MARKET ANALYSIS: COLUMBUS REGION - Ohio - · PDF fileMarket Analysis DRAFT Ohio Department of Transportation . DELAWARE COUNTY . Overview ─ Delaware County is located in central

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Ohio Department of Transportation

MARKET ANALYSIS: COLUMBUS REGION Overview The Ohio Statewide Transit Needs Study included a market analysis to understand the existing conditions in Ohio related to the demand for and availability of transit service. The study is designed to understand where there are needs for transit service and how well needs are matched with existing service.

The market analysis was conducted at a county level as well as from a statewide perspective, with an analysis prepared for each of Ohio’s 88 counties. Results from the statewide market analysis are published as a separate document. Results for each of the individual counties are grouped into five regional summary documents. This document includes the individual county write-ups for the 11 counties in central Ohio surrounding Columbus. It includes data on the counties' historical trends related to population and employment density as well as local socio-economic characteristics. The analysis also briefly describes available transit service.

Methodology The market analysis describes existing conditions, including changes observed between 2000 and 2012. The analysis considers transit demand from the perspective of 1) development patterns; and 2) demographic characteristics that tend to be associated with higher use or reliance on publictransportation services. For purposes of this study, transit demand related to development patterns is based on population and employment density. Demographic characteristics related to transit reliance are measured based on the combined number of low-income individuals, persons with disabilities, older adults (65+), and zero vehicle households. Data is reported for three years: 2000, 2007, and 2012, reflecting the 2000 U.S Census and the 2007 and 2012 American Community Survey datasets. The maps are all based on 2012 data.

Data on the available transit services was drawn from several sources, including the Status of Transit database published by ODOT. It also includes information collected by the Nelson\Nygaard team as part of their site visits and interviews with each of Ohio’s 62 transit agencies. In addition, some data was collected through web-searches and follow up telephone interviews with transit administrators.

Columbus Region Counties Click on any one of the following counties to get to the individual market analysis:

Delaware County

Fairfield County

Franklin County

Knox County

Licking County

Logan County

Madison County

Marion County

Morrow County

Pickaway County

Union County

Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Inc. | 1

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Market Analysis DRAFT


DELAWARE COUNTY

Overview

─ Delaware County is located in central Ohio.

─ Delaware is the largest city in the county and is the county seat; Delaware is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, which is located about 25 miles south of Delaware.

Factors Influencing Transit Reliance and Demand

Employment, Demographics and Socio-Economic Characteristics

─ Delaware County's population has increased by nearly 69,000 people since 2000, or 62%, making it the fastest growing county in Ohio.

─ The number of youth in Delaware County has increased by nearly 16,000, and youth now represent a greater percentage of the population, a full 1% increase.

─ The number of older adults aged 65+ also increased by approximately 9,000 over the past 12 years and now represents a greater percentage of the population. Unlike many counties in Ohio, only 10% of the county’s total population is in this age category.

─ Low-income individuals increased from 7% in 2000 to 9.3% in 2012. The county is much better off than the average Ohio county, with 9.3% low-income individuals versus the average of 24.8%. The number of zero-car households increased, but the percentage of the population without a car dropped slightly.

Figure 1 Selected County Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics: Historical Trends

Characteristic 2000 2007* 2012* Change 2000-2012

Total Population 109,989 155,231 178,314 68,325

Youths (5-17) 22,379 (20.3%) 30,552 (19.7%) 38,289 (21.5%) 15,910 (1.1)

Older Adults (65+) 9,011 (8.2%) 12,551 (8.1%) 17,999 (10.1%) 8,988 (1.9)

Persons with Disabilities^ 12,167 (12.2%) 12,631 (8.9%) 12,544 (7.1%) -

Low-Income Individuals† 7,463 (7.0%) 12,109 (8.0%) 16,203 (9.3%) 8,740 (2.3)

Zero-Vehicle Households‡ 1,153 (2.9%) 1,482 (2.6%) 1,620 (2.5%) 467 (0.4) Sources: 2000 Census, SF1 100% data & SF3 sample data; 2007 ACS 3-year estimates; 2012 ACS 3-year estimates *2007 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2000 Census 100% data whereas 2012 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2010 Census 100% data. The Census asks users to use caution when making comparisons across a decennial census year and warns that the estimates may not be strictly comparable. ^The disability questions asked on the 2000 Census and ACS forms through 2007 were substantially different from the questions asked on the 2008 ACS form and later (including the 2010 Census). Therefore, one cannot say with certainty what changes occurred to the prevalence of disabilities between 2000 and 2012. †Defined as all family members if the family income is less than 1.5 times the poverty threshold set by the federal government. ‡Note that the data reported here are households and the percentage = (zero-vehicle households)/(total households in the county).




─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 7% of the current population in Delaware County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Delaware County had 82,745 jobs within the county. In that same year, 63,500 residents of Delaware County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 75.2% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, Delaware County exhibits moderate transit reliance in Delaware, Ashley, and the southeast corner of the county (see Figure 2).

─ The remainder of the county shows moderate-low to very low transit reliance.

─ Marysville, located west of Delaware County, indicates high to very high transit reliance. Marengo, to the north of the county, and a few select areas to the south of the county approaching Columbus, also reveal moderate to high reliance on transit.

Transit Supportive Development Patterns

─ Delaware County has higher density areas near the city of Delaware and among the suburban Columbus communities along the southern border of the county. The northwest and eastern halves of the county are primarily lower density. Of the 178,300 people in the county, 80.7% live in higher density areas and 19.3% are in lower density areas (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Delaware and the southern border of the county have population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ The transit-supportive areas indicate a demand for a mix of fixed route service (red on Figure 3) and deviated fixed route service (orange on Figure 3). Delaware primarily shows densities that support deviated fixed route service.

