Metro Celebrates 2nd Round Of Transit Infrastructure Grants, Opens Applications For Next Round Of Awards

Metro (Cincinnati, OH) played host to a recent signing ceremony celebrating the second round of Transit Infrastructure Fund (TIF) grants, which awarded $39.2 million to 36 road, bridge and other infrastructure improvement projects across 25 Hamilton County (OH) communities.

“The Transit Infrastructure Fund is a critical piece of the Reinventing Metro plan. This year’s recipient’s projects reflect pedestrian safety improvements, the addition of bike lanes, trails, and fiber optics, as well as bridge repairs — all of which ensure a future-focused, multi-modal community for all commuters in our region,” Metro CEO and General Manager Darryl Haley said. “These projects will become a reality, thanks in part to these funds and represent another step on our path to transform our region.”

In attendance at the ceremony were representatives from recipient cities, villages and townships throughout the county, and remarks were given by Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) Board Chair Kreg Keesee, SORTA Board Trustee and TIF Committee Chair Heidi Black, Metro Chief Strategic Planning, Development and Innovation Officer Khaled Shammout, and Haley.

“This innovative grant program represents how mutually beneficial investments in transportation and infrastructure can be for both current transit users and future riders alike,” Keesee said. “The Transit Infrastructure Fund demonstrates this agency’s commitment to building a truly integrated transportation system for our region.”

In last year’s inaugural round of grants, Metro awarded $227 million — including $207 million over the next 25 years for the Western Hills Viaduct replacement — to 30 projects across 22 Hamilton County communities. This second round’s applications outnumbered the year prior.

Metro is now accepting applications for 2024 TIF grant awards. The deadline for submitting applications will be 2 p.m. EST, Wednesday, May 31. Updated application and project guidelines can be found online at www.go-metro.com/transit-infrastructure-fund.

The TIF was established after Hamilton County voters replaced SORTA’s existing funding model, which relied primarily on the city’s earnings tax, with a new funding structure — a 0.8% county sales tax over the next 25 years. A quarter of that revenue (0.2%) is directed toward infrastructure improvements such as road, bridge and sidewalk upgrades that fall within Metro’s service area, and would benefit bus service as well as other road users.

Read more about the TIF, find application materials and see the 2021 grant recipients at www.go-metro.com/transit-infrastructure-fund.