The fact that the Tri-State has received the federal designation as a transportation management area (TMA) may sound like semantics or typical governmental alphabet soup, but it is actually a very important distinction.

This designation, which comes from updated census data, could be just another tool in the development of the Tri-State and provide the infrastructure needed to grow our entire region.

Not only could it open Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia to more federal funding on transportation projects, it also will help facilitate all three states coming together to develop a comprehensive plan that benefits the entire region instead of a singular focus that is often redundant or less efficient.

Projects like this seem to wax and wane in terms of community engagement, but we hope that local leaders use this as a foundation to build sustainable partnerships that look at transportation for the entire area as if there were no borders.

Rail and highway access are key components to economic development and this transportation designation could certainly pave the way, no pun intended, to a brighter future for the entire region.