Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky

For other uses, see Tank (disambiguation).
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
TANK BRT 881 at CVG
ParentGreenline
Founded1973[1]
Headquarters3375 Madison Pike
Fort Wright, Kentucky[1]
LocaleNorthern Kentucky
Service areaBoone, Kenton, Campbell counties & Downtown Cincinnati
Service typeBus service, paratransit
AllianceSouthwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority
Routes27[1]
Stops1,269
HubsFort Wright Hub, Florence Hub
StationsCovington Transit Center
Fleet107 buses
Daily ridership6,300 (weekdays, Q2 2024)[2]
Annual ridership2,092,600 (2023)[3]
Websitetankbus.org

The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) is the public transit system serving the Northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, located in Kenton County, Boone County and Campbell County, United States. TANK was founded in 1973 when the privately funded Greenline Bus Company ceased operation, and voters in the three counties elected to publicly fund the transit system.[4] ATE Management, founded by Greenline's owners, provided management.[5] ATE and its successor First Transit provided management until 2010, when TANK became self-managed.[6] In 2023, the system had a ridership of 2,092,600, or about 6,300 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

Currently TANK operates a fleet of 100 fixed route buses and 25 demand response vehicles.[7]

While TANK's primary service area is the three Northern Kentucky counties, all TANK routes also connect with Downtown Cincinnati where riders can transfer to vehicles operated by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority if necessary. Although the two systems are separate, the TANK and SORTA work to make transfers between systems easy, and even sell a joint pass.

A bus redesign took effect on January 31, 2021.[8]

Fare structure

[edit]

As of 2021, TANK charges $1.50 for all fixed route service. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade on school days riding to and from school only pay $1. TANK also has passes: a 30-day pass (unlimited) for $66.

Several regional passes are offered, which are valid for unlimited rides on both TANK and Metro/Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. One Day Metro/TANK for $5; 30-day Metro/TANK for $105.

Ridership

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Annual ridership
Year Total unlinked passenger trips[9]
1991 4,546,106
1992 4,501,623
1993 4,080,269
1994 4,080,015
1995 4,080,015
1996 3,710,341
1997 3,715,599
1998 3,747,643
1999 3,884,654
2000 4,615,265
2001 4,386,976
2002 4,281,789
2003 3,872,407
2004 3,709,526
2005 3,770,649
2006 3,638,815
2007 3,719,871
2008 3,804,210
2009 3,806,772
2010 3,534,695
2011 3,634,802
2012 3,635,954
2013 3,636,937
2014 3,580,867
2015 3,625,913
2016 3,553,112
2017 3,296,168
2018 3,090,565
2019 3,002,618
2020 2,471,345
2021 1,384,876

Routes

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Transit map highlighting frequency
TANK routes
Number Description
1 Dixie Hwy/Florence
2X Airporter Cincinnati/Northern_Kentucky_International_Airport
3 Ludlow/Bromley
5 Holman Ave/Fort Wright
7 Madison Ave/Latonia
8 Eastern Ave/Crestview Hills
12 Bellevue/Dayton
16 West Newport/Fort Thomas
17X Buttermilk Pike Express
22X Richwood/Walton Express
24 NKU Shuttle Callahan Hall / Campus
25 NKU/Alexandria
25X Alexandria Express
30X Fort Wright/Independence Express
32X Burlington Express
39X Petersburg Rd/South Hebron Express
40X Worldwide Blvd/North Hebron Express
42X Florence Hub Express
61 Covington Health Connection
Southbank Shuttle Covington / Cincinnati/ Newport

