Posted October 13, 200519 yr COTA to propose higher fares Agency clobbered by gas prices, sales-tax crash Thursday, October 13, 2005 Kevin Kidder THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH COTA, already dealing with stalled labor negotiations, will propose route cuts and fare increases at its next meeting in a few weeks, officials said last night. The authority is considering dropping 27 routes, comprising 13 percent of the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s system, President William Lhota said. A less-drastic plan would cut 23 routes but would close COTA’s second-largest facility, the Fields Avenue light-maintenance and storage building. Full story at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/10/13/20051013-D1-02.html&chck=t
October 13, 200519 yr As you can see from the chart in the original post, the proposed service cuts would eliminate many of COTA's express routes. Given that they plan to go before the public for a sales tax levy increase in November '06, this only serves to make them even more irrelevant in the Columbus suburbs both within and outside of the I-270 outerbelt. That's important because it is the suburban voters that COTA needs most to pass a levy, which will include money for light rail. These cuts will also hurt them politically in the urban core of Columbus, which has historically voted in favor transit. Now, they face even less service. Keep in mind that COTA has consistently cut service since 2001 in an attempt to reduce costs. But they have also failed to predict increases in fuel costs, even though diesel fuel for buses (like gasoline for cars)has consistently trended upwards. They should have raised fares long before this, since riding the bus would still (at today's gasoline prices) be a bargain. But they clung to an inadeaquate fare system at a time when sales tax revenues (which account for 65% of their operating income) were steadily declining and ridership was declining as well. At least a modest fare increase would have offset some of their financial burden. Now they are spiraling into a hole that's filled with quicksand. The more they struggle, the deeper they sink. And we are all, as a community, worse off for it. To be sure, this is not all COTA's doing. The State of Ohio does little, and has done less and less each year, to support public transportation. Unlike highways, there is no steady revenue stream to fund bus and/or rail in Ohio. ODOT has consistently cut what little funding it puts into public transportation from general revenue funds, and it is prevented by Ohio law from using gas tax revenues for anything other than highways. We need to fundamentally change the way we fund transportation overall in this state. The current system made some sense when the Interstate Highway System was being built, but the need for a more diverse and balanced transportation system today is hamstrung by what is now an antiquated transportation funding system. The problem is that no one in state government seems willing to fight what would be a huge political battle to create a change in the law. That would take political courage: something that seems sadly lacking in our Statehouse.
October 13, 200519 yr bloody hell, mates! this is the kind of impudence up which the people will not put.
October 14, 200519 yr I'm hearing that the proposed service cuts by COTA, if approved, could amount to a reduction of anywhere from 75,000 hours to 95,000 hours of service. Given the service cuts that have already been made since 2000, that pretty much takes COTA down to skeletal service levels.
October 20, 200519 yr SO TO SPEAK Riding the bus much better than many might think Thursday, October 20, 2005 JOE BLUNDO (Columbus Disptach Columnist) Our shrinking bus system might be about to shrink some more. COTA, strapped for money, wants to cut 27 routes and raise fares, which will cause further declines in ridership, which will prompt further cuts in service, which will cause further declines in ridership. Oh, and there’s labor strife, too. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/features-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/10/20/20051020-E1-02.html
October 20, 200519 yr In addition, fuel prices are $2.52 per gallon this week, from an average 93 cents per gallon in 2003. That could cost COTA $1.1 million more per year if prices go no higher, Lhota said. The agency uses 2.2 million gallons of fuel annually. "COTA is facing the perfect storm," Lhota said. Shouldn't COTA be greeting higher gas prices with open arms? I know it's a big expense, but they could be using this as an opportunity to get thier ridership up. All suburban commuters are facing the same high gas prices, and could likely save money if they switched to public transportation. Rather than call it the perfect storm and ask people to feel sorry for them, they should see an opportunity for salvation.
October 20, 200519 yr The problem is that while high gas prices are driving up ridership at every other transit system in the state, COTA's is still dropping. I understand they saw a brief spike in ridership a couple of weeks ago, but the overall trends for them has been down. And even if they did see a spike in ridership, they are doing nothing to retain those riders. As soon as gasoline prices go down, which they are doing in Columbus ($2.47 a gallon today)... those folks will be back in their cars. Short-sighted on their part?.... yes.... but COTA is not doing anything to sell the message of using transit to save $$$ not only on gasoline, but on overall wear and tear on your car. Their marketing effort is all but invisible.