─ Marysville in Union County and most of the areas immediately south of the county line towards Columbus exhibit transit supportive densities.

Existing Transit Services

─ Deviated fixed-route transit service is available through the Delaware Area Transit Agency (DATA) in and around the city of Delaware.

─ DATA offers county-wide demand response service that is available to everyone and will travel 15 miles into adjacent counties for additional costs per mile.

─ DATA operating characteristics:

Four routes Monday – Friday, 6:30 AM – 6:20 PM

One route Monday – Friday, 5:30 AM – 6:44 PM, which provides express service to Crosswoods Park-n-Ride for connections to COTA service

Demand response service is provided Monday – Friday, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Most routes operate at a 60-minute minute frequency; only one route provides frequencies greater than 60 minutes




ADA paratransit service provided within ¾-mile and during the same operating times of their fixed-routes

─ 2012 Transit Riders per Capita1: 0.39

─ 2012 Operating Expenditure per Capita1: $7.56

Opportunities, Challenges, and Needs

─ The shift from non-urbanized to urbanized status caused service cuts and an increase in fares on demand response service to fully cover operating costs, depressing ridership outside the city of Delaware.

─ Extended operating hours would help residents with access to jobs, but funding is unavailable to expand service.

─ Lack of a dedicated local funding source hampers service provision and availability of local match for vehicle and other capital purchases.

─ Lack of awareness of the general public nature of DATA service is exacerbated by the use of cutaway-type vehicles, which are perceived as for persons with special needs only.

─ There are opportunities to partner with COTA given Delaware County’s proximity to Columbus; a permanent park-and-ride location is one possibility.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Delaware County (178,314).




Figure 2 Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics Affecting Reliance on Transit Service

Source: 2008 - 2012 5-year ACS Estimates; TIGER/Line Files; ESRI; ODOT




Figure 3 Development Patterns (Population and Employment Density) Influencing Transit Service Design

Source: 2011 LEHD; 2010 Census SF1 100% data; TIGER/Line Files; ESRI; ODOT Note: The "defined transit service area" indicates the official boundaries of the agency service area and does not necessarily indicate the coverage of the current routes in operation.







FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Overview

─ Fairfield County is located in south central Ohio.

─ Lancaster is the largest city and county seat; the county is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, located 35 miles west of Lancaster.



─ Fairfield County's population has increased sharply, by more than 24,300 or 20%, from 2000 to 2012.

─ The numbers of youth jumped by more than 4,300, but as an overall share of the population this demographic fell slightly (less than .5%).

─ The number of older adults aged 65+ increased by an amount similar to the youth increase, but older adults as a share of population increased by 1.5%.

─ Fairfield County’s percentage of low-income individuals increased the most of the characteristics shown in Figure 1 – by 7% – but the county is still much better off than the average Ohio county, with 18.6% of its population falling into the low-income category versus 24.8% on average.




Youths (5-17) 24,285 (19.8%) 26,286 (18.8%) 28,642 (19.5%) 4,357 (0.3)

Older Adults (65+) 13,672 (11.1%) 15,451 (11.1%) 18,641 (12.7%) 4,969 (1.5)







─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 12% of the current population in Fairfield County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Fairfield County had 38,860 jobs within the county. In that same year, 46,070 residents of Fairfield County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 73.1% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the area most reliant on transit within Fairfield County is the area around Lancaster, which shows high reliance (see Figure 2).

─ Pickerington, bordering Franklin County, also shows moderate-high transit reliance.

─ Outside the county, the Columbus region in Franklin County shows high transit reliance.


─ Fairfield County has higher density areas around the city of Lancaster, as well as in the northwest corner of the county around the suburbs of Columbus. The southwest and eastern halves of the county are primarily lower density areas. Of the 147,100 people in the county, 65.3% live in higher density areas and 34.7% are in lower density areas (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Lancaster and Pickerington are the only areas with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ Lancaster’s development patterns show a mix of areas that support both deviated fixed route service (orange on Figure 3) as well as standard fixed route services (red on Figure 3). Pickerington shows more support for deviated fixed-route service.

─ Similar to the results above, areas with transit supportive densities outside of the county are the Columbus metro region in Franklin County.


─ Deviated fixed-route transit service is available through the Lancaster Public Transit System (LPTS) in Lancaster.

─ LPTS offers county-wide demand response service that is available to everyone and will travel into adjacent counties, schedule permitting, at additional costs per mile.

─ LPTS operating characteristics:

One deviated fixed-route, Route 1 – Memorial Express, Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:15 PM

Demand response service Monday – Friday, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and Saturday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Memorial Express deviated fixed route operates at a 75-minute minute frequency




The Memorial Express requires 24 hour advanced notice for any pickups within ¾-mile of the route, with a limit of one deviation per hour

─ Local funding is provided through the City of Lancaster, Meals on Wheels Older Adult Alternatives, Fairfield County Commissioners, City of Pickerington, Violet Township, Fairfield County Veteran’s Service Commission, Pickerington Senior Center, and the Fairfield County Board of DD.




─ In the past 5 years, LPTS has gone from providing service exclusively for elderly and disabled riders to providing service that is 50% elderly and disabled and 50% general public.

─ The major challenge for LPTS is financial – gathering enough operating funds to meet demand, fund capital replacement needs, and cover maintenance needs.

