Metro

A grassroots group of bus riders and advocates want to fix the underfunded bus system with an increase in the city's income tax.

A father of five sits in federal custody, facing deportation to the African nation of Mauritania. His family says slavery awaits him, and even the risk of death in his home country. Amadou Sow is one 70,000 Afro-Mauritanians exiled from their country after a war that started in 1989. And now he is one of seven Mauritanians in federal custody in Morrow County, Ohio.

Several SORTA members expressed disappointment the transit authority will not put a sales tax on the ballot this November. But they also agreed something has to be done to fix a looming deficit for Metro.

Ohio gubernatorial candidates Republican Mike DeWine and Democrat Richard Cordray win their party's primaries and prepare to face-off in the November general election. Ohio voters pass Issue 1, the proposal to end gerrymandering in the state, by a wide margin. Large donations to area churches from the foundation directed by Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor around the time of last November's election raise questions. And how a possible fare increase by Metro could leave many regular bus riders stranded at the curb.

FC Cincinnati's plan to build a new stadium in the West End on the current site of Taft High School's Stargel football stadium worries local residents. Metro finds $8 million as Cincinnati Council rejects Mayor Cranley's SORTA Board nominee. Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil says the county jail is at a "breaking point" and wants to re-open the jail in Queensgate to relieve overcrowding. And Kentucky lawmakers propose a plan to overhaul the state's public pension system.

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), which operates the Metro and Access bus systems, was able to put a 2018 budget in place. But SORTA officials are warning that without a new funding structure, future deficits could lead to more significant cuts to transit service as soon as next year.

Many people in greater Cincinnati rely on public transit to get to work every day. But a University of Cincinnati study finds 75,000 jobs in our region are not easily accessible by Metro bus service, which is facing a $31.3 million deficit next year. 

An adjustment to Metro’s weapons policy is causing some confusion among employees. The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) says it’s assigning staff members to look into the situation and see what needs to be done.

Cincinnati Council spent a lot of time Wednesday discussing a mayoral appointment to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) Board. Normally such appointments are handled with no discussion.

Mayor Cranley's selection of Heidi Black was eventually confirmed by a 7-2 vote. 

Metro says the vision behind its new strategic plan is "20 million rides by 2021." The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority adopted the five-year plan Tuesday.