Ohio transit funding update
Download our new transit funding factsheet
It’s Ohio Loves Transit Week, when we recognize the critical role public transportation plays in connecting our communities year-round. Ridership levels are increasing, but National Transit Administration data* shows declining state support for Ohio’s public transportation system. Ohio lawmakers have an opportunity – and a responsibility – to increase state funding for public transportation in Ohio’s transportation budget.
Ohio’s funding priorities don’t reflect Ohioans’ transportation needs. Of the 11 states with lower vehicle ownership rates than Ohio’s, only Alaska provides less state funding as a share of statewide transit investments, and only two states – Alaska and Louisiana – provide less state funding per person in their transit systems.
- State funding made up 3.5% of statewide transit funding (34th in the U.S.)
- Ohio’s public transit investments totaled $4.41 per person (29th in the U.S.)
- 7.6% of Ohio households do not own a vehicle (12th in the U.S.)
Ohio still behind in transit funding
In 2024, total (all sources) transit funding in Ohio reached over $1.5B, up $213M from 2023, adjusting for inflation. Though Ohio improved in national rankings for state transit funding per capita and state funding as a share of total transit funding between 2023 and 2024, Ohio remains among the bottom half of states for state funding – as a share of statewide transit spending and funding per capita – and for reliance on local funding sources.
Insufficient state funding places undue pressure on Ohio’s transit agencies to generate funding from local sources, including local taxes, additional support from local governments, and service revenue. Despite recent improvements, Ohio lawmakers kept state funding flat in the budget for FYs26-27. When accounting for inflation, that’s a $2.2 million decrease in GRF allocations – the only source of state-generated transit funding.
Ohio transit funding remains stagnant
After a decline during the COVID pandemic, transit ridership has been on the rise in Ohio, suggesting increasing demand for reliable transit services. Ohio’s investments in public transportation have not kept pace with other funding sources over time, leaving transit agencies increasingly reliant on funding generated at the local level.
The data in this update are from the Federal Transit Administration’s 2024 National Transit Database to provide an update to our 2024 report, Ohio public transit needs more state funding to connect communities, published prior to the NTD data release. Read the full report to learn why public transportation is critical for our communities’ health and economic well-being, and why Ohio lawmakers should increase state funding for public transportation to meet all Ohioans’ transportation needs.