October 21, 200519 yr They just see a business disaster, while I see a business opportunity. A little advertising could have gone a LONG way.
October 21, 200519 yr You've got that right Brewmaster. As the saying goes: "When times are good, you should advertise. When times are bad you must advertise.
October 27, 200519 yr COTA to ask public about fare hikes, route cuts Projected $3 million deficit driving need for transit agency to consider changes Thursday, October 27, 2005 The financially troubled Central Ohio Transit Authority plans to hold public meetings in the coming weeks to ask residents what they think about proposed fare increases and service cuts. The subjects were discussed but no action taken at yesterday’s COTA board meeting. Final plans for both are expected to be presented to the board when it meets Nov. 21. Any fare increases or service cuts would go into effect in January. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/10/27/20051027-D6-03.html&chck=t
November 1, 200519 yr Some COTA riders unhappy over plan to increase fares Tuesday, November 01, 2005 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH For weeks, COTA officials have said that high fuel prices and flat sales-tax revenues are forcing an increase in bus fares. Yesterday, some riders told the Central Ohio Transit Authority that they are feeling the economic crunch as well. Alysabeth Abarnathy, a 21-year-old East Side resident who lives on a fixed income, was one of them. "I find it hard to make it as it is on the income I get," Abarnathy said after the meeting. "So the increases are going to be hard to fit in. I am going to have to work something out to get extra income, and I don’t know how I am going to do it." The COTA board is expected to act on the proposed increases this month. If approved, the increases will take effect in January. COTA has proposed boosting local fares to $1.50, from $1.25. Express fares would increase to $2, from $1.75. Monthly, daypass and some other fixedroute fares also would go up. More: http://www.dispatch.com
November 2, 200519 yr I was told today by a reliable source who attended the COTA public meeting that more than one person asked why COTA didn't start raising fares much sooner than this to at least minimize if not forestall the financial trouble they face today. My source tells me that the COTA personnel at the meeting had no answer.
November 6, 200519 yr COTA to cut 75,000 service hours Board sets meetings to seek public input on possible changes Saturday, November 05, 2005 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ruben Lopez is a faithful COTA rider, hopping aboard the express bus from Smoky Row Road every weekday. The bus takes Lopez to his state job Downtown back to Smoky Row at the end of the day. Some of the riders are disabled. Others don’t have cars or simply want to take the bus to work. "Collectively, when you put all that together, we want to keep our route," said Lopez, a Dublin resident. Full story at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/11/05/20051105-B2-02.html&chck=t
November 6, 200519 yr What puzzles me the most is that COTA has been facing this dilemna for several years and is only now considering raising fares? Even if a fare increase is approved, a cut of 75,000 hours would seem to almost cancel out most if not all of whatever benefit a fare increase would bring.
November 11, 200519 yr PUBLIC MEETINGS Riders beg COTA not to cancel routes Friday, November 11, 2005 Kevin Kidder THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Like many people who gathered at COTA’s Easton Transit Center this week, Elizabeth Smoot can’t get to her job without using the bus. In her case, several buses. The North Side woman also depends on the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s buses to attend class at Franklin University, do her grocery shopping and go shoe shopping. So when COTA asked for public comment on how it should reduce bus service, she decided to give the agency some feedback. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/11/11/20051111-C1-02.html&chck=t
November 12, 200519 yr COTA may be in for more bad news. One of my contacts within the authority tells me the Columbus Dispatch has been asking about the COTA-funded daycare center next to the Easton Transit Center. The center was completed almost a year ago and is sitting vacant, because a day care operator has either not been found or signed to a contract.... which would otherwise be bringing revenue from the leased space to COTA. Not a good time for this story when they are losing both riders and money.
November 13, 200519 yr COTA left with empty day-care center at Easton CMACAO’s demise also costs agency some rental revenue Sunday, November 13, 2005 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The idea was that people could take a bus to the Easton Transit Center, drop their children at the day-care center and then go off to work. But when the Columbus Metropolitan Area Community Action Organization folded earlier this year, COTA was left without anyone to run the center. Now, the $1.8 million building, which was ready to open in late summer, remains idle while the Central Ohio Transit Authority searches for a new tenant. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/11/13/20051113-C4-00.html&chck=t
November 15, 200519 yr WBNS-TV in Columbus is reporting a tentative agreement with the Transport Workers Union on a new contract, avoiding a strike. No details yet. I'm sure it will be in the Columbus Disptach tomorrow.
