Cincinnati Council to consider $1.825 million federal study for Reading Road BRT corridor

Cincinnati City Council is scheduled to consider whether the city should apply for up to $1.825 million in federal planning funds for a study of transit-oriented development along the planned Reading Road bus rapid transit corridor.

The ordinance, submitted by City Manager Sheryl M. M. Long on September 10, 2026, was listed for consideration at the Budget, Finance & Governance Committee’s September 14 meeting. The legislation record lists it as “Agenda Ready” and shows no final action. The committee meeting page says its minutes are still in draft form and that action results are not yet available.

What the proposed grant would fund

The ordinance would authorize the city manager to apply for funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s Transit-Oriented Development Planning Pilot Program.

If Cincinnati submits the application and the Federal Transit Administration awards funding, the proposed study would examine planning and development questions along the Reading Road corridor. The ordinance identifies four main areas of work:

• Evaluating multimodal connections;
• Analyzing station areas;
• Conducting market-feasibility studies; and
• Engaging community members and other stakeholders.

The study area would be the planned Reading Road bus rapid transit corridor between Downtown Cincinnati and Roselawn.

Planning proposal, not construction approval

The ordinance concerns an application for planning and study funds. It does not approve construction of the bus rapid transit line or guarantee that federal funding will be awarded.

The Federal Transit Administration describes the Reading Road project as a planned BRT corridor of about 10 miles between downtown Cincinnati and the Roselawn neighborhood. The federal project profile says the planned service would operate in a combination of dedicated bus-only lanes, bus and turn-only lanes, and mixed traffic.

Metro identifies Reading Road as one of the region’s first two planned BRT routes and has published proposed station-location materials based on community input. The proposed city study would add a transit-oriented-development analysis; it would not by itself finalize construction, station locations or future development decisions.

What happens next

The Budget, Finance & Governance Committee’s September 14 agenda lists the ordinance for consideration. The official meeting page does not yet show a legislative action or result.

Any council action remains pending unless and until a final legislative record is posted. If the city authorizes the application, the Federal Transit Administration would still have to review it before any federal funding is awarded.

For residents, businesses and property owners along the Downtown-to-Roselawn route, the immediate issue is whether Cincinnati will seek federal support to study station areas, connections and market conditions. The proposal could shape future planning if funded, but it is not a construction commitment.

Sources

• Cincinnati City Council Ordinance File 202602708
• Federal Transit Administration Reading Road Corridor BRT Project Development Profile