December 4, 200816 yr Even more service additions being considered by COTA. This is very encouraging. COTA to revise more routes, add more Park & Ride lots Thursday, December 4, 2008 5:57 AM By Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Even before COTA makes its latest bus route changes, the transit authority is preparing to expand again in spring 2009. The Central Ohio Transit Authority will tweak 28 of its 54 routes and open two Park & Ride facilities Jan. 5 in a continuing effort to rebuild a bus system that had been whittled to the bone earlier in the decade. At a public hearing yesterday, COTA officials went over changes announced earlier and mentioned a few more. Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/12/04/COTAexpress.ART_ART_12-04-08_B3_1TC4H7C.html?sid=101
December 16, 200816 yr COTA drivers get a big lift Deal to make starting pay more competitive Tuesday, December 16, 2008 3:18 AM By Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Newly hired COTA drivers will get whopping pay increases under a proposed contract that union members approved yesterday. At a time when some central Ohioans feel lucky to be hanging onto jobs at all, and others are swallowing pay cuts and salary freezes, the bus company is offering double-digit raises to roughly 130 of its 520 union members. Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/12/16/copy/COTApact.ART_ART_12-16-08_A1_EOC8GFV.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
January 7, 200916 yr See the action alert from the American Public Transportation Association posted at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14971.msg357239.html#msg357239 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 10, 200916 yr Extra-long buses that bend might be around bend for COTA Columbus gives OK to two-cabin coaches, which would be used on busiest routes Monday, February 9, 2009 7:49 PM By Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Before streetcars, trolleys or trains, central Ohioans might see those funky two-part buses on our streets. Articulated buses, which have two cabins connected by a flexible, accordion-like hinge, are on COTA's list for the future. The Central Ohio Transit Authority asked the Columbus and Upper Arlington city councils to allow the buses on their streets. The Columbus council voted tonight to allow the longer buses: 66 feet, compared with the former limit of 48feet. Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/09/articulate.html?sid=101
February 21, 200916 yr Sales tax skid may collide with COTA expansion bid Business First of Columbus - by Adrian Burns Friday, February 20, 2009 The Central Ohio Transit Authority is keeping a wary eye on its main revenue source as the area’s economy withers in the recession. With 52 percent of its funding this year expected to come from sales tax receipts, the bus system has begun to feel the pinch as consumers cut spending. COTA officials budgeted for a 2.5 percent drop in spending as a precaution, but the deepening recession has them on guard for a steeper decline that could lead to a revised spending plan for the rest of the year. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/02/23/story3.html
February 23, 200916 yr Interesting contrast between the story above and this one from the Columbus Dispatch: Effect of 2006 voter approval Extra tax money fuels COTA Upgrades, expansion stand out as other transit systems cut Monday, February 23, 2009 3:13 AM By Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH While the city and state plan painful budget cuts, COTA is expanding. The Central Ohio Transit Authority is adding routes, buying buses, fixing up garages, planning to move its administrative offices Downtown and talking about light rail again. "We have the money to expand service," said COTA President Bill Lhota. Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/23/COTABux.ART_ART_02-23-09_B1_BED0M0V.html?sid=101
February 23, 200916 yr Interesting contrast between the (Business First) story above and this one from the Columbus Dispatch Yes that was an interesting contrast. Not sure if the reporters were looking at the COTA sales tax information from a different perspective or if its different writing styles. But I usually look to Business First for the most accurate and comprehensive coverage on the business issues it writes about.
March 14, 200916 yr COTA Ridership Up Significantly in 2008 http://www.columbusunderground.com/cota-ridership-up-significantly-in-2008 Press Release: COTA’s Growth Outpaces Transit Agencies in Ohio and Nationally The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) provided over 16.4 million passenger trips in 2008, an increase of nearly 10 percent over 2007. On an average weekday, 57,000 passenger trips are taken on COTA. Nationally, public transit ridership was up 4 percent in 2008 according to a report released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on Monday. Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation last year, the highest level of ridership in 52 years. COTA’s ridership increase was among the highest among comparable transit authorities. Along with volatile fuel prices, COTA’s ongoing service expansion program and the upgrading of its bus fleet are making transit a convenient and economical option for central Ohio residents. “We are pleased to welcome more customers to COTA,” said Bill Lhota, President/CEO. “Fortunately we are able to accommodate the higher demand for transit by adding more service and new routes.” COTA is expanding service by 60,000 hours annually by adding service to its busiest routes, introducing service to new destinations and adding new express routes. The Authority is acquiring 40 new coaches annually, adding Park & Ride locations, investing in the renovation of its fixed-route bus facilities, and constructing a new facility for Mainstream, its demand response service for people with disabilities. The increases in 2008 are continuing in 2009. For the week ending March 1, COTA ridership was up 7.6 percent over the same week a year ago. Year-to-date ridership is up 4.5 percent. “The fact that our ridership continues to grow indicates that commuters are realizing significant savings by opting for public transit over driving,” Lhota said. “Our challenge is to continue expanding the system while maintaining a high level of customer service.” To see the complete APTA ridership report go to http://www.apta.com/research/stats/ridership For more information about COTA, log on to www.cota.com or call (614) 228-1776.