─ Vehicles have been problematic for LPTS, given the rapid system growth. In 2009, the system had 6 buses; they now have 21.

─ LPTS would like to partner with local colleges but so far has not been able to do so.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Fairfield County (147,071).

















FRANKLIN COUNTY

Overview

─ Franklin County is located in central Ohio.

─ Columbus is the state capital and largest city in Ohio; the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area is the third largest in the state.

─ The closest neighboring metropolitan area is Dayton in Montgomery County, which is located about 65 miles west of Columbus



─ Franklin County's population has increased by almost 112,000 people since 2000, an increase of over 10%.

─ The number of youth in Franklin County has increased by more than 6,000, but represents a smaller percentage of the population than in 2000 at 16.7%.

─ The number of older adults aged 65+ increased by about 15,000 over the past 12 years. However, the percentage of the population in this age category remained steady at around 10%.

─ Low-income individuals increased by 8%, the most of any characteristics shown in Figure 1. Overall, the county is slightly less well-off than the average Ohio county, with 27% low-income individuals versus 24.8% on average. Zero-car households rose by close to 3,000, but the percentage remained steady at 8.6%.



Total Population 1,068,978 1,109,535 1,180,276 111,298

Youths (5-17) 190,958 (17.9%) 197,759 (17.8%) 197,067 (16.7%) 6,109 (1.2)

Older Adults (65+) 104,306 (9.8%) 107,272 (9.7%) 119,415 (10.1%) 15,109 (0.4)



Zero-Vehicle Households‡ 37,656 (8.6%) 35,613 (7.9%) 40,414 (8.6%) 2,758 (0.1) Sources: 2000 Census, SF1 100% data & SF3 sample data; 2007 ACS 3-year estimates; 2012 ACS 3-year estimates *2007 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2000 Census 100% data whereas 2012 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2010 Census 100% data. The Census asks users to use caution when making comparisons across a decennial census year and warns that the estimates may not be strictly comparable. ^The disability questions asked on the 2000 Census and ACS forms through 2007 were substantially different from the questions asked on the 2008 ACS form and later (including the 2010 Census). Therefore, one cannot say with certainty what changes occurred to the prevalence of disabilities between 2000 and 2012. †Defined as all family members if the family income is less than 1.5 times the poverty threshold set by the federal government. ‡Note that the data reported here are households and the percentage = (zero-vehicle households)/(total households in the county).




─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 11% of the current population in Franklin County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Franklin County had 670,375 jobs within the county. In that same year, 128,426 Franklin County residents were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 24.1% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the areas most reliant on transit within Franklin County are Columbus and East Columbus around Reynoldsburg (see Figure 2).

─ The southern half of the county mostly consists of areas with moderate to high transit reliance. In the north, areas around Dublin, Upper Arlington, New Albany, and west of Hilliard have low to very low transit reliance.

─ Pockets of moderate to high transit reliance exist close to Franklin County, including Pataskala and south of Pickerington.


─ Franklin County has areas of significant higher density throughout most of the county, especially in and around the city of Columbus. The southwest of the county is primarily lower density. Of the 1,180,300 people in the county, 98.6% live in higher density areas and 1.4% are in lower density areas (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Franklin County primarily consists of areas with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ Density is generally very high around the core of Columbus and north along High Street at The Ohio State University. Beyond this, pockets of very high density are scattered around the entire metro area, filled in with areas of somewhat lower density. Overall demand calls for a mix of standard fixed-route (red on Figure 3) services and deviated-fixed-route (orange on Figure 3) service.

─ Primary areas with transit supportive densities outside of the county are along the county’s northern boundary, around Powell and Lewis Center.


─ Fixed-route transit service is available through the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) throughout Franklin County and parts of Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, and Union Counties.

─ COTA express buses are eligible to operate within the Bus on Shoulder program on portions of I-70.

─ COTA offers Mainstream, a system-wide paratransit service that is available to ADA eligible riders and will travel beyond ¾ of a mile from fixed route service for an additional cost.

─ COTA operating characteristics:




Seventy-nine routes, thirty-two of which are local routes, thirty-six are peak hour express routes, and eleven are cross-town routes

Service provided Monday – Friday, 5:00 AM – 1:00 AM, Saturday, 5:00 AM – 12:00 AM, and Sunday, 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Supplemental late night service routes are provided Thursday – Saturday, 7:00 PM – 2:45 AM

About half of the routes operate at a 60-minute minute frequency; forty-three routes operate at a higher frequency during peak hours; and thirty-five during the lunch hour

Will Call rides for paratransit are available Monday-Friday, 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM

─ Local funding is provided through a property tax levy. The property tax raises approximately $100k annually.




─ Though not quite as drastic as in other Ohio counties, Franklin County experienced increases in the number of older adults and low-income individuals, and decreases in the number of youths in the past 12 years. This indicates a growing reliance on transit to meet mobility needs.

─ Relatively high densities throughout most of Franklin County provide, in part, the justification for COTA’s density of fixed route coverage. COTA has added service such as bus rapid transit and downtown circulator service in Columbus. However, COTA has struggled to provide added service throughout the rest its service area due to increased suburbanization of both residences and jobs.

─ COTA’s recent tax increase has positioned the agency to expand service and modernize its fleet. COTA is in the preliminary engineering phase of developing a BRT line along the Cleveland Avenue corridor.

─ The existing service network provides a framework to facilitate access to jobs, including crosstown travel.

─ COTA is currently evaluating its entire service structure to find ways of broadening the appeal and utilization of its services.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Franklin County (1,180,276).

















KNOX COUNTY

Overview

─ Knox County is located in central Ohio.

