Enhancing Accessibility: New Bus Route Streamlines Access to Cincinnati Children’s Campus
With the help of the Fisher Child Health Equity Center and critical data provided by community health analysts, Metro unveiled a transformative addition to the transit system on December 3. Route 36 now links over two-thousand families in Delhi and Price Hill directly to Cincinnati Children’s Burnet campus.
The decision to enhance the service was rooted in a broader initiative to improve transportation equity across the city. Metro’s Reinventing Metro plan will “offer the Greater Cincinnati region bold, new transit innovations that will help grow the regional economy and better connect our community to jobs, education, health care and entertainment.” Metro Short-Range Planning Manager, Mark Samaan, recognized the plan as a way to help provide better access to clinics, appointments, and jobs for Cincinnatians. Samaan’s mother is employed by Cincinnati Children’s, and it was her work connections that served as the catalyst for the collaboration with the Fisher Child Health Equity Center.
“I met Rob Kahn through my mother,” said Samaan. “And I thought he might be able to help me get the data I could use to help streamline travel times for people coming from Delhi and East and West Price Hill.”
Dr. Robert Kahn, Vice President of the Fisher Child Health Equity Center, connected Samaan with the data analysts who provided summaries of census tracking data of primary care patient concentrations. Samaan and his team entered the data into their systems to map out travel times, providing valuable information that showed the benefits of a new cross-town bus route. The data team's role played a pivotal role in shaping Route 36. By identifying areas with high concentrations of primary care patients, Metro could tailor the route to cater specifically to Cincinnati Children’s families. This collaborative effort ultimately led to board approval and improved transportation services for Cincinnati Children's patients and employees at several nearby medical facilities.
Families, once burdened by long commutes and midtrip bus changes, can now experience a tangible improvement in accessibility to community resources across Cincinnati. With Route 36 in place, travel times have been cut in half, offering a more efficient and direct connection to important clinics and appointments at Cincinnati Children’s, UC Medical Center, Good Samaritan, TriHealth, and The Christ Hospital.
Route 36 highlights the power of data-driven partnerships in shaping community services. Metro reports that the new route carries more riders than some routes that have existed for decades. The streamlined access to clinics and appointments has proven invaluable, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts between healthcare institutions and public transit authorities. This kind of partnership between Cincinnati Children’s and community partners is core to how the Fisher Child Health Equity Center continues to collaborate with the community through the All Children Thrive Learning Network.