Monroe City Manager Bill Brock said workforce transit solutions continue to be a focus of ongoing discussions with many local employers, and this partnership with Middletown and BCRTA has been in the works for about two years.
The I-75 Job Shuttle Program is designed to provide targeted service within select employment areas, and the anticipated schedule would cover all three shifts during the week and limited Saturday operations at the request of local businesses.
Brock said the proposed job shuttle would stop at the Park North Industrial Park, which is where Home Depot and Amazon have distribution facilities.
Brock said the proposed service would complement the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority in South Dayton and the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority/Metro’s 42X service into West Chester Twp. at the Park and Ride area at the Meijer store on Tylersville Road.
He said the job shuttle will not be stopping at Cincinnati Premium Outlets or at Liberty Center because there was no interest in having stops there.
“The proposed contract leverages substantial federal and private sector funding for the term of the agreement, and it contains provisions to cancel the contract in the event that funding fails to come through,” according to background provided to council from Brock.
Brock said the total annual shuttle cost is approximately $260,000 with nearly 80 percent of the route being provided by grant funding and the private sector. While it was not reflected in the operating capital, Park North has agreed to virtually match the city’s annual contribution by paying for two bus shelters with an estimated cost of $20,000 in 2019, Brock said.
He said the proposed contract has a three-year term which is based on the recommendation of various transit agencies that acknowledge it may take time to build the ridership as companies adjust their recruitment strategies and employees learn the route.
Brock said the city anticipates starting the route as soon as possible and no later than September. There is also a partial year referenced in the contract at a prorated amount in addition to the three full years of operations. At some point after job shuttle begins operations, Brock said the schedule and stops would be evaluated for possible adjustment.
Middletown officials said they have not yet determined where stops will be located.
“We have the rough times that the shuttle will run but are meeting with area employers on the actual stops,” said City Manager Doug Adkins. “My understanding is that those talks are ongoing.”
Rick Pearce, president/CEO of The Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, said the proposed job shuttle solves another transportation obstacle as well as reaching other demographics.
“This would be a great way to bring workers in,” he said. “Hopefully it will be an overwhelming success.”
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