BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Tristate's two largestpublic transit agencies are discussing plans to jointly operate a future regional mass transportation system.
Officials for the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) and Southwestern Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) say they want to operate the yet-to-be-decided transit system.
That most likely will be light rail, which would improve traffic flow between the Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky International Airport and Paramount's Kings Island.
"I think if one were built, it would be a great asset for the community and the region as a whole," TANK General Manager Mark Donaghy said. TANK and SORTA would remain separate entities, Mr. Donaghy said. They propose to operate the future transportation system, but what type of system remains undetermined.
The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments' (OKI) I-71 Corridor committee has selected light rail as the preferred alternative for the 33-mile strip between the Boone County airport and Warren County amusement park. Early estimates are at least $1.1 billion.
Both agencies also are exploring additional ways to enhance regional transportation, including radio communications, fares, transfer policies and customer information.
Paul Jablonski, general manager of SORTA, which operates the Metro bus system, said similar regional systems have been set up. "No funding option has been decided on," Mr. Jablonski said, adding that no estimates are available on how much each agency would have to contribute to operate the system.
In Ohio, money likely would come from a ballot initiative, Mr. Jablonski said.
Because TANK is financed by the fiscal courts in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, money to operate a system likely would come from the fiscal courts.
If OKI's efforts are successful, light-rail construction could begin around 2005, with the first segment opening around 2008, said Kenton County Commissioner Bernie Moorman, head of the OKI committee.
Consultants project at least 30,000 people a day would use light rail, Mr. Moorman said.
Consultants are being picked to help with the second phase of the study, examining the preliminary engineering, environmental aspect, route and economic impact of light rail.