─ Mount Vernon is the largest city in the county, as well as the county seat, and lies within the Mount Vernon Micropolitan Statistical Area.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, which is located about 50 miles southwest of Mount Vernon



─ Knox County's population has increased by nearly 6,500 people since 2000, an increase of about 12%.

─ The number of youth in Knox County increased by about 750 but represents a slight decline in percentage of the population overall.

─ The number of older adults aged 65+ increased over the past 12 years, and the percentage of the population in this age category has increased by more than 1%.

─ A greater percentage of people have low incomes today than in 2000, and fewer people own cars. Overall, a larger percentage of the county is low-income today, and Knox County’s population in this segment is roughly equal to an average county in Ohio (24.8%).




Youths (5-17) 10,124 (18.6%) 9,762 (16.7%) 10,878 (17.8%) 754 (0.7)

Older Adults (65+) 7,515 (13.8%) 8,313 (14.2%) 9,191 (15.1%) 1,676 (1.3)







─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 14% of the current population in Knox County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Knox County had 18,379 jobs within the county. In that same year, 13,506 residents of Knox County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 55.4% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the area most reliant on transit within Knox County is Mount Vernon (see Figure 2), which exhibits moderate reliance.

─ Others areas showing a moderate transit reliance include the southeast corners of the county near Martinsburg, areas extending north and west of Mount Vernon, and the northwest corner of the county on the outskirts of Fredericktown.

─ Areas northwest of Knox County along the US 71 corridor in Morrow County also show a moderate level of transit reliance.


─ Knox County has two primary high density areas, Mt. Vernon and Fredericktown, and small medium densities around the communities of Gambier, Centerburg, and Danville. The rest of the county is low density. Of the roughly 61,000 people in the county, 44.3% live in areas of higher density and 55.7% are in areas of lower density (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Mount Vernon and pockets of Fredericktown and Gambier are the only areas with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ In all three of these areas, as well as in Centerburg, demand suggests that deviated fixed route service (orange on Figure 3) may be more appropriate than standard fixed route services (red on Figure 3). Mount Vernon, in particular, shows a variable mix of transit types. Still, the small geographic area and dispersal of these locations presents challenges for fixed route transit service to run efficiently.

─ Areas with some transit supportive densities outside of the county are north in Loudonville and southwest of the county line in Sunbury.


─ Deviated fixed-route transit service is available through the Knox Area Transit (KAT) in Mt. Vernon.

─ KAT offers countywide demand response service that is open to the public.

─ KAT operating characteristics:

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Saturday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Service deviates up to ¾ mile past the designed route

Operates at a 30-minute frequency




Demand response service Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Passengers are allowed up to two quick stops along the route for additional costs

─ Local funding is provided through a property tax levy that raises approximately $100k annually.




─ The population of Knox County is growing, with increases in industrial and retail development and expanding enrollment in the area’s three local colleges (Central Ohio Technical College, Kenyon College, and Mount Vernon Nazarene University).

─ KAT is transitioning to become an entity of the Knox County Job and Family Services Department. This transition will eliminate the need for in-house administrative functions and provide better access to county resources.

─ KAT manually schedules and dispatches trips using pen and paper. There is interest in acquiring automated scheduling software, and KAT is currently in discussions with Delaware County to use their scheduling software.

─ The need for out of county dialysis transportation continues to increase as there is only one dialysis treatment center in Knox County.

─ There is a need for reliable transportation to and from the Mount Vernon Industrial Park.

─ KAT is developing partnerships with the local colleges (Central Ohio Technical College, Kenyon College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University) to coordinate campus transportation.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Knox County (60,992).

















LICKING COUNTY

Overview

─ Licking County is located in central Ohio.

─ Newark is the largest city in the county and is the county seat; Newark is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, which is located about 30 miles west of Newark, or less than 15 miles from the county’s western boundary.



─ Licking County's population has increased by nearly 22,000 people since 2000. This represents a nearly 15% change.

─ The number of youth in Licking County has increased by about 2,700, but the percentage of youth dropped by almost a full percentage point.

─ The percentage of older adults aged 65+ also increased by close to a two full percentage points over the past 12 years, making up nearly 14% of the total population.

─ A greater percentage of people have low-incomes today than in 2000. Just over 20% of the population falls into the low-income category compared to the average of 24.8%. Zero-vehicle households increased since 2000 but the percentage slightly decreased.




Youths (5-17) 27,860 (19.1%) 27,973 (18.0%) 30,531 (18.3%) 2,671 (0.9)

Older Adults (65+) 17,298 (11.9%) 19,267 (12.4%) 22,880 (13.7%) 5,582 (1.8)







─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 13% of the current population in Licking County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Licking County had 52,330 jobs within the county. In that same year, 45,805 residents of Licking County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 63.0% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the area most reliant on transit within Licking County is Newark (see Figure 2).

─ Others areas showing a moderate to high transit reliance within the county are Heath and Pataskala.

─ Areas surrounding the county’s southwestern border leading to Columbus reveal high to very high transit reliance.


─ Licking County shows higher density areas near the cities of Newark and Heath and village of Johnstown. The eastern and northern halves of the county are primarily lower density. Of the 167,200 people in the county, 64.5% live in higher density areas and 35.5% are in lower density areas (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Newark, Johnstown, and the southwestern corner of the county are the only areas with notable population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ Transit-supportive areas in the Licking County indicate a greater demand for deviated fixed route service (orange on Figure 3) than standard fixed route service (red on Figure 3). Newark, however, suggests a variable mix of services.