March 14, 200916 yr Also some additional data & analysis of these COTA ridership numbers over at XING COLUMBUS. http://xingcolumbus.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/cota-ridership-up-but-still-room-for-improvement/
April 4, 200916 yr COTA adds, tweaks routes Express bus will connect Hilliard, OSU campus Saturday, April 4, 2009 5:42 AM By Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH An express bus between Ohio State University and Hilliard will be among the new and revised COTA routes that take effect May 4. The No. 66 Hilliard/OSU Express will run two trips to Ohio State on weekday mornings and two return trips in the evenings. University-bound buses will start the morning from the Hilliard Park & Ride on Cemetery Road at 6:29 and 6:56 a.m. and begin making stops on campus at 7:11 and 7:41 a.m. Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/04/COTAroutes.ART_ART_04-04-09_B1_DHDF2N2.html?sid=101
April 8, 200916 yr <b>CU Podcast Episode #13: Coffee with Jeff Johnson</b> By Walker | April 2, 2009 In this week’s podcast we sit down for coffee with Jeff Johnson of Urban In-Fill and The Merion Village Blog to discuss a variety of topics including his “COTA Challenge” experiences, a recent trip to our economic-rival of Indianapolis, rail transportation in the Midwest, urban vegetable gardening, and the ever-changing landscape of our south side neighborhoods. Listen/download here: http://blip.tv/file/get/ColumbusUnderground-CUPodcastEpisode13CoffeeWithJeffJohnson603.mp3
April 25, 200916 yr COTA's growth keeps rolling Lower gas prices haven't stopped ridership increase Saturday, April 25, 2009 2:02 PM By Bill Bush THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH When gasoline prices surged to more than $4 a gallon last summer, the number of COTA riders surged along with it. The Central Ohio Transit Authority handled about 4.2 million trips in the third quarter of last year, up about 15 percent over the third quarter of 2007. Ridership is still up, even though gas prices plunged to under $2 late last year. The 3.84 million passenger trips on COTA during the first three months of this year is up about 6 percent over that quarter last year, and up about 12 percent over the first quarter of 2007. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/26/wheelsonthebus.html?sid=101
April 26, 200916 yr I can attest to the savings, my wife and I parked one of our vehicles over a year ago and began carpooling in to work in the mornings and I would take COTA home at night. Between savings on gas and the $90 a month for parking, we estimated our savings at around $7,000.
