Mission

Our mission is planning, building, and managing a safe, efficient, and progressive transportation system that supports the environment, neighborhood vitality, and economic development. We accomplish this through innovation, effective partnerships, and exceptional customer service.

 

Departmental Value Statements

Departmental Value Statement #1: Integrity -We value honesty and forthright employees that provide excellent customer service and stewardship of public resources. We believe that ethical employees foster public trust and a strong foundation for future relationships.
 
Departmental Value Statement #2: Innovation - We value employees that present creative and proactive solutions for solving public transportation challenges. We believe that innovative employees foster cutting edge solutions and visionary ideas that place Cincinnati in a leadership role in the transportation and engineering field.
 
Departmental Value Statement #3: Safety - We value safety in our work place and for the projects we design and build.  Safety is the most important aspect of a transportation system and protecting the traveling public is our highest priority. Our staff gives special attention to safety when we are involved in work zones, project design, structural integrity decisions, and responding to emergencies that affect the condition of the transportation infrastructure.
 
Departmental Value Statement #4: Accountability - We value accountability for our financial management and for the professionalism of our work.  We consider the effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars as a sacred trust between our agency and the public.  We are also committed to maintaining a well-trained staff and a set of design guidelines and standards that enable us to stand by and be accountable for the projects we create.  

Departmental Value Statement #5: Communication & Collaboration - It is extremely important that our Department communicates and collaborates effectively at several levels because of the complexity of our work.  We value the ability to involve stakeholders in our projects, ensure that project details are communicated to the public and elected officials, and to build a consensus in favor of design decisions.  We also value internal communication and collaboration within our staff that results in greatly improved coordination and project quality.  
 
Departmental Value Statement #6: Excellence/Quality - We pride ourselves on the quality services and products that our Department provides to the City and the region and endeavor to maintain the highest standards of excellence. We seek to improve on the effective and efficient delivery of those products and services while fostering the partnerships essential to the attainment of excellence.
 
Departmental Value Statement #7: Customer/Community - We embrace the diverse and historically rich community that generates our customer base.

Departmental Issue Statements

Issue Statement #1: A strategy for succession planning and knowledge transfer must be established to deal with the impending retirement of experienced City staff and the potential for loss of valuable information, perspective, relationships, and expertise.
 
Issue Statement #2: Existing Department and City processes must be simplified and streamlined to meet the challenges of staff reductions and increasing customer expectations. Process streamlining must maintain a proper balance between efficiency and our responsibility to represent and protect the public interest.
 
Issue Statement #3: Strategies for maximizing the maintenance of public assets must be developed to preserve safety and increase the life span of the City’s infrastructure.
 
Issue Statement #4: Priorities and performance measures must be better defined, clearly communicated, and regularly measured to help ensure the best possible outcome for the Department.

Functions and Duties

Office of the Director provides direction, guidance, and support to the department and other city agencies. This office provides departmental management, administration, accounting, budgeting, and information technology services. This office also provides project management, civil engineering, and surveying services to many city agencies.

Transportation Planning and Urban Design develops regional and citywide transportation and urban design plans and policies. The division provides architecture, urban design, environmental graphic design and print graphics for downtown, neighborhood business districts, housing and industrial areas of the City.

Engineering manages much of Cincinnati's transportation infrastructure, including its bridges, viaducts, roadways, retaining walls, sidewalks, and hillside steps. The division provides civil engineering design, asset management, construction management, and project management services needed to design, construct, and maintain these transportation facilities. The division recommends and enforces laws and policies for utility, and private use and construction within public rights-of-way.

Aviation manages Cincinnati Municipal Lunken and Blue Ash Airports, providing safe, secure, self-supporting, and first-class airport facilities. The division manages general operation and maintenance of these airports and their public facilities to provide safe, secure, and convenient air transportation service for businesses and citizens while working to enhance the quality of life of surrounding communities .

Traffic Engineering provides for the safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in public rights-of-way. This division provides design services for the City's traffic signal and street lighting systems. The agency also provides design services for street signs and pavement markings and coordinates traffic control for special events and construction projects.