─ Similar to the results above, areas with transit supportive densities are primarily focused around the west of Licking County throughout east Columbus.


─ Demand response transit service is available countywide through Licking County Transit Services (LCT).

─ LCT operating characteristics:

Monday – Friday, 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Saturday, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and Sunday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Advanced reservations are encouraged

Same-day service is based on availability and provided at a higher cost

─ Local funding is provided by the Licking County Commissioners, Licking County Board of Development Disabilities, Licking County Job and Family Services, United Way, and Licking County Senior Citizens Levy.







─ The 2013 absorption of the city of Newark’s transit system (Earthworks) has presented challenges in terms of service coordination, vehicle utilization and maintenance, and rider/stakeholder expectations.

─ LCT’s rolling stock useful life is problematic due to prior maintenance issues at Earthworks that have rendered part of the fleet non-functional, leading to capacity issues in 2014.

─ There is minimal financial support from Licking County and the City of Newark for LCT, making it difficult to meet demands. There is no dedicated local source of funding for transit.

─ Beyond the Newark/Heath area, Licking County is primarily rural, although there is increasingly yet scattered residential development in the western portion of the county, near Franklin County.

─ LCT interfaces with COTA, but there appears to be an increasing demand for inter-county travel within the Columbus metropolitan area.

─ Downtown Newark is a relatively economically strong county and system hub.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Licking County (167,159).

















LOGAN COUNTY

Overview

─ Logan County is located in west central Ohio.

─ Bellefontaine is the largest city in the county and is the county seat; the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical area includes all of Logan County.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, OH, which is located about 55 miles east of Bellefontaine.



─ Logan County's population has decreased by less than 1% since 2000.

─ The number of youth in Logan County has also decreased, and youth now represent a smaller share of the population by nearly 1%.

─ The number of older adults aged 65+ increased over the past 12 years, and this segment of the population now makes up over 15% of the population in Logan County.

─ A greater percentage of people have low-incomes today than in 2000, and fewer people own cars. An increase from 15.4% to 28.4% of individuals with low-incomes is a sharp increase, and the county is somewhat less well-off than an average county in Ohio today (24.8%).



Total Population 46,005 46,237 45,636 369

Youths (5-17) 9,107 (19.8%) 8,640 (18.7%) 8,652 (19.0%) 455 (0.8)

Older Adults (65+) 6,395 (13.9%) 6,474 (14.0%) 6,999 (15.3%) 604 (1.4)



Zero-Vehicle Households‡ 997 (5.6%) 1,056 (5.6%) 1,361 (7.4%) 364 (1.9) Sources: 2000 Census, SF1 100% data & SF3 sample data; 2007 ACS 3-year estimates; 2012 ACS 3-year estimates *2007 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2000 Census 100% data whereas 2012 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2010 Census 100% data. The Census asks users to use caution when making comparisons across a decennial census year and warns that the estimates may not be strictly comparable. ^The disability questions asked on the 2000 Census and ACS forms through 2007 were substantially different from the questions asked on the 2008 ACS form and later (including the 2010 Census). Therefore, one cannot say with certainty what changes occurred to the prevalence of disabilities between 2000 and 2012. †Defined as all family members if the family income is less than 1.5 times the poverty threshold set by the federal government. ‡Note that the data reported here are households and the percentage = (zero-vehicle households)/(total households in the county).




─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 14% of the current population in Logan County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Logan County had 17,506 jobs within the county. In that same year, 13,505 residents of Logan County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 61.6% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the areas most reliant on transit within Logan County are Lakeview and the areas to the south and east of Bellefontaine (see Figure 2).

─ The entire area along the western border of Logan County, along with the southeast corner of the county, shows moderate transit reliance. Most other areas indicate low to very low transit reliance.

─ An area to the northeast of Logan County in Hardin County shows moderate transit reliance, but no other areas immediately surrounding the county have high transit reliance.


─ Logan County is primarily a low-density county with a single higher density area concentrated around Bellefontaine located at the center of the county. Of the roughly 45,600 people in the county, 43.1% live in areas of higher density and 56.9% are in areas of lower density (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Bellefontaine and a handful of other small, dispersed communities within Logan County are the only areas with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ Most of the areas that indicate a demand for transit service suggest that deviated fixed route service (orange on Figure 3) may be more appropriate than standard fixed route services (red on Figure 3).

─ Similar to the results above, there are a few areas immediately surrounding Logan County with transit supportive densities. The Honda of America manufacturing plant in Union County to the east, which has high employment density, is the primary exception to this finding.


─ Transportation for Logan County (TLC), a service offered through the Tri-County Community Action Commission, offers demand response service throughout Logan County. Out-of-county service within a 100-mile radius of Bellefontaine is also provided on a limited basis. The service is open to the general public.

─ TLC operating characteristics:

Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Broken down into zones to determine the trip fares




─ Local funding is provided through contracts with agencies. No city or county money is received.




─ Tri-County Community Action Commission is a non-profit that serves those in poverty in Champaign, Logan, and Shelby County, though each county operates independently. Tri-County offers various programs for the needy, such as meals and nutrition. Everyone at the organization does a little of everything, not just transportation, which adds a layer of complexity to tasks.

─ Due to their funding structure, TLC tries hard to reach their required 50/50 split of general public to contracted transportation. TLC can handle more general public riders, but they have reached their limit recently and have had to leave people behind. Often times these people end up finding other rides and do not come back.

─ TLC's biggest challenges are funding and the 50/50 requirement. They have recently increased fares because of funding shortfalls.

─ Vehicle maintenance, finding a qualified mechanic, and finding and paying drivers can be difficult, as well.