Former routes

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  • 1A Buttermilk Pike Express (renumbered route 17X in 1995)
  • 1B Edgewood Express (renumbered route 18X in 1995)
  • 1C Beechgrove Express (renumbered route 19X in 1995)
  • 1X Houston Rd/Mineola Pike Express (discontinued on January 30, 2021; alternate service available on routes 42X and 17X)[8]
  • 2 Greenup (discontinued in the 1950s)
  • 2 Kenton Hills (created in the 1950s; discontinued by 1995, when current route 2X was created)
  • 4 Park Hills (discontinued on January 6, 2007, partially replaced by revised route 5)[10][11]
  • 4 CVG Shuttle (created March 13, 2017, discontinued August 2017, replaced by revised route 2X)
  • 6 Rosedale (merged into Route 7 on October 28, 2000)[12][13]
  • 9 Belt Line (became part of route 17 on February 26, 1939; the next route 9 was created around the same time)
  • 9 Taylor Mill/Independence (discontinued on January 30, 2021; replaced by revised routes 7 and 8)[8]
  • 10 Lewisburg (discontinued on October 16, 1964, replaced by revised route 1)
  • 10 Visalia (ran from 1975 to January 1976)
  • 10 Erlanger-Elsmere (created January 5, 2015, discontinued May 1, 2015)[14][15]
  • 11 Fort Thomas (discontinued January 30, 2021; partially replaced by revised route 12)[8]
  • 13 South Bellevue (discontinued on June 10, 1954, replaced by route 23)
  • 14 York (discontinued July 6, 1953, replaced by route 24)
  • 15 Southgate (discontinued in 1976, replaced by route 24)
  • 16 Washington (discontinued on June 10, 1954, replaced by route 11; current route 16 was created later)
  • 17 Crosstown (discontinued in 1972)
  • 18 East Newport (discontinued in June 1963)
  • 18X Edgewood Express (discontinued on January 30, 2021; alternate service available on routes 1, 17X, and 30X)[8]
  • 19 West Newport (merged into Route 20)
  • 19X Beechgrove Express (discontinued August 12, 2017, alternate service available on Routes 1, 28X and 35X)[16]
  • 20 South Newport (discontinued August 12, 2017, partially replaced by revised route 16)[16]
  • 21 North Fort Thomas (discontinued in the 1980s, replaced by extension of former route 11)
  • 21X Toebben Drive Express (created November 30, 2015, discontinued December 2016 or January 2017)[17]
  • 22 Fairfield (discontinued on July 6, 1953; current route 22 was created in 1995)
  • 23 South Bellevue (discontinued November 1, 2014, partially replaced by revised route 12)[18]
  • 24 Crestview (discontinued on September 14, 2002)[19][20]
  • 24X Crestview Express (discontinued on September 14, 2002)[19][20]
  • 26 Grants Lick (discontinued on September 14, 2002)[19][20]
  • 26X Southern Campbell County Express (renamed from 26X Grants Lick Express on January 6, 2007; discontinued on August 27, 2011)[21]
  • 27 Moock Road Express (discontinued on October 28, 2000)[12][13][22]
  • 28X Empire Dr/Industrial Rd Express (discontinued on January 30, 2021; partially replaced by revised route 42X)[8]
  • 29X Hebron Express (split into Routes 39X and 40X on September 7, 2013)[23]
  • 31X Rolling Hills Dr Express (merged into route 30X on January 30, 2021)[8]
  • 31X Hands Pike (discontinued on September 14, 2002; number reused January 21, 2013)[19][20][24]
  • 33 Thomas More Pkwy/Crestview Hills (discontinued on January 30, 2021; replaced by revised route 8)[8]
  • 34 Walton-Burlington Connector (discontinued on August 24, 2000)[25][26]
  • 35 Florence-Crestview Connector (created on September 4, 1999; discontinued between June and October 2001; number reused August 24, 2014)[27][28][29]
  • 35X East-West Express (discontinued on January 30, 2021; replaced by increased frequency on routes 1 and 25)
  • 36 Wilder (created in February, March, or April 2001; discontinued on September 14, 2002)[30][19][20]
  • 37X Commonwealth Houston Express (started summer 2004, discontinued on August 16, 2008, replaced by revised route 1X)[31][32]
  • 38 Uptown Hospitals
  • 98 Burlington-Florence Connector (created early 2018, discontinued April 26, 2019)[33]

Note that Route 8 Eastern Avenue was merged into Route 25 Alexandria on January 9, 2010; Route 25 was split on October 1, 2015, bringing this route back.[34][35][36]

