CINCINNATI (April 2025) – United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s (UWGC) Policy With a Splash of Coffee event on April 1 focused on transportation in our region and how policy can promote public transit as a cost-saving, efficient way to navigate our communities.
Discussion participants were Andrew Aiello, Cincinnati Metro Deputy General Manager; Lee Crume, BE NKY Growth Partnership President & CEO; Shelley Funke Frommeyer, Kentucky State Senator; and Pete Metz, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber VP, Civic & Regional Partnerships.
Transportation is a vital tool that supports thriving communities. At UWGC, we believe everyone should have access to reliable transportation to get safely to work, school, medical appointments, the grocery and the like.
In her opening remarks, UWGC President & CEO Moira Weir shared preliminary data from UWGC’s 2024 Regional Social Capital Survey. Nearly 60% of respondents said the high cost of living was the top issue facing their family. The survey defined high cost of living as not only rent or mortgage expenses, but also the cost of commuting, filling up a gas tank and related transportation expenditures. The full report will be released in June 2025.
The panel echoed the importance of transportation in communities. Aiello shared statistics that highlight the growth of Cincinnati’s transit system, including its effect on workforce development.
“Today, 93,000 more jobs can be reached by public transit in Hamilton County than were reached pre-pandemic,” he said. Aiello credits this growth to elected officials passing transit-positive policies, as well as community leaders and the business community advocating for positive policy changes.
Transportation isn’t just buses, carpooling or your commute on I-75. “Kentucky has a very strong commitment to recognizing that our Ohio recreational riverway has great value,” said Sen. Funke Frommeyer. “The biking and walking trails are meant for (recreation), but who says you wouldn’t use them to get to work? It’s not just for recreation.”
Noting our transportation system has room for improvement, Crume discussed how we might better meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities. “I would advocate that we need to get better tools, better technology, better resources (for TANK and Metro) to address the challenges they’re trying to address for these communities,” he said. Our transit system should be beneficial to all, not just some.
As our region grows, we need to ensure all our community members share in the benefits. When people can travel safely, efficiently and affordably, the positive impact extends to the entire community.
