Transit Infrastructure Fund
Fiscal Year 2023 Grant Applications Are Closed.
Metro will reopen applications for FY 2024 Transit Infrastructure Fund (TIF) grant awards in Q1 of 2024. Please see below for application guidelines as well as information about the FY 2023 recipients.
Applicant Guidelines
Hamilton County and all municipalities and townships in Hamilton County are eligible to apply for grants. The Transit Infrastructure Fund Applicant Guidelines provide details on the grant program and the application process.
Click or tap to download the 2023 applicant guidelines.
Click or tap to download the 2023 application.
Click or tap here to download the 2023 application checklist.
Click or tap to download the Bus Stop Guidelines.
Fiscal Year 2023 Grants Awarded
The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) has awarded $27 million for 29 projects across Hamilton County municipalities in the third round of Transit Infrastructure Fund grants. SORTA accepted applications for this round between March 1 and May 31, 2023. In August, the SORTA Board of Trustees designated the recipients and sent them to the Hamilton County Integrating Committee for final review and approval. Funds will be dispersed in Q1 2024.Click or tap here to see a list of the 2023 applicant projects and how much funding they will receive. Please see below for updated application and project guidelines.
Fiscal Year 2022 Grants Awarded
The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) has awarded nearly $40 million for 36 projects across 26 Hamilton County municipalities in the second round of Transit Infrastructure Fund grants. SORTA accepted applications for this round between April 1 and June 30, 2022. In September, the SORTA Board of Trustees designated the recipients and sent them to the Hamilton County Integrating Committee for final review and approval. In November, the Integrating Committee gave final approval. Funds will be dispersed in Q1 2023.
Click or tap here to see a list of the 2022 applicant projects and how much funding they will receive. Please see below for updated application and project guidelines.
Background
In May 2020, the residents of Hamilton County voted to replace Cincinnati Metro's existing funding model, which relied primarily on the city's earnings tax, with a new funding structure. Effective January 2021, a 0.8-percent sales tax will fund SORTA for the next 25 years.
Seventy-five percent of the sales tax levy (or 0.6 percent) funds Metro’s bus service operations and capital costs. The remaining 25 percent (0.2 percent) goes toward infrastructure improvements — such as road, bridge and sidewalk improvements — that fall within Metro's service area and would benefit bus service.
Purpose
The Transit Infrastructure Fund (TIF) program was established to manage the portion of the sales tax levy (the 0.2 percent) allocated to roadway infrastructure.
The goal of the program is to:
- Assist localities within Hamilton County in improving the state of their roadway infrastructure
- Improve overall mobility for Hamilton County residents by providing grant funds to roads that are within Metro’s service area
Eligible Projects
Infrastructure projects eligible for consideration must be within ¾ mile of a Metro fixed transit route – excluding stretches on limited access highways, classified as Class 1, such as I-275, I-75, I-74 and I-71. 
Contact
Any questions regarding the Transit Infrastructure Fund may be directed to Khaled Shammout, Chief Strategic Planning, Development and Innovation Officer, at kshammout@go-metro.com or by phone at (513) 632-7671.
Project Approval
The Transit Infrastructure Fund program is being administered by SORTA staff. Transit Infrastructure Fund applications will be scored by an evaluation committee designated by SORTA. Final approval of selected projects will be granted by the OPWC District 2 Integrating Committee.
District 2 Integrating Committee
| Member | Representing |
| Eric Beck (Chairman) | Hamilton County |
| Thomas Hart | Hamilton County - At Large |
| William Weber | City of Cincinnati |
| Greg Long | City of Cincinnati |
| Sheryl Long | City of Cincinnati |
| Robert Bemmes | Hamilton Co. Municipal League |
| Lee Czerwonka | Hamilton Co. Municipal League |
| Denny Connor | Hamilton Co. Township Assoc. |
| Tony Rosiello | Hamilton Co. Township Assoc. |
District 2 Integrating Committee Alternates
| Member | Alternate For |
| Todd Long | Eric Beck |
| David Krings | Thomas Hart |
| John Brazina | Greg Long |
| Angela Wright | Sheryl Long |
| Karen Alder | William Weber |
| Craig Margolis | Robert Bemmes |
| Carson Sheldon | Lee Czerwonka |
| Dan Unger | Denny Connor |
| Josh Gerth | Tony Rosiello |
Fiscal Year 2021 TIF Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 22 Hamilton County communities that were awarded grants for 30 infrastructure improvement projects during the inaugural round of transit infrastructure funding! View the communities' applications in the table below.
FY 2021 TIF Applications
See the full list of 2021 recipient projects here.
See 2021 recipient projects' score table here.