State of the Region
Every day, each of us relies on our transportation system. As a
region, we must keep central Ohio moving. Transportation means
business, business means jobs and jobs mean a better quality of life
for central Ohio. The 2011 State of the Region Executive Summary
provides a snapshot of how our region is progressing with a focus on
the role of transportation.
Historically, central Ohio has been a
crossroads for transportation since the national road, the canals,
the early railroads, and the interstate system. Today our
transportation system faces many challenges. Our existing businesses
and new businesses that locate to our region expect a reliable
transportation system so employees, resources, and products arrive
just in time. Our residents rely on transportation to provide a safe
and convenient means to work, shop and play.
The United States is losing its competitive
advantage over other countries because of four decades of
under-investment in transportation. The consequences will have a
significant impact on our livelihoods, our health, access to goods
and services, our children’s education and how we prosper and move
forward as a region. Without additional revenues, many congested,
deteriorated, and unsafe roads and freeways will go unimproved, and
central Ohio will find it difficult to build a region-wide,
sustainable, interconnected transportation system that includes
transit, bikeways, pedestrian ways and freight rail.
What does that mean to central Ohio? Simply
that our region could lose its ability to compete in the global
marketplace. Central Ohio could lose its appeal as a first class
region where businesses thrive and people aspire to live. Central
Ohio’s quality of life could suffer as our young residents move to
other cities taking along their skills, talents and our investments
in them.
Central Ohio has the vision, the experience and
the expertise to move forward and prosper. As decisions are made,
ask the question, “Does this decision also benefit the region?” Make
it a priority – invest in central Ohio.
Click on the indicator links below for
additional information on the transportation-related indicators in
the 2011 State of Region Executive Summary and indicators from years
past. We have provided updates to many of the data, and it is now
available for download.
