Agency History - Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky

Agency History

history

The history of TANK is that of an agency at the center of the Northern Kentucky community, serving Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties and downtown Cincinnati for more than 50 years.

greenline bus
Mid-1971

Greenline, a private transportation company that served Northern Kentucky announces that operations will cease.

Greenline buses stop rolling.

November 4, 1972
November 9, 1972

Voters in Kenton and Campbell counties and the City of Florence voted to approve general obligation bonds to continue mass transit services.

After a more permanent funding means failed to pass at the polls, a Blue-Ribbon Committee of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce took on the task of finding a way to continue to operate transit service.

1976
1978 bus funding campaign banner photo
1978

TANK won a permanent funding base during the November elections. Employees and friends of TANK went door to door building support for TANK and getting the votes needed to secure funding.

TANK moved from Newport to a brand new facility (the current headquarters) in Ft. Wright.

November 1982
fort wright hub
Late 1980’s and Early 1990’s

TANK began replacing its’ fleet of vehicles, giving TANK one of the youngest and best maintained fleets in the country.

TANK implemented the “downtown connection” with service on the streets of downtown Cincinnati.

1984
1995

TANK adds routes in the first major expansion of service in over 15 years. Routes to the Airport, Empire Drive, Walton, Hebron and Burlington were added.

TANK moved all operations out of the 75 year old Dixie Terminal and began operating all buses on the streets of downtown Cincinnati. At this time, TANK opened a sales outlet in the central business district – “The Bus Stop.”

1996
dixie terminal
covington transit center
1998

TANK began operating in the Covington Transit Center as our main transfer facility. The Southbank Shuttle service was started, serving the entertainment districts along the riverfront in Newport, Covington and Cincinnati.

TANK stopped using the Roebling Suspension Bridge, due to a weight restriction imposed on the historic bridge, on September 16, 2007.

2007
for wright park and ride
2008

The Ft Wright Hub located at TANK’s main Garage opened.

November 5th, 2010 the Southbank Shuttle once again began service on the Roebling Suspension Bridge, using a small trolley vehicle.

2010
southbank shuttle on bridge
florence hub building
2013

TANK opened the Florence Hub and began direct service to downtown Cincinnati via a new service the 42X.

Saw TANK expand its service to provide the first direct cross county service linking Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties. The new 35X East – West Express connects Florence, Ft Wright and NKU.

2014
2020

TANK embarked on the System Redesign, a transformative study of the network with the goals of maximizing ridership, increasing access to jobs, and making the routes easier to understand. These set of service changes, the most robust in TANK’s history, were implemented in January 2021. Better frequency, longer spans of service, and much-improved weekend schedules were brought to the areas of Northern Kentucky with the highest density and transit usage. This nearly two-year long process saw massive engagement from current riders, elected officials, community leaders, educational institutions, and citizens to help craft the next generation of TANK.

Today TANK operates more than 130 buses in the three county region. TANK is an important partner in the economic growth of the region and we are committed to continuing to partner with leaders to develop a comprehensive transportation network for the community.

Today
hybrid bus