─ TLC staff sees opportunities to use better technology to improve their service, but there is limited funding to make these purchases and implement the technology.

─ Coordination is something that the organization would like to do.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Logan County (45,636).

















MADISON COUNTY

Overview

─ Madison County is located in central Ohio.

─ London is the largest city and the county seat.

─ The county is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, located 20 miles east of London.



─ Madison County's population has increased by nearly 3,000 people, or 7.4%.

─ The number of youth declined slightly since 2000, but youth increased over the shorter range of 2007-2012.

─ The percentage of the population who are older adults aged 65+ increased nearly 2%. Older adults now make up nearly 13% of the population.

─ A greater percentage of people have low-incomes today than in 2000, and fewer households own cars. Overall, the county is more affluent than the average Ohio county.




Youths (5-17) 7,416 (18.4%) 7,010 (17.0%) 7,236 (16.8%) 180 (1.7)

Older Adults (65+) 4,383 (10.9%) 4,790 (11.6%) 5,547 (12.8%) 1,164 (1.9)



Zero-Vehicle Households‡ 854 (6.2%) 597 (4.1%) 872 (5.9%) 18 (0.3) Sources: 2000 Census, SF1 100% data & SF3 sample data; 2007 ACS 3-year estimates; 2012 ACS 3-year estimates *2007 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2000 Census 100% data whereas 2012 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2010 Census 100% data. The Census asks users to use caution when making comparisons across a decennial census year and warns that the estimates may not be strictly comparable. ^The disability questions asked on the 2000 Census and ACS forms through 2007 were substantially different from the questions asked on the 2008 ACS form and later (including the 2010 Census). Therefore, one cannot say with certainty what changes occurred to the prevalence of disabilities between 2000 and 2012. †Defined as all family members if the family income is less than 1.5 times the poverty threshold set by the federal government. ‡Note that the data reported here are households and the percentage = (zero-vehicle households)/(total households in the county).




─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 12% of the current population in Madison County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Madison County had 11,706 jobs within the county. In that same year, 13,162 residents of Madison County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 76.7% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the area most reliant on transit within Madison County is London, which shows high reliance (see Figure 2).

─ Others areas showing a moderate transit reliance include central eastern Madison County.

─ Outside Madison County, Marysville, the Columbus region, and Jeffersonville show moderate transit reliance.


─ Madison County is primarily a lower density county with a small pocket of higher density around the city of London. Of the roughly 43,200 people in the county, 51.5% live in areas of higher density and 48.5% are in areas of lower density (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ London and West Jefferson are the only areas with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ These communities’ densities suggest that deviated-fixed-route (orange on Figure 3) service may be more appropriate than standard fixed-route (red on Figure 3) services.

─ Similar to the results above, areas with transit supportive densities outside of the county are in Dublin, Hilliard, and Columbus to the east.


─ Transit service is not provided in Madison County.

─ 2012 Transit Riders per Capita1: NA

─ 2012 Operating Expenditure per Capita1: NA


─ Madison County is a growing community with moderate to high income levels, fewer youths, and older adults than other Ohio counties, and likely fewer persons with disabilities.

─ The county is an even mix of higher and lower-density areas. Only London and West Jefferson have the densities to support transit.

─ More than 75% of county residents’ jobs take them to other counties. Thus, residents likely rely on areas like Columbus for goods and services as well.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Madison County (43,184).




─ These findings suggest a relatively low need for transit services except around London. An effective transit service would also most likely need to take county residents on long-distance trips to neighboring communities to the east.

















MARION COUNTY

Overview

─ Marion County is located in north central Ohio, north of Columbus.

─ Marion is the largest city in the county and the Marion Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Marion County.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, located 60 miles south of Marion.



─ Marion County's population has remained stable, increasing by less than 200 people since 2000.

─ The number of youth in Marion County has decreased by nearly 2,000, and youths now represent a smaller percentage of the population, a drop of 3%.

─ The number of older adults aged 65+ has increased by 705 people, an increase of 1% since 2000. Approximately 14% of the population fits within this age category.

─ Low-income individuals rose sharply, from 18% to 30%, over the past 12 years. The 12.1% increase in this demographic category is several points higher than the state increase of 7.3%.



Total Population 66,217 65,501 66,411 194

Youths (5-17) 12,192 (18.4%) 11,192 (17.1%) 10,227 (15.4%) 1,965 (3.0)

Older Adults (65+) 8,857 (13.4%) 8,999 (13.7%) 9,562 (14.4%) 705 (1.0)







─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 17% of the current population in Marion County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Marion County had 24,471 jobs within the county. In that same year, 13,028 residents of Marion County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 51.9% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the area most reliant on transit within Marion County is just south of Marion, which shows high transit reliance (see Figure 2).

─ Other areas showing moderate to moderate-low transit reliance include areas around Marion and the northwestern corner of Marion County.

─ Areas outside of Marion County showing high transit reliance include Mount Gilead to the east in Morrow County.


─ Marion County shows high density in the middle of the county around the City of Marion. The remainder of the county has low density. Of the roughly 66,400 people in the county, 69.7% live in areas of higher density and 30.3% are in areas of lower density (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Marion is the only area with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ Much of the Marion service area indicates support for deviated fixed-route service (orange on Figure 3) rather than fixed route service (red on Figure 3). One area just west of Marion shows support for transit but is not covered by the current service.

─ Outside of the county, Mount Gilead and Galion show a demand for fixed-route or deviated fixed-route service.