November 23, 200519 yr LATEST NEWS Business First of Columbus - 11:32 AM EST Tuesday COTA OK's fare hikes, readies for strike Tony Goins Business First The Central Ohio Transit Authority's board approved increases in fares Monday night, even as it braced for a possible strike. The strike became a possibility after COTA's main union, Local 208 of the Transport Workers Union of America, voted down a tentative contract Sunday. The union must give 10 days' notice before walking off the job. Representatives for the union were not immediately available for comment Tuesday morning. COTA and the union have a negotiating session set for Friday, said Bill Lhota, the authority's president and CEO. Between 20,000 and 25,000 people rely on COTA every day to get where they're going, he said. More at: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2005/11/21/daily11.html
December 10, 200519 yr COTA cutting back At least 50 jobs to be lost; agency details which routes will be eliminated Saturday, December 10, 2005 Robert Ruth THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Four COTA bus routes and more than 50 positions will be eliminated under a costcutting plan announced yesterday. More than 50 trips on other routes will be cut and seven routes will be shortened, meaning buses won’t travel as far on them. More at: http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/12/10/20051210-A1-00.html
December 10, 200519 yr COTA schedule changes These are the changes in COTA bus schedules that are due to take effect Jan. 2. "Stretched service" means that buses might come to stops every 40 minutes, instead of every 30 minutes. No. 2 E. Main Street -- Stretched service. No. 2 N. High Street -- Stretched service. No. 3 Northwest Boulevard -- Stretched service. No. 3 W. Mound Street -- Stretched service. No. 4 Indianola Avenue -- Stretched service. No. 4 Parsons Avenue -- Stretched service. No. 5 W. 5th Avenue -- Stretched service. No. 6 Mt. Vernon Avenue -- Stretched service. No. 6 Sullivant Avenue -- Stretched service. No. 9 Leonard/Brentnell -- Stretched service. No. 10 E. Broad Street -- Stretched service. No. 10 W. Broad Street -- Stretched service. No. 11 -- Oak/Bryden -- Stretched service. No. 11 St. Clair Avenue -- Stretched service. No. 12 McKinley/Fields -- Entire route eliminated. No. 15 Grove City -- Stretched service; modified route to end at Killdeer and Thistlewood drives. No. 16 Long Street -- Stretched service. No 16 S. High Street -- Stretched service. Added service to the Urgent Care Facility at S. High Street and Southwood Avenue. No. 19 Arlington/Grandview -- Lengthened service frequency at peak hours from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. No. 29 Polaris -- Discontinue 8 a.m. trip departing City Center Terminal to Bank One; discontinue 4:18 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal to 1900 Polaris Parkway; discontinue 5:53 p.m. trip departing 1900 Polaris Parkway to High and Broad streets. No. 30 Smoky Row Road -- Discontinue 6:49 a.m. trip departing Smoky View and Smoky Row; and 4:14 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal to Smoky View and Smoky Row.; 7:12 a.m. trip departing Smoky View and Smoky Row will depart at 7:02 a.m. No. 31 Worthington -- Combine 6:25 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. trips departing Crosswoods Park and Ride to City Center into one trip departing at 6:35 a.m.; trips departing Crosswoods at 7:06 a.m., 7:22 a.m. and 7:36 a.m. will depart at 7 a.m., 7:17 a.m. and 7:31 a.m., respectively. No. 33 North Central -- Combine 6:28 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. trips departing Westerville Park and Ride into one trip departing at 6:43 a.m.; discontinue 5:11 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal. No. 34 Karl Road -- Discontinue 7:15 a.m. and 5:29 p.m. trips departing Ambleside Drive and Rt. 161, 4:43 p.m. trip departing North Terminal and 6:03 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal; 7:50 a.m. trip departing Ambleside Drive at Rt. 161 and 5:35 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal to depart at 7:43 a.m. and 5:50 p.m., respectively. No. 35 Tamarack -- Discontinue 6:43 a.m. trip departing Sharon Woods Boulevard and Skywae; 4:32 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal to depart at 4:36 p.m. No. 36 Annehurst -- Discontinue 5:45 p.m. trip departing S. High and Mound streets. No. 37 Westerville -- Discontinue 7:05 a.m., 7:48 a.m. and 6:02 p.m. trips departing Westerville Park and Ride and 6:05 a.m. trip departing City Center Terminal; 5:44 a.m., 6:12 a.m., 6:40 a.m., 8:05 a.m., 4:01 p.m. and 4:59 p.m. trips departing Westerville Park and Ride to depart at 5:54 a.m., 6:24 a.m., 6:54 a.m., 8:02 a.m., 3:55 p.m. and 4:53 p.m., respectively. No. 38 E. Westerville -- Discontiunue 4:42 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal and 6:40 a.m. trip departing Strawberry Farms Boulevard and Forest Edge Drive. No. 39 New Albany -- Discontinue 5:09 p.m. trip departing Broad Street and Davis Avenue and 7:22 a.m. trip departing New Albany Park and Ride. No. 45 Reynoldsburg -- Discontinue 4:46 p.m., 5:16 p.m., 5:40 p.m. and 6:12 p.m. trips departing North Terminal, 4:42 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal and 6:30 a.m., 6:41 a.m., 7:08 a.m. and 8:13 a.m. trips departing Reynoldsburg Park and Ride; discontinue all service east of Reynoldsburg Park and Ride; 6:18 a.m. trip departing City Center Terminal to depart North Terminal at 6:13 a.m.; 6:54 a.m. and 5:39 p.m. departing Reynoldsburg Park and Ride to depart at 6:44 a.m. and 5:18 p.m., respectively. 46 Eastland -- Discontinue 7:46 a.m. trip departing Hamilton and Refugee roads; 4:05 p.m. and 5:33 p.m. trips departing North Terminal to depart at 4:08 p.m. and 5:20 p.m., respectively; 6:11 a.m., 6:32 a.m. and 7:11 a.m. trips departing Winchest Pike and Noe Bixby Road to depart at 6:16 a.m., 6:36 a.m. and 7:12 a.m., respectively; route no longer serve Petzinger Loop or south of Winchester Pike and Noe Bixby Road. No. 47 Brice Road -- Increase service from Downtown to Reynoldsburg Park and Ride. No. 49 Southeast -- Discontinue 6:30 a.m. trip departing High Street and Rt. 33 and 4:41 p.m. trip departing North Terminal. No. 51 ODOT/ODPS -- Change 7:13 a.m. trip departing City Center Terminal to depart at 7:34 a.m. No. 53 Lincoln Village -- Discontinue 6:34 a.m. trip departing Old Village and W. Broad Street and 5:13 p.m. trip departing E. Broad and 3rd streets. No. 56 Tuttle Crossing -- Discontinue 6:20 a.m. trip departing City Center Terminal and 3:34 p.m. trip departing Emerald Parkway and Tuttle Crossing; 4:01 p.m. and 4:24 p.m. trips departing Emerald Park and Tuttle Crossing to depart at 4:05 p.m. and 4:28 p.m., respectively. No. 57 Hillard -- Combine 6:21 a.m. and 6:53 a.m. trips departing Tuttle Crossing and Britton Parkway into one trip departing at 6:33 a.m. No. 58 Dublin -- Discontinue 8:27 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. trips departing Dublin Park and Ride; 5:12 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal to depart at 5:16 p.m. No. 60 Arlington -- Discontinue 6:13 p.m. trip departing City Center Terminal and 6:55 a.m. and 5:41 p.m. trips departing Mackenzie and Reed drives. No. 61 Kenny Road -- Discontinue 7:03 a.m. trip departing Abbey Church and Sawmill roads; 7:08 a.m. trip departing Resler Drive and Sawmill Road will depart at 6:58 a.m.; route will end at Resler Drive and Sawmill Road. No. 64 Grove City -- Discontinue 7:50 a.m. departing Mound and S. High streets, 8:22 a.m. and 5:16 p.m. trips departing Grove City Park and Ride and 5:43 p.m. departing W. Main and S. Front streets. No. 67 E. Hilliard -- Discontinue 6:45 a.m. departing Hilliard Park and Ride; 6:18 a.m. departing W. Broad and Front streets and 7:19 a.m. departing Hilliard Park and Ride to depart at 6:16 a.m. and 7:11 a.m., respectively. No. 72 Easton COTA LINK -- Entire route eliminated. No. 81 Hudson Street -- Stretched service. No. 83 -- Oakland/Weber -- Stretched service. No. 88 Busch Boulevard -- Entire route eliminated. No. 92 James/Stelzer -- First two southbound trips will start at Allegheny Avenue and James Road rather than Port Columbus. No. 95 Morse/Henderson -- First eastbound trip will start at Henderson Road and High Street rather than Mackenzie Drive and Reed Road; last two westbound trips will end at Bethel Road and Olentangy River Road rather than Mackenzie Drive and Reed Road. No. 96 W. 5th Avenue -- Morning and afternoon-evening trips will be shortened. No. 97 Georgesville/Phillipi -- Entire route eliminated.