Current bus fleet

[edit]
Year Manufacturer Model Fleet Numbers Engine Transmission Notes
2017 Hometown Mainstreet Trolly 509-516 Cummins ISB6.7 Allson B300 Only used for the Southbank Shuttle.
2013 Gillig Low Floor 40' 2181-2188 Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R 2188 in NKU Shuttle paint
2014 Gillig Low Floor 40' 2189-2196 Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R
2015 Gillig Low Floor 40' 2197-2205 Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R
2016 Gillig Low Floor 40' 2206-2215 Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R
2017 Gillig Low Floor HEV 40' 709-711 Cummins B6.7 Allison EP40
2017 Gillig Low Floor 40' 2216-2221 Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R
2019 Gillig BRT HEV 40' 717-724 Cummins B6.7 Allison EP40
2019 Gillig BRT 40' 2222-2231 Cummins L9 Allison B400R
2021 Gillig BRT HEV 40' 725-728 Cummins B6.7 BAE Systems HDS 200
2021 Gillig BRT 40' 2232-2236 Cummins L9 Allison B400R
2023 Gillig BRT HEV 40' 729-734 Cummins B6.7 Allison eGen Flex H 40
2023 Gillig BRT 40' 2237-2241 Cummins L9 Allison B400R

See also

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Home". www.tankbus.org.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "History". Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky Official Website (undated). Retrieved October 5, 2007
  5. ^ "Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky Renews Contract | First Transit". Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  6. ^ "No. Ky. agency names new GM". Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  7. ^ "Bill passes Senate". The Kentucky Post. E. W. Scripps Company. 2007-09-13. p. A2. Retrieved 2007-10-05. The bill, the 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, would help TANK replace three buses in its 90-bus fleet.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > About TANK > Planning Studies > 2021 Service Changes". Archived from the original on 2021-01-06.
  9. ^ "TS2.2 – Service Data and Operating Expenses Time-Series by System". National Transit Database. USDOT, Federal Transit Administration. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  10. ^ "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky". Archived from the original on 2007-01-01.
  11. ^ "TANK | Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky". Archived from the original on 2007-01-01.
  12. ^ a b "Routes & Schedules". Archived from the original on 2000-10-09. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  13. ^ a b "TANK Schedules Effective October 28". Archived from the original on 2001-05-22. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  14. ^ "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Contact Us > Press Center". Archived from the original on 2014-12-31.
  15. ^ "2015 Archive | TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Contact Us > Press Center". Archived from the original on 2015-05-09.
  16. ^ a b "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky". Archived from the original on 2017-07-19.
  17. ^ "TANK - Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Home". Archived from the original on 2016-01-11.
  18. ^ "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Contact Us > Press Center". Archived from the original on 2015-09-05.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Riders Digest". Archived from the original on 2002-09-26. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  20. ^ a b c d e "News Archive". Archived from the original on 2002-11-29. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  21. ^ "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Contact Us > Press Center". Archived from the original on 2015-09-06.
  22. ^ "The #27 is No Longer In Service". Archived from the original on 2001-01-26. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  23. ^ "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Contact Us > Press Center". Archived from the original on 2015-09-05.
  24. ^ "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Contact Us > Press Center". Archived from the original on 2013-01-29.
  25. ^ "Holiday Schedule". Archived from the original on 2000-08-16. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  26. ^ "Connector - Florence Mall to Crestview Mall (inbound)". Archived from the original on 2000-10-21. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  27. ^ "Route 35". Archived from the original on 2000-05-21. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  28. ^ "Weekday Routes". Archived from the original on 2001-06-02. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  29. ^ "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Contact Us > Press Center". Archived from the original on 2015-02-06.
  30. ^ "Weekday Routes". Archived from the original on 2001-04-18. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  31. ^ "Current Schedules". Archived from the original on 2004-06-04. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  32. ^ "TANK – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Host > Extensions". Archived from the original on 2008-08-04.
  33. ^ "Route 98: Eliminated after April 26".
  34. ^ "TANK - Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Home". Archived from the original on 2010-01-07.
  35. ^ "TANK - Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Home". Archived from the original on 2010-01-17.
  36. ^ "TANK - Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky > Home". Archived from the original on 2015-11-01.
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