─ Marion Area Transit (MAT) offers demand response service within the City of Marion. MAT will also travel outside of the city boundary for higher fares. The service is open to the general public.

─ MAT operating characteristics:

Monday – Friday, 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM

─ Local funding is provided through contracts and grants. The City of Marion contributes 15% matching funds.



1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Marion County (66,411).





─ Ridership appears to be growing, though that may be due to inaccuracies in older rider counts.

─ Customers on the system today are mostly either low-income individuals or individuals with disabilities.

─ The disability community and advocates are supporters and would like to see weekend service, but this is not feasible at current funding levels.

─ In the 1990s, the system was more extensive, operated fixed routes, and was countywide with county funding. There are clearly needs outside the city in the county that could be served with additional funding, especially from the county.

─ There is interest in connecting with transit in Delaware County, an urban county in the Columbus Metro region that has service to Columbus.

─ Coordination is an opportunity MAT is pursuing but has faced some hurdles.

















MORROW COUNTY

Overview

─ Morrow County is located in central Ohio, north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.

─ Mount Gilead is the county seat and largest municipality in the county.

─ Columbus is the nearest metropolitan area, located about 45 miles south of Mount Gilead.



─ Morrow County's population has increased by 10.3% since 2000

─ The number of youth in Morrow County has increased only slightly, but the share of youth has declined by 1.7 percentage points since 2000.

─ The number of older adults has risen by more than 1,200 people. Nearly 14% of the population today is 65 or older, up from 11.5% in 2000.

─ The number of low-income individuals has risen by more than 2,571 people. More than 23% of the county is low income, an increase of six percentage points since 2000. The prevalence of low-income individuals is just below the statewide average of 24.8% in Ohio counties. Zero-vehicle households rose very slightly.




Youths (5-17) 6,580 (20.8%) 6,268 (18.3%) 6,653 (19.1%) 73 (1.7)

Older Adults (65+) 3,624 (11.5%) 4,055 (11.8%) 4,854 (13.9%) 1,230 (2.5)







─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 13% of the current population in Morrow County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Morrow County had 4,597 jobs within the county. In that same year, 13,515 residents of Morrow County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 85.2% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the area most reliant on transit within Morrow County is Mount Gilead, which shows high need (see Figure 2).

─ Others areas showing moderate transit reliance include the block groups bordering I-71 and the northwestern corner of Morrow County.

─ Outside of the county, Mansfield and Galion each show high or medium-high transit reliance.


─ Morrow County is predominately a lower density county with a small area of higher density around the village of Mount Gilead. Of the roughly 34,900 people in the county, 11.2% live in higher density areas and 88.8% are in lower density areas (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Mount Gilead is the only area with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ Mount Gilead shows demand for deviated-fixed-route (orange on Figure 3) service as opposed to fixed route (red on Figure 3).

─ Outside the county, the cities of Mansfield, Ontario, Galion, Delaware, Lexington, and Marion have transit supportive densities.


─ Transit service is not provided in Morrow County.




─ Morrow County has grown over the past 12 years. Though the population remains low overall, the population grew by over 10%, and the number of low-income individuals and older adults had significant increases.

─ Morrow County is primarily low-density. Only a couple small spots of the county have concentrations of people or jobs.

─ The socio-economic characteristics in Morrow County suggest a need for public transportation in some parts of the county, but the development patterns mean that it

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Morrow County (34,896).




would be difficult to operate cost effective fixed route transit service. Similarly positioned counties in Ohio operate demand response service for people living in rural areas. Demand response services improve accessibility and mobility for those most in need.

─ More than 80% of Morrow County jobs are located outside the county. Most people likely travel south to Columbus for jobs and services.

















PICKAWAY COUNTY

Overview

─ Pickaway County is located in south central Ohio.

─ Circleville is the largest city in the county and is also the county seat.

─ The entire county is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, located 35 miles north of Circleville.



─ Pickaway County's population rose steadily, up more than 3,300 or 6.4% since 2000.

─ The number of youth increased slightly, but though the total youth population rose, youth as a portion of total population declined nearly 1%.

─ The percentage of older adults aged 65+ increased by nearly 2.5%. This age group now represents 13.3% of the county’s population.

─ Although the percentage of low-income individuals increased by 5.5%, this increase is smaller than in many other counties, and the prevalence of low-income individuals in Pickaway County is lower than average for Ohio (22.6% for Pickaway County versus 24.8% for Ohio). Households without a vehicle rose only slightly.




Youths (5-17) 9,655 (18.3%) 9,266 (17.4%) 9,843 (17.5%) 188 (0.8)

Older Adults (65+) 5,706 (10.8%) 6,417 (12.1%) 7,443 (13.3%) 1,737 (2.4)



Zero-Vehicle Households‡ 858 (4.9%) 678 (3.8%) 1,141 (5.9%) 283 (1.0) Sources: 2000 Census, SF1 100% data & SF3 sample data; 2007 ACS 3-year estimates; 2012 ACS 3-year estimates *2007 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2000 Census 100% data whereas 2012 ACS estimates are weighted based on 2010 Census 100% data. The Census asks users to use caution when making comparisons across a decennial census year and warns that the estimates may not be strictly comparable. ^The disability questions asked on the 2000 Census and ACS forms through 2007 were substantially different from the questions asked on the 2008 ACS form and later (including the 2010 Census). Therefore, one cannot say with certainty what changes occurred to the prevalence of disabilities between 2000 and 2012. †Defined as all family members if the family income is less than 1.5 times the poverty threshold set by the federal government. ‡Note that the data reported here are households and the percentage = (zero-vehicle households)/(total households in the county).