December 14, 200519 yr COTA riders vent frustrations over closed routes Cost-saving cuts will hurt, say 50 at hearing Wednesday, December 14, 2005 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Caroline Lentz still will be able to ride the COTA bus every morning to her bank job Downtown. It is getting home to Worthington that worries her. Starting Jan. 2, the No. 33 North Central Express bus will make one trip from Downtown on weekday afternoons, leaving from the City Center terminal at 4:41 p.m. A second trip that now leaves at 5:11 p.m. is being eliminated. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/12/14/20051214-E8-01.html&chck=t
December 15, 200519 yr Heard from a COTA driver today that even after this round of layoffs are over, another is being planned for after the first of the year.
December 20, 200519 yr CENTRAL OHIO TRANSIT AUTHORITY COTA forecasting balanced budgets Tuesday, December 20, 2005 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH With a new labor contract, increased fares and reduced bus service, COTA is forecasting balanced operating budgets the next two years. The Central Ohio Transit Authority hasn’t had one since 2002. "We are forecasting for ’06 and ’07 that we will not have to have service reductions and fare increases unless there is some significant external event, such as sales taxes going way down," COTA President and Chief Executive Officer William Lhota said after yesterday’s COTA board meeting. More at: http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/12/20/20051220-C5-00.html&chck=t
December 20, 200519 yr Still, Lhota and an administrative staff of about 150 will receive 3 percent wage increases in January. Lhota’s salary is $125,000 a year. I love how they slipped that in to stir up controversy. Someone should tell the Dispatch that $125,000/yr for a CEO is chump change. I'm amazed that he is even putting up with all of these headaches for that.
December 20, 200519 yr BTW: I had lunch with a COTA contact of mine and another 75,000 hours of service cuts are planned for next year.
January 5, 200619 yr Instead of going hat-in-hand begging employers to be more flexible, Lhota ought to calling a summit of local employers to stand uyp for better transit funding and building political support for a future levy. I see none of that happening here in Columbus and they still haven't officially said they are running a levy in November of this year. The clock is ticking and COTA is fritering away each second. COTA asks bosses of bus riders to be more flexible After route cuts, Downtown workers are being forced to adjust schedules Thursday, January 05, 2006 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Daniel Paulos is showing up at work a little earlier these days. Instead of arriving at his accounting job at 8 a.m., he gets Downtown about 30 minutes earlier. That allows him to leave work in time to catch the No. 60 Arlington Express bus at N. 4 th and E. Gay streets at 4:53 p.m. Paulos said his bosses don’t seem to mind him changing his work hours a little. Full story at: http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/01/05/20060105-C10-01.html
January 18, 200619 yr From the 1/18/06 OSU Lantern: PHOTO: A man boards a COTA bus traveling south on North High Street outside of the Ohio Union. Media Credit: Ishmael Ali Elias High Street bus routes not among COTA cuts By: Joe Weagraff Issue date: 1/18/06 Section: Campus Students at Ohio State may have held their breaths as they read the list of cancelled COTA bus routes, a precious mode of convenient transportation around campus, as the mass-transit provider recently announced that it would cancel several routes and increase its fares. The Jan. 2 announcement came with a sigh of relief from the students and faculty who depend on the Central Ohio Transit Authority to get them to and from school. The changes will not affect campus service, or anything relatively near the university, as only four routes have been discontinued. For more detailed information about changes in COTA services and route maps, visit cota.com. More: http://www.thelantern.com/media/paper333/news/2006/01/18/Campus/High-Street.Bus.Routes.Not.Among.Cota.Cuts-1434916.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.thelantern.com
January 19, 200619 yr Belinda Taylor is full of it. To suggest that frequency changes don't affect service is a monstrous lie. Having worked on the inside at COTA, even a ten minute longer period between buses on the #2 North High Street will impact travel both ways. What she also forgets is that it isn't just the OSU campus that's affected. It affects the entire route from downtown through the Crosswoods (north of Worthington). COTA is doing nothing to improve service. They are taking service that already is poor and making it worse. And even though there are no actual cuts on High Street (historically their busiest route), Taylor fails to mention that many of the routes that are being cut often connect with High Street, making the High Street route useless to anyone traveling beyond that route. Frankly, COTA should be shut down and a new, larger regional transit authority or port authority should be created to develop and run a real transit system. COTA may be making their bottom line look good to the local titans, but in the process those cuts are making public transit more and more irrelevant to the community as a whole.
