New data show Ohio must increase transit funding 

Data recently released by the National Transit Administration show declining state support for Ohio’s public transportation system, despite increasing ridership levels. Policy Matters Ohio’s new factsheet highlights these changes with updates to data from our 2024 report, Ohio public transit needs more state funding to connect communities. 

The new data show that, although total transit funding in Ohio increased from 2022 to 2023, state funding fell from $47 million to $30.3 million. Compared to the national median per-capita transit spending of $6.29, the state of Ohio invested less than half: just $2.57 per person. 

“Ohio’s funding priorities don’t reflect Ohioans’ transportation needs,” said Policy Matters Ohio’s sustainability and climate researcher Molly Bryden. “Insufficient state funding puts pressure on Ohio’s transit agencies to generate funding from local sources, including local taxes. Among U.S. states, Ohio ranks in the bottom ten for the share of statewide transit funding from state investments, and the top ten for the local share of statewide transit funding.”  

“This year, Ohio lawmakers have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to increase state funding for public transportation in Ohio’s transportation budget,” Bryden said.