─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 16% of the current population in Pickaway County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Pickaway County had 13,944 jobs within the county. In that same year, 22,000 residents of Pickaway County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 81.4% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the areas with the highest likelihood to use transit are Circleville and Commercial Point, which exhibit moderate reliance (see Figure 2).

─ Most other areas of the county show low-moderate or low transit reliance.

─ Lancaster to the east and Washington Courthouse to the west also show moderate transit reliance. The greater Columbus region, which has strong transit reliance, begins north of Pickaway County.


─ Pickaway County is generally a low density county with areas of higher density around Circleville and Ashville. Of the roughly 56,100 people in the county, 50.1% live in areas of higher density and 49.9% are in areas of lower density (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Circleville and Ashville are the only areas with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ Circleville and Ashville’s density levels suggest that deviated fixed route service (orange on Figure 3) may be more appropriate than standard fixed route services (red on Figure 3).

─ Similar to the results above, areas with transit supportive densities outside of the county include Columbus, Lancaster, and Washington Courthouse.


─ Deviated fixed-route transit service is available through Pickaway Area Rural Transit (PART) in Circleville. Point deviation is a curb-to-curb service.

─ PART offers countywide demand responsive service that is open to the public.

─ PART provides shuttle service to Columbus on a limited basis.

─ PART operating characteristics:

One deviated fixed-route Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Operates at a 60-minute frequency

Demand response service Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM

Columbus shuttle makes one trip per day, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

─ Local funding is provided through contracts, including with the public school districts to transport children with disabilities, Community Services Block Grant, and AMVETS.







─ Service has been reduced as a result of funding cuts to several programs including State transit operating assistance, Title XX funds, and funds provided by Berger Hospital for trips that stay in Circleville.

─ The reduction has been primarily to the point deviation route in Circleville that previously operated from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and now operates from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

─ The most important transit need in Pickaway County is access to jobs.

─ Unmet needs surround weekends/evenings so that more job opportunities are accessible.

─ Other unmet needs include the need to take people to destinations outside of the county to areas other than Columbus.

─ For both capital and operating costs, the major challenge is not being able to tap into local city or county general funds. Local match is provided only through contract work.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Pickaway County (56,093).

















UNION COUNTY

Overview

─ Union County is located in central Ohio.

─ Marysville is the largest city and the county seat

─ The county is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.

─ The nearest metropolitan area is Columbus, located 45 miles southeast of Marysville.



─ Union County's population rose significantly, by nearly 11,800 people or 28.8%, since 2000.

─ The number of youth increased by more than 2,500, but as a percent of population youth remained stable at around 20%.

─ The number of older adults aged 65+ increased, but similar to youth, older adults as a percent of population remained stable at nearly 10%.

─ The low-income population increased the most out of the characteristics shown in Figure 1. However, overall Union County’s percentage of low-income residents (16%) is well below the average Ohio county (24.8%). Zero-vehicle households increased slightly from 2000 to 2012.




Youths (5-17) 8,190 (20.0%) 9,225 (19.9%) 10,720 (20.3%) 2,530 (0.3)

Older Adults (65+) 3,941 (9.6%) 4,220 (9.1%) 5,202 (9.9%) 1,261 (0.2)







─ It is impossible to conclude with certainty the historical trend of the prevalence of people with disabilities. However, accounting for sampling error and considering results from 2000 and 2007, in all likelihood at least 10% of the current population in Union County has some disability.

─ According to 2011 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data, Union County had 28,022 jobs within the county. In that same year, 14,392 residents of Union County were employed outside of the county, which accounts for 65.3% of residents who are employed.

─ Based on a combined measure of low-income individuals, zero-vehicle households, persons with disabilities, and adults aged 65 and over, the area most reliant on transit within Union County is Marysville, which shows high reliance (see Figure 2).

─ Other areas showing moderate transit reliance include greater Marysville.

─ Marion in Marion County and Delaware in Delaware County show high to moderate transit reliance. To the southeast in Franklin County, the Columbus region shows a mix of transit reliance.


─ Union County is a mix of higher and lower density areas, with much of the higher density located in and around the city of Marysville in the middle of the county. Of the roughly 52,700 people in the county, 50.0% live in areas of higher density and 50.0% are in areas of lower density (based on 2010 Census block data).

─ Marysville and a couple of pockets in the west central (at the Honda of America manufacturing plant) and southeast areas of the county are the only areas with population and employment densities that, based on national evidence, suggest an ability to support transit service with a frequency of every 60 minutes or less (see Figure 3).

─ Densities in these areas suggest that deviated-fixed-route (orange on Figure 3) service may be more appropriate than standard fixed-route (red on Figure 3) services.

─ Similar to the results above, areas with transit supportive densities outside of the county include the Columbus region and Delaware in Delaware County.


─ Transit service is not provided in Union County.




─ Union County is an affluent county on the edges of the Columbus region that is experiencing population growth.

─ Half the county’s population lives in lower density areas and half are in higher density areas. This mix of development densities means the county may be transitioning toward transit reliance.

1 Based on 2012 ACS estimates for Union County (52,704).




─ Although population is increasing, Union County has low prevalence of older adults and people with low-income, meaning its market for transit may be small.

─ Columbus is near Union County and is likely a destination for goods and services; nearly 2/3 of the county residents’ jobs are located outside the county.















Documents

MARKET ANALYSIS: COLUMBUS REGION - Ohio - · PDF fileMarket Analysis DRAFT Ohio Department of Transportation . DELAWARE COUNTY . Overview ─ Delaware County is located in central