March 12, 200619 yr COTA looking into allowing buses to use highway shoulders Sunday, March 12, 2006 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ever wish you could pull onto the freeway shoulder and bypass all that traffic? The Central Ohio Transit Authority has dreamed that dream and hopes the state will let its buses travel where only emergency vehicles are now allowed. COTA officials sat down last week with the Ohio Department of Transportation and proposed allowing COTA buses to travel on the right shoulder. Full story at: http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/03/12/20060312-D1-03.html
March 13, 200619 yr Maybe by doing this, people will begin to reconsider taking the bus. It may also help COTA to revive its image and change how it works.In the article, Lahota said "We need to think outside of the box and look at everything, recognizing some of the stuff may not work." I hope this does change COTA's image and signal that a major change is in the future!
March 13, 200619 yr Don't hold your breath. This is the same LHOTA and COTA that have backed off light rail. At a recent meeting, his VP of development said (quote) "the backbone of COTA will always be buses." But I share your hope that this will change.
March 13, 200619 yr Poor little COTA! What was the name of the bus company in Columbus before COTA? Did they do a better job before COTA came along.
March 13, 200619 yr The Columbus Transit Company was the predecessor of COTA. I think the future of transit in Columbus and Central Ohio lies in dismantling COTA and replacing it with a multi-county regional transit authority. It makes sense when you consider that the Greater Columbus area has grown well into the adjoining counties and they are now facing the kind of mobility demands once faced only by Columbus. It would also bring a bigger pot of money into play to create a bigger, broader and better transit system that addresses the way the are has grown (sprawled). I think creating a true light rail "system" stands a better chance under this scenario than it does currently under COTA, which can't seem to do anything but try to make people feel sorry enough to vote for a levy that will gives us only more of the same bus-only system.
March 13, 200619 yr Here's fun project for someone to do. The demise of COTA. Do a full history from its creation out of the ashes of the Columbus Transit Company, through the Buck Reinhert admin and it's slow demise starting in the Lushuka years through to its current place as a shell of its former self. Would make an interesting newspaper article, or a fun term paper (IMO).
March 13, 200619 yr I think the future of transit in Columbus and Central Ohio lies in dismantling COTA and replacing it with a multi-county regional transit authority. It makes sense when you consider that the Greater Columbus area has grown well into the adjoining counties and they are now facing the kind of mobility demands once faced only by Columbus. It would also bring a bigger pot of money into play to create a bigger, broader and better transit system that addresses the way the are has grown (sprawled). I couldn't agree more. I've always wondered why COTA has not spearheaded any kind of movement to creat such an all-encompassing system with the local governments in Union, Delaware, Fairfield, and Licking counties. The reason is pretty clear now, but hopefully with the planned street car project being forged without them, it will give COTA some incentive to continue lookin outside the box, and outside the county for new revenue streams and ultimately a better transportation system.
April 12, 200619 yr COTA expects big savings, better smell with biodiesel Wednesday, April 12, 2006 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The aroma of popcorn could fill the air of Columbus soon. This month, the Central Ohio Transit Authority started running its buses on biodiesel, a cleanerburning fuel than diesel. Although currently running on a mix of 20 percent biodiesel (soybean and other vegetable oils) and 80 percent low-sulfur diesel, the authority plans to up the ratio to 50/50 in May and 90 percent bio in June, when temperatures are higher. Full story at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/04/12/20060412-B1-03.html
April 12, 200619 yr now with the money they save, we should give huge bonuses to Lhota and the board for the way they have been running cota. they deserve it soooooo much!!! oh, and don't forget to cut some more lines and service frequency.
May 12, 200619 yr COTA trying to curb unruly riders Bus agency taking action after one woman was punched and another was threatened Friday, May 12, 2006 Tim Doulin THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Chewing gum. A roll of the eyes. Sometimes that’s all it takes to start a fight on a Central Ohio Transit Authority bus. One morning last month, Kate Curry boarded a bus on N. High Street in Clintonville to head Downtown to her job at a restaurant. The bus was crowded, but she found an open seat next to a teenage girl. Full story at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/05/12/20060512-E1-03.html
May 12, 200619 yr A woman I know quit her job as a bus driver in Fort Wayne because she got tired of being hit by riders. She said she was never hit by a man; it was always girls and women who did it, because she wouldn't make change, wouldn't stop at some location that wasn't a marked stop, etc.
May 16, 200619 yr I wish somebody on the bus would have punched back! These punks make me sick..I see it here in Cleveland at times. These people act like they don't have to obey the rules of society. I know I DO say stuff and make it obvious that I am pissed when people act like freakin animals...I guess one day I will get shot or a knife in the gut....but that is just my Irish temperment (and being 6'3" and 240 sometimes helps!)
May 25, 200619 yr Yeah, one of my buddies rode COTA every day for a while and had way too many stories (for that short of a time period) about insanity on the buses.
May 25, 200619 yr I wish somebody on the bus would have punched back! These punks make me sick..I see it here in Cleveland at times. These people act like they don't have to obey the rules of society. I know I DO say stuff and make it obvious that I am pissed when people act like freakin animals...I guess one day I will get shot or a knife in the gut....but that is just my Irish temperment (and being 6'3" and 240 sometimes helps!) I agree. Its mostly unruly kids but I see it in NYC or DC when I ride the subways in those cities. However, If someone hit me...I'd spank their ass like they stole something! But then again, I'm 6'4", 195 lbs...and nobody is gonna start any shit with me! Tall people rule!!!
May 25, 200619 yr ... But then again, I'm 6'4", 195 lbs...and nobody is gonna start any shit with me! Tall people rule!!! I could prolly bite you on the ankle and be a block away 'fore you ever seen who done it! :evil:
May 25, 200619 yr I could prolly bite you on the ankle and be a block away 'fore you ever seen who done it! :evil: Damn rats!! :shoot:
May 25, 200619 yr A woman I know quit her job as a bus driver in Fort Wayne because she got tired of being hit by riders. She said she was never hit by a man; it was always girls and women who did it, because she wouldn't make change, wouldn't stop at some location that wasn't a marked stop, etc. thats terrible. anyone does that in nyc these days they are going straight to rikers. they passed some law a few yrs ago that put a stop to that nonsense. no messin with the drivers -- they have stickers warning ya on all the transit too. now us customers otoh are left to ankle bite, machine gun and otherwise fend for ourselves. ha!
May 26, 200619 yr now us customers otoh are left to ankle bite, machine gun and otherwise fend for ourselves. ha! You aint never lied about that! Picture it...the Bronx....1998. I'm coming home from a party in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. At the time I lived in Brooklyn Hts. My plan is to take the 1 train south and transfer to the A train to Brooklyn Hts. It's about 2 AM, I'm minding my own business and since I knew I would have to transfer at 168 Street, I decided to move to the middle of the train, at this point I'm one of the last few cars. As I prepare to move toward the middle of the car this guy says, "nice bag" (in Spanish) , I'm like "ok thanks" and I keep it movin'. I start to pass thru cars and I notice that the guy is behind me. This happens for 3 cars, as I enter the middle car (on the old "red bird" line, one end of the car you can enter the other is locked so the conductor can move between cars based on what side of the car the platform is on) he is really close behind and all of a sudden I hear, "give me your bag!" I don't even turn around 'cause I wasn't sure that was for me..Next thing you know I hear it again, and I look over my left shoulder and down and the guy is reaching towards my backpack and he pull a gun out on me. All of a sudden the few people on the train make a B-LINE for the door as this macadamian nut tells me he's going shot me unless I give him my bag. However, this nut didn't realize, nothing come between me and my Prada! I just remember screaming ,"shot me and you better make sure I don't get up ... because if you miss, I'm gonna f*ck you up!" and then he shoves the gun into my cheek. then i noticed he was sweating profusiously and shaking, and yelling that he's gonna kill me...next thing I know the police rush the train and while was distracted I sucker punched him. But the police point guns at me and scared the hell out of me, and one officer is screaming in English the other in Spanish as they didn't think I spoke English. NYPD officer can be scarier than criminals! I was so freaked I had a lil "accident". :| Come to find out the guy has been stalking people on trains for months and the gun he shoved in my face was a fuckin' toy! That experience made me realize how much I appreciate the Shaker Rapid.....and the CPD, minus my Ex!
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