Central Ohio Transit Authority

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) serves a service area of 1.2 million residents, providing nearly 19 million passenger trips annually. COTA offers a variety of services including COTA Bus, Zoo Bus, CBUS (Downtown Circulator), COTA AirConnect, COTA C-pass, COTA//Plus (On Demand), CMAX (Rapid Transit Bus), and COTA Mainstream/Paratransit. The organization has received the Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award from the American Public Transportation Association in 2018 and 2020. COTA operates with a strategic plan for 2019-2024 and has initiatives like LinkUS to enhance mobility and transportation systems. The Go! Mobility Lab collaborates with thought leaders and innovators to improve transit, while the Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) covers the period from 2023 to 2027. COTA’s Smartcard system offers benefits such as fare capping and simplified transfers, and the C-pass program provides no-cost, unlimited rides for eligible downtown workers and residents. The fleet includes 429 vehicles, with 24 electric buses and 251 compressed natural gas buses. COTA’s Transit System Redesign (TSR) launched in 2017 to create a new bus network with simplified routes and increased frequency. The CMAX rapid transit line connects major destinations along Cleveland Avenue between downtown Columbus and Polaris. Mainstream On-Demand service provides private, accessible, same-day, door-to-door service. The Connector app and Smartcard system allow cashless boarding. The CBUS service is a free downtown circulator with nearly 30 stops, and AirConnect provides direct transit between Downtown Columbus and John Glenn International Airport. COTA//Plus offers on-demand rides in designated zones. The Strategic Response Specialist Team provides security support and connects vulnerable customers to resources. The new $24.3 million Mobility Center at Rickenbacker aims to boost economic development and provide community services. The Income Assistance Program offers a 50% discount for customers in countywide programs like SNAP and Medicaid, and the educational pass program supports transportation for Columbus City Schools students in grades 9-12. The fleet includes advanced air filtration systems to reduce the spread of germs and diseases. Since 2019, the Transit Stop Improvement Program has added 145 shelters and improved nearly 165 transit stops.