Economic Output From the Proposed Plan (2027–2029)
BCRTA Economic Impact Study, 2026
BCRTA’s 2030 Mobility Future
Where Butler County Goes Next
BCRTA’s 2030 Mobility Future is a bold plan to connect more communities, fuel economic growth and transform how Butler County moves — for good.
Why Butler County Doesn’t Have the Transit It Needs — Yet
Butler County is growing. New residents, new businesses and new opportunities are arriving every year, but our transit network hasn’t kept pace. Too many neighbors are underserved. Too many workers can’t reach jobs. Too many employers can’t attract talent without dependable regional connections.
Butler County RTA is the largest transit system in Ohio that does not receive any local funding. Without any local funding, BCRTA has been forced to operate well below what this county’s 393,000 residents need.
What Happens Without New Investment
Without new funding, the alternative is severe. $3 million in mandatory cuts would eliminate all regional bus routes, leaving workers without a way to get to their jobs. Seniors and people with disabilities would lose the paratransit services they depend on for medical appointments, errands and daily life. It would also cut off access to the federal dollars that fund the buses, technology and infrastructure BCRTA depends on to serve Butler County.
What This Investment Means for Butler County’s Economy
2026 Economic Impact Study
This study explains the value BCRTA brings to Butler County today and the impact a larger transit system could have in the future. It focuses on service, access, economic benefits and long-term community outcomes.
For Butler County’s employers, expanded transit means a larger, more accessible labor pool and real regional connectivity. For workers without a car or those who choose not to drive, it means a real path to jobs that were previously out of reach.
View the 2026 Economic Impact StudyWhat Is Possible With Local Sustainable Funding
This plan offers greater access to transit, with more service, more often.
Under the proposed plan, BCRTA service would grow from roughly 101,000 annual service hours to more than 331,000 — a 221% increase. In practical terms, that means more buses on the road, longer hours of operation, stronger weekend service and better connections across Butler County. Annual service mileage would also grow from 1.5 million miles to 4.75 million miles, significantly expanding the reach of the system.
Expanded Services
BGo
Demand for BGo, BCRTA’s on-demand service, has outpaced capacity with nearly 50% of ride requests currently being denied. The proposed expansion extends service to seven days a week, 4 a.m. to 1 a.m., with same-day app bookings and advanced reservations.
BCare
BCare, BCRTA’s paratransit service for people with disabilities, would expand to seven days a week, 4 a.m. to 1 a.m., with same-day app bookings and advanced reservations, ensuring more residents can access the care and services they need.
CincyLink Uptown & Express
Expanded regional service connecting Butler County workers directly to Cincinnati jobs. 12 daily round trips with 15-minute peak frequency, operating 3 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.
R1 – Hamilton & Middletown
More frequent, seven-day service linking two of Butler County’s major job centers. Operates 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with 15-minute peak frequency.
R3 – Oxford & Forest Park
An expanded cross-county connector bridging Oxford to the southern county corridor. Operates 4 a.m. to midnight on weekdays.
New Routes
CincyLink Colerain Connector
A brand-new western corridor connecting Oxford directly to Hamilton County — a regional link not possible with today's funding. Six daily round trips with 20-minute peak frequency, operating 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays.
H1 – Northwest Washington
Fixed-route service reaches this Hamilton corridor for the first time, running 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays with 15-minute peak frequency.
H3 – Village Green
A new neighborhood route provides 15-minute peak-frequency service to Fairfield's Village Green area, covering 40.5 hours of weekday service.
R9 – Hamilton & Liberty Twp
A new route brings Liberty Township into the BCRTA network for the first time, operating 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Middletown (M1 & M2)
New service along the Towne Blvd and South Middletown & Trenton corridors, operating at 30-minute frequency seven days a week.
A Phased Plan Built for Butler County's Future
The 2030 Mobility Future rolls out in three structured phases, each building on the last.
Phase 1: Foundation (2027–2028)
With funding secured, BCRTA begins fleet procurement and stops and stations infrastructure investment. Community engagement and route planning are finalized in preparation for expansion.
Phase 2: Expansion (2028)
New routes activate and BGo & BCare expansion goes live. CincyLink upgrades begin, supported by approximately $7.2 million in capital investments in fleet and infrastructure.
Phase 3: Full Network (2028–2030)
The network reaches full capacity of 331,000 annual service hours.