May 4, 200916 yr COTA express bus service now links Hilliard, OSU Monday, May 4, 2009 5:48 AM If your daily commute takes you from the Hilliard area to Ohio State University, COTA unveils a new express bus route today that could be your ticket to work or school. The COTA Route 66 Hilliard/OSU Express starts its first run at the Park and Ride lot at Cemetery Road and I-270. From there, it goes west to Main Street and south down Hilliard-Rome Road to I-70, then directly to OSU. For more details, go to www.cota.com. Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/05/04/brcota.html?sid=101
May 5, 200916 yr Friday, May 1, 2009 | Modified: Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 8:00am EDT Dim view of area transit options drives young workers’ frustrations Business First of Columbus - by Jeff Bell Mike Easterday has a straightforward answer to community officials wondering what they can do to make Central Ohio’s transportation system more appealing to young workers. “I want to know I can use it to get somewhere,” said Easterday, an accountant and member of a young professionals group in Columbus. But that’s not the case sometimes, said Easterday and others who were part of a panel discussion during ColumbusChamber’s recent Government Day program. They talked about bus routes and bikeways that don’t get them where they want to go, and said they like the idea of building a passenger rail system in Columbus. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/05/04/story15.html?b=1241409600^1821548
May 8, 200916 yr This really crosses several modes, but COTA is a big part of this article in Columbus Alive and part of a much larger series of stories on What Columbus Needs: What Columbus Needs: Transportation Moving people, not cars Thursday, May 7, 2009 7:09 AM By John Ross Respondents to the What Columbus Needs survey agreed that the city needs to improve public transportation, with nearly 60 percent saying the system in Columbus is much worse than networks in other cities. What they didn't agree on is how to do it. User-generated comments clashed on whether Columbus needs more bike paths, intercity passenger rail, streetcars or suburban trolleys. But nearly all agreed that car-centric Central Ohio needs to adopt the sort of multimodal system seen in larger, flourishing metropolises. Read more at http://www.columbusalive.com/live/content/features/stories/2009/05/07/ca_u_needstransport.html?sid=108
June 14, 200916 yr Please vote! The current tally is 36% for, 64% against. More money for public transit? http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/more-money-for-public-transit.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 24, 200915 yr From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/cota-unveils-new-late-night-weekend-bus-route <b>COTA Unveils New Late Night Weekend Bus Route</b> By Walker | July 21, 2009 8:45pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/cota-21.jpg"> One of the most frequently requested COTA upgrades on Columbus Underground would have to be the addition of a late night weekend bus route serving High Street that runs until the bars close down. It sounds like COTA has been listening to your requests. In September, COTA will be launching a new route (numbered appropriately as the #21) that will run a loop from the Clintonville area down High Street to the Arena District from 7pm to 2:30am on Friday an Saturday nights. We’ll post timetables, maps, and other details as soon as they are made available. The only thing the line needs now is a catchy nickname. Any suggestions?
July 26, 200915 yr COTA considers real-time info system Riders might one day get phone messages on next bus's location Sunday, July 26, 2009 3:47 AM By Bill Bush THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Where's the bus? That's a question that Xandon Armentrout has asked himself many times while waiting at a COTA stop. Not knowing how long the wait will be can be frustrating -- especially when the bus is late or you're not sure if you've already missed it. COTA will inch closer to that goal once an $8.1 million bus-tracking upgrade is running in early 2011. The Central Ohio Transit Authority could then hire a third-party service to provide real-time bus-tracking information via text messaging. Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/26/COTA_in_real-time.ART_ART_07-26-09_B1_FLEJ77I.html?sid=101
August 1, 200915 yr From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/cota-unveils-new-late-night-weekend-bus-route COTA Unveils New Late Night Weekend Bus Route By Walker | July 21, 2009 8:45pm COTA considers real-time info system Riders might one day get phone messages on next bus's location Sunday, July 26, 2009, 3:47 AM By Bill Bush, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/26/COTA_in_real-time.ART_ART_07-26-09_B1_FLEJ77I.html?sid=101 Sounds like a couple of good ideas from COTA. Especially the real-time bus location info. However all is not rainbows and kittens for COTA. As the following article from Business First shows, the national recession is hitting COTA's bottom line and they are adjusting their budget to keep in line with lower revenues.
