in Operational Efficiency among 12 peer cities
and 5 bus-only cities. It is also #1 in Service Capacity
among the bus-only cities. Metro receives among the
lowest amount of state and local funding per capita
among the transit services in peer and bus-only cities.
University of Minnesota “Access Across
America” study:
Among the 12 peer cities and 5 bus-only cities referenced
in the UC Economics Center study, Greater Cincinnati was
last in providing public transit services connecting people
to jobs.
Overall:
Independent studies have confirmed that Metro is a wellrun system and uses tax dollars wisely and efficiently.
Studies have also determined that public transit systems
in Cincinnati’s peer cities offer more capacity, receive
more state and local funding per capita and are able to do
more to connect riders to jobs.
University of Minnesota’s “Access Across America: Transit
2014” Study2 examined the accessibility to jobs by transit in
46 of the 50 largest (by population) metropolitan areas in the
United States. When compared to the 12 peer cities, the
Cincinnati region:
• Ranked #12 (peer cities) and #5 (bus-only cities) in
providing the least amount of service connecting people
to jobs by public transit.