Allison Murcia, Research Manager at BE NKY, was recently named to the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber “Next Gen” leadership class. The 24 young professionals in the cohort will serve a two-year term and provide guidance on the future of the Cincinnati region’s transportation system.

1)  What sparked your interest in joining the Next Gen working group on transportation?

I was interested in being part of the cohort to represent the Northern Kentucky region, and to provide the unique insights I’ve gained from living in the Cincinnati region for almost 20 years. My career has spanned local government in Hamilton and Clermont counties and now Northern Kentucky while I’ve lived in the city of Cincinnati for the last 10 years.

2)   Which of the Principles of The Connected Region Vision resonates the most with you?

Definitely, “provide people with choices that fit their lifestyle.”

3)   What are the priorities of the panel at this given time?

We had our first meeting in early September where we got to know each another, so the next step is for everyone to define their project interest areas and start to form smaller working groups.

4)  Since the panel is so new, where would you like to see it go in the next two to five years?

This group will work together for about two years. By the end of that time, I would love to have made meaningful progress on aligning the different transit organizations towards one vision. There are so many different players across the region, since we cover three states, and in each of the counties. I’m excited to see where we can find common ground.

5)   In your own words, why do you think transportation is so important when it comes to increasing quality of life?

Access. Transportation is of huge importance to me because it’s how you access all the other necessities in life. Getting to work or school, accessing groceries or healthcare, all of it depends on our transportation network in the region.

More information on Next Gen is available at https://www.theconnectedregion.com/next-gen/

Allison and her husband and their three dogs can often be found out and about in the city of Cincinnati and parks throughout the Midwest.