August 1, 200915 yr COTA applying brakes as tax revenue weakens Business First of Columbus - by Adrian Burns Friday, July 31, 2009 Columbus-area consumers are spending less in a down economy and it’s pinching the finances of the Central Ohio Transit Authority. COTA has seen its portion of sales tax revenue, its main funding source for operations, fall $2 million short of expectations to $51.6 million through July. The outlook for the remainder of the year isn’t pretty, officials said. To stay within its budget and brace for further tax revenue shortfalls, COTA has curtailed hiring and employee business travel and will examine cost cutting that could include slowing its multiyear plan to increase service hours. http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/08/03/story4.html?b=1249272000^1869745
August 1, 200915 yr New Service Adjustments to take effect September 7th: <b>PRESS RELEASE</b> COTA makes adjustments to its service three times a year (January, May and September). · Cleveland #1 – Weekdays – The loop around the former Schottenstein warehouse will be removed from all trips. Travel times will be modified in the Polaris to St. Ann’s Hospital portion of the line. More service is now traveling north of Northern Lights to and from Polaris Parkway and Africa Road. Bus arrival/departure frequencies from downtown remain similar to the current schedule. Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · Cleveland #1 – Saturday- Travel times will be modified in the downtown area to improve on-time performance and the loop around the former Schottenstein warehouse will be removed from all trips. · Cleveland #1 – Sunday – Travel times will be modified in the downtown area to improve on-time performance and the loop around the former Schottenstein warehouse will be removed from all trips. · Livingston #1 – Weekdays – Travel times will be modified in the downtown area to improve on-time performance. · Livingston #1 – Saturday – Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · Livingston #1 – Sunday – Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · N. High St./E Main St. #2 – All days – To make the system more user friendly, all buses will now display destination codes to designate which end of the route a bus is heading towards. For example, a N. High St. bus with a destination header of < 2G N. High St> would signify that bus is heading to Graceland Shopping Center. · E. Main St. #2 – Weekdays - Travel times will be modified and trip times shifted to improve on-time performance. · E. Main St. #2 – Saturday - Travel times will be modified and trip times shifted to improve on-time performance. · E. Main St. #2 – Sunday – Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · N. High St. #2 – Weekdays - Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. Two additional southbound A.M. trips will be added to reduce overcrowding. Due to low ridership and as part of an effort to improve the directness of service, the number of trips serving the Colonial Hills neighborhood will be reduced from five (5) A.M. and five (5) P.M. trips to three (3) A.M. and three (3) P.M. trips. The three A.M. start times at Chase Road and High St. will be 6:37 A.M., 7:09 A.M. and 8:13 A.M. Due to low ridership and as part of an effort to improve the directness of service, the number of trips serving the Worthington Estates neighborhood will be reduced from five (5) A.M. to three (3) A.M. Three (3) P.M. northbound trips will be introduced to the schedule. The three P.M. trips will travel from downtown, north on High St., west on Larrimer Ave., north on Stenten St., west on Lambourne Ave., north on Rieber St. and east on W. Wilson Bridge Road to High St. The route will then continue north to the Crosswoods Park and Ride via High St. The three A.M. start times at W. Wilson Bridge and High St. will be 6:50 A.M., 7:18 A.M., and 7:43 A.M. Due to low ridership and as part of an effort to make COTA’s system easier to use, all trips that served McCord Park along E. Wilson Bridge Road will be discontinued. · N. High St. #2 – Saturday – Travel times will be modified and some trip times shifted by a few minutes to improve on-time performance. · N. High St. #2 – Sunday – Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · Parsons Ave. #4 – All Days - Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · Indianola Ave. #4 – All Days – Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · W. Fifth Ave. #5 – Weekdays - The entrance COTA used to access the Westbelt complex north off Trabue Road has been closed. COTA has rerouted buses to access this site from Westbelt Dr., but this has significantly lengthened the route and has resulted in service delays. COTA is still searching for a shorter alternative route through this development. If none can be identified, COTA will consider discontinuing service through the development and service the site from Trabue Road The bus leaving Fifth Ave. and Lakeshore Blvd. at 6:51 A.M will no longer travel into First Community Village. The new trip departure time will be at 6:53 A.M. · Mt. Vernon Ave. #6 – Weekdays - Previously eastbound buses from downtown traveled south on Stelzer Road, west on Allegheny Ave., south on Gould Road, east on Ruhl Ave., north on James Road, and east into the V.A. Hospital. Because traffic is heavy to/from the V.A. Hospital, buses have difficulty making turns at this intersection; as a result COTA has realiged service to travel straight through the intersection of James and Allegheny. Currently, eastbound buses travel south on Stelzer Road, west on Ruhl Ave., north on Gould Road and east on Allegheny across James to the V.A. Hospital. Westbound buses will follow this alignment in reverse. Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · Mt. Vernon Ave. #6 – Saturday and Sunday – In an effort to make COTA easier to use, all weekday, Saturday day, and Sunday day trips will be traveling to the V.A. Hospital. The Saturday day and Sunday day alignment will be the same as outlined above for weekdays. · Sullivant Ave. #6 – All Days - Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · Frebis Ave. #8 – Weekdays – The northbound bus from Weirton and Huntington, due at High and Broad Streets at 11:40 p.m., has been arriving late. To improve on-time performance the bus will now leave Weirton and Huntington two minutes earlier at 11:08 p.m. rather than 11:10 M.P. · E. Broad #10 – Weekdays – In order to better serve shift start and end times at the Limited Brands on E. Broad St. the eastbound bus arriving at the Limited Brands at 3:45 P.M. has been modified to arrive at 3:33 P.M. As a result, the bus leaving Broad and High Streets at 2:41 P.M. will now travel to the Limited rather than Hamilton and Main and the bus leaving Broad and High Streets at 2:51 P.M. will now travel to Hamilton and Main Streets. · W. Broad #10 – Weekdays - Before the schedule change in May, several afternoon buses serving the ODOT/ODPS complex were destined for Hamilton and Main but now only one bus travels to Hamilton and Main. Two additional afternoon trips traveling to Hamilton and Main will be modified to serve the ODOT/ODPS complex. Buses on these trips will depart three minutes earlier in order to accommodate the ODOT/ODPS stop. The route buses travel through Kroger’s property on Galloway Road has been modified. · Oak/Bryden #11 – Weekdays – Service on this line was extended south on Alum Creek Dr. to Refugee Road and east on Refugee Road/Chatterton Road to Gender Road in May. Since this was new service, travel times will be modified to improve on time performance. Service frequency is also being slightly improved during most of the day. Evening service frequency will remain at 40 minutes. · Oak/Bryden #11 – Saturday – Service on this line was extended south on Alum Creek Dr. to Refugee Road and east on Refugee Road/Chatterton Road to Gender Road in May. Since this was new service, travel times will be modified to improve on time performance. Service frequency is also being modified from approximately 50 minutes to 45 minutes all day. · Oak/Bryden #11 – Saturday – Service on this line was extended south on Alum Creek Dr. to Refugee Road and east on Refugee Road/Chatterton Road to Gender Road in May. Since this was new service, travel times will be modified to improve on time performance. Service frequency is also being modified from approximately 50 minutes to 45 minutes all day. Evening frequency will remain at 60 minutes. · St. Clair #11 – Weekdays – In conjunction with the changes made to the Oak/Bryden line, service frequency is being slightly improved during most of the day. Evening service frequency will remain at 40 minutes. · St. Clair #11 – Saturday - In conjunction with the changes made to the Oak/Bryden line, service frequency is being modified from approximately 50 minutes to 45 minutes all day. · St. Clair #11 – Sunday - In conjunction with the changes made to the Oak/Bryden line, service frequency is also being modified from approximately 50 minutes to 45 minutes all day. Evening frequency will remain at 60 minutes. · McKinley/Fields #12 – Weekdays - COTA’s Fields Ave. facility will reopen the first week of September. Service will be extended to COTA’s Fields Avenue Campus at 20 minute frequency from approximately 7 A.M. until 6 P.M., and 30 minutes frequency in the evening until approximately 9:30 P.M. · McKinley/Fields #12 – Saturday/Sunday – Saturday day and Sunday day service will now operate from COTA’s Fields Avenue facility rather than from the McKinley Avenue facility. Consequently Saturday day and Sunday day service is being realigned to travel between Fields Ave. and downtown. Service will be provided at 30 minute frequency from approximately 7:30 A.M. until 7 P.M. There will be no service between McKinley Ave. facility and downtown on Saturday day and Sunday day. · Dublin Road/Grandview #13 – Weekdays – Formerly known as the #69, this route has been renumbered to the #13. The route is being renumbered to better reflect this is local route service. Trip times and travel times will be modified in the afternoon in order for passengers to better make transfer connections to other routes downtown. Service to the River’s Edge retail center has been discontinued due to low ridership. Due to COTA’s Fields Ave. facility re-opening for the September Service change the first bus in the morning will leave downtown 10 minutes later at 7:22 A.M. travelling toward Watermark. · Greenlawn/Harmon #14 (NEW) – Weekdays – Two trips will be travelling from High and Long Streets downtown to the Harmon Road/Greenlawn Ave. area in the morning and travelling the reverse in the afternoon. Two morning buses will leave High and Long Streets at 7:25 A.M. and 8 A.M. arriving at Harmon Road and Greenlawn Ave. at 7:40 A.M. and 8:15 A.M. Afternoon buses will leave Greenlawn and Harmon at 3:55 P.M. and 4:17 P.M. and arrive downtown at High and Broad Streets at 4:05 P.M. and Front and Gay Streets at 4:25 P.M. · Grove City – #15- Weekdays/Saturday – COTA was unable to arrange an agreement with Wal-Mart on Stringtown Road to travel on their property. Service has been realigned to travel on public roadways. From downtown service will travel east on Stringtown Road, south on Buckeye Parkway to the end of line near the Wal-Mart Garden Center where the bus will dwell before continuing to downtown. The bus will continue by traveling west on Buckeye Pl., and north on Parkway Center Dr., east on Stringtown Road, north on Thistlewood Dr., west on Killdeer Road, south on Jackpot Dr. and back west on Stringtown Road toward downtown. · Kenny Road #18 – Weekdays – Service frequency will be improved to approximately 30 minutes between 7 A.M. and 9 A.M. and 7 P.M. and 9 P.M. from downtown to the Tuttle Mall area. Service frequency will be improved to approximately 30 minutes between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. from downtown to the Sawmill/Ressler Roads area with 60 minute service to Tuttle Mall during this period. Additionally two new late night trips will now leave downtown later at 10:45 P.M. and 11:45 P.M. Service will be realigned in the Bethel Road area between McKitrick Blvd. and Godown Road All northbound buses will travel north on Godown Road, west on Bethel Road, north on Reed Road, west on Drew Ave., south on McKitrick Blvd. and continue west on Bethel Road Southbound buses will follow the reverse alignment. The late evening southbound trip that traveled onto Riverside Hospital property will now serve Riverside Hospital from stops on N. Broadway. Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · Kenny Road #18 – Saturday –Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. Additionally, service has been extended later into the evening; a northbound bus leaving downtown at 10 P.M. has been added. · Kenny Road #18 – Sunday – Buses will no longer go into Riverside Hospital. Instead Riverside Hospital will be served by stops on N. Broadway. Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · N. High St./Arena District (NEW Night Owl) #21 – Weekdays – Late Friday evening service is being added between downtown Columbus and the Park of Roses on N High St. Service will travel south on High St., west on Spring St., north on Front St., east on Nationwide Blvd. and north on High St. to the Park of Roses. Service will operate at 30 – minute frequencies from approximately 8 P.M. until 3 A.M. · N. High St./Arena District (NEW Nigth Owl) #21 – Saturday – Late Saturday day evening service is being added between downtown Columbus and the Park of Roses on N High St. Service will travel south on High St., west on Spring St., north on Front St., east on Nationwide Blvd. and north on High St. to the Park of Roses. Service will operate at 30 – minute frequencies from approximately 8 P.M. until 3 A.M. · Brooksedge Express #27 – Weekdays – Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. The 3:53 P.M. and the 4:52 P.M. evening trips leaving Westerville Park and Ride will be modified to leave at 3:59 P.M. and 4:57 P.M. in order to better match the work shift end times of workers in the Brooksedge Complex. · Smoky Row Rd Express #30 – Weekdays – The downtown alignment is being modified in the morning to serve the Franklin County Government Complex before travelling to COTA’s South Terminal. When travelling south on Third St., buses will continue to Mound St., travel west on Mound St. to High St., north on High St. to Main St. and east on Main St. into City Center Terminal. A limited stop is also being added on Fourth St. at Town St. for afternoon buses. · North Central Express #33 – Weekdays – A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Karl Rd Express #34 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Tamarack Express #35 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Westerville Express #37 – Weekdays – Travel times modified to improve on-time performance. · Northeast Express #38 – Weekdays – This line will be renamed to the #38 Easton Express. Travel times will be modified to improve on-time performance. · North Reynoldsburg Express #44 – Weekdays – A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Reynoldsburg Express #45 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Eastland Express #46 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Eastgreen Express #48 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Southeast Express #49 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · ODOT/ODPS #51 – Weekdays - The trip currently leaving ODOT/ODPS at 4:38 p.m. has been changed to 4:32 P.M., and is due to arrive at Broad and High Streets at 4:45 P.M. After leaving Broad and High, the bus will continue east on Broad St., south on Third St. and west on Mound St. arriving at Mound and High Streets at 4:50 P.M. · Dublin Express #58 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Dublin/Metro Express #59 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Arlington Express #60 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Bethel Road Express #62 – Weekdays - A stop is being added at Fourth and Town Streets in order to better serve express passengers. · Dublin Road/Grandview Express #69 – Weekdays – This route has been renumbered as the #13 Dublin Rd/Grandview. The stop at River’s Edge has been discontinued. Travel times will be modified to improve transfer connections at COTA’s North Terminal. · Columbus Zoo #98 – All Days – Discontinue seasonal service.
October 19, 200915 yr Fares on the bus go up and up COTA board to consider raising rates by as much as 26 percent in 2010 Monday, October 19, 2009 3:05 AM By Dean Narciso THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Bus riders will need more change for the coin box in January if a plan to increase fares as much as 26 percent is approved by the Central Ohio Transit Authority. Read more at: http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/10/19/cotahike.ART_ART_10-19-09_B1_VVFDM0C.html?sid=101
October 21, 200915 yr COTA riders share views on proposed fare hike Tuesday, October 20, 2009 1:45 PM By Dean Narciso The Columbus Dispatch Concerned about buses that don't show up, riders who are heavily subsidized and rising fares, about 30 bus riders shared their views with Central Ohio Transit Authority management today. COTA is proposing a rate increase which would go into effect Jan. 1. But first it must seek input from the public. Full story at: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/10/20/cotahear.html?sid=101
November 17, 200915 yr Higher COTA fares up for a vote today Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:07 AM By Bill Bush THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The Central Ohio Transit Authority board could approve bus-fare increases of as much as 25 percent at a meeting today. Riders would see local, one-way fares jump from $1.50 to $1.75, or 17 percent, and express fares rise from $2 to $2.50, or 25 percent. Monthly express fares would increase the most, from $62 to $76, $2 less than originally proposed. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/11/17/cota_rates.ART_ART_11-17-09_A1_4IFMUB6.html?sid=101
November 17, 200915 yr COTA board approves fare hikes Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:07 AM By Bill Bush THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The cost of a bus ride will increase by as much as 26 percent next year. Nine members of the Central Ohio Transit Authority board unanimously approved the new rates this morning. No members of the public attended the meeting. The changes include: Local, one-way fares will increase from $1.50 to $1.75 Express fares will rise from $2 to $2.50 Monthly express fares would increase the most, from $62 to $76 Full story at: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/11/17/cota_rates.ART_ART_11-17-09_A1_4IFMUB6.html?sid=101
November 17, 200915 yr http://209.51.133.155/cms/index.php/news_releases/more/all_aboard_ohio_releases_report_operation_sustain_transit/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — November 17, 2009 Contact: Ken Prendergast All Aboard Ohio Executive Director (216) 288-4883 [email protected] All Aboard Ohio, which promotes better public transportation and passenger rail services, today announced a $158 million plan to reverse recent and planned cuts in bus and rail services to support greater access to jobs and opportunities while bolstering Ohio communities and employers. The nonprofit association pleaded with Ohio’s state and federal legislators to embrace its plan and restore Ohio’s public transportation systems before irreparable harm is done to them. Download All Aboard Ohio’s “Operation: Sustain Transit!” plan at: http://members.cox.net/corridorscampaign/Operation-Sustain%20Transit.pdf This week, the state’s three largest transit systems announced another round in a series of service cuts, fare hikes or both. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (carries half of Ohio’s 250,000 daily transit riders), announced it will need to reduce or eliminate service on nearly 30 popular routes next year. Meanwhile, Cincinnati Metro recommended a 12 percent service reduction with a fare increase proposal. And, the Central Ohio Transit Authority in Columbus will increase fares by up to 26 percent in 2010. Other transit systems statewide are also following having to leave more riders at the curb. “This is death by a thousand cuts,” said All Aboard Ohio President Bill Hutchison. “Each cut in service or increase in fares means that fewer Ohioans are able to reach jobs, health care, education or shopping. This isn’t just about the fate of essential transportation systems, it’s about the livelihood of communities, employers and people. This should be part of a plan to improve transportation overall. This is a long-running, worsening problem. We are pushing ourselves into becoming a third-rate state where hunger and poverty are getting extreme because people can't access jobs.” The State of Ohio is one of the nation’s least generous when it comes to providing operating support to public transportation. According to the American Public Transportation Association, only 10 states support transit less than Ohio yet Ohio is the nation's 7th most populous state. Less than one percent of Ohio’s $3.8 billion annual transportation budget goes to public transit. Per capita, Indiana spends 3.6 times more than Ohio on transit, Michigan nearly 10 times more, and Pennsylvania than 33 times more, reports PolicyMatters Ohio. “We may have disagreements about a few recent management decisions at some transit systems but that is not the reason why all of Ohio’s transit systems are in the same dire straits at the exact same time,” Hutchison said. “To focus on transit system management issues at this time is like arguing with your landlord about his choice of a painting contractor while your house is on fire. We have to put out the fire first.” Unlike transit systems elsewhere in the nation which receive support from state governments to help operate extensive, affordable transit services for their citizens, Ohio transit systems are left to fend themselves. That’s especially true after Congress in the late 1990s axed all operating funding for transit systems in metro areas with populations greater than 250,000. Then, starting in 2001, Ohio elected officials slashed state funding for transit by 75 percent. Today, all transit agencies are dependent on municipal or county funding sources for nearly all of their non-passenger revenue. All Aboard Ohio recommends that a healthier, more balanced approach is for Ohio transit systems to have their operating funding sources divided roughly equally from passenger fares, local taxes, state revenues and federal sources. Its $158 million "Operation: Sustain Transit" plan would begin to accomplish that goal, Hutchison said. END "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 19, 200915 yr OK, I'm not yelling here. I'm just using really large, red letters to make this flier easier for you to find in the future...... SAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT! Download the flier from: http://members.cox.net/corridorscampaign/Save%20public%20transit%20flier.pdf I need your help! Please print out this flier in large quantities and post them legally in visible places. Or just hand them out to people on your bus or train each day. If the driver asks you to stop, please comply. Thanks! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 30, 200915 yr COTA's Lhota to ride out 2010 Business First of Columbus - by Adrian Burns When Bill Lhota was asked to lead Central Ohio’s ailing bus system five years ago, at first he said no. Now he’s asking to stay a little longer. “I got infected with public transit,” said Lhota, the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s CEO since 2004. “I didn’t realize how important public transit is to a community.” Lhota was a retired American Electric Power Company Inc. executive when he finally agreed to take the reins at COTA, originally intending to stay for 18 months at most. Five years later, he told the system’s board he would like to stay until the end of 2010 – six months past his most recent retirement target. Lhota, 70, said he wants to see through one last major project – the completion of the $22 million paratransit facility on Columbus’ north side for buses that transport disabled riders. Full story at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/11/30/story1.html?b=1259557200^2506601
December 2, 200915 yr I realize many of you don't read the Lorain County Transit thread. I encourage you to do so today as some news there is likely a harbinger of things to come for all Ohio counties: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=16502.msg444095#msg444095 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 4, 200915 yr COTA Releases New List Of Banned Riders Thursday, December 3, 2009 2:43 PM Updated: Thursday, December 3, 2009 5:54 PM COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Central Ohio Transit Authority announced their list of the bus fleet's banned riders, 10TV News reported Thursday. One of the riders, whom COTA identified as Cedrick Benard Green, was banned for life, 10TV's Tino Ramos reported. "That actually took years of being a continual nuisance," said COTA spokeswoman Beth Berkemer. "(Green was) assaulting passengers and operators. Full story at: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2009/12/03/story-banned-cota-riders.html?sid=102
December 4, 200915 yr Wow..... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 4, 200915 yr Bar crawl tonight to promote COTA's #21 late-night High Street route: http://xingcolumbus.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/cota-route-21-bar-crawl/ I hear from a reliable source that COTA honcho Bill Lhota himself will join the ride for a time, and that participants will be Tweeting as to the progress so stragglers can meet them.
December 5, 200915 yr I hit the first two stops on the crawl last night (Barrio & Short North Tavern). Good times! I heard that the crew went to Surly Girl and Bier Stube after that. Several COTA folks out and about. Didn't see Lhota, but had a great time anyway. :D
December 28, 200915 yr Note that virtually all of COTA's major routes will now see extended late-night service....the release below details all up-coming route changes. NEWS RELEASE Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 COTA CONTACT Beth Berkemer Public Relations and Media Relations Manager 614-275-5938 Phone 614-275-5933 Fax COTA Implements Service Changes for January 2010 COLUMBUS – The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) implements service changes on Monday, Jan. 4, 2010. COTA is in the midst of a service expansion program begun in 2007. COTA changes its service three times a year in January, May and September. The new #55 Gender Road Express originates at the new Gender Road Park and Ride just north of the US 33 and Gender Road interchange at the Gender Road Christian Church. Two morning trips travel from the Gender Road Park and Ride to downtown at High St. and Nationwide Blvd. The two evening trips travel from High St. and Nationwide Blvd. to the Gender Road Park and Ride. The #81 Hudson/Ohio Crosstown has select trips extended to serve the Rickenbacker Area Industrial Parks. Four morning and four evening trips realign to continue south on Alum Creek Dr. and around the Industrial Parks area. Trips serving Rickenbacker do not serve Williams Road, Millstone Road or Thimbleberry Road. For more information, call (614) 228-1776 or go to www.cota.com. All Local, Express and Crosstown routes affected by the service changes are attached in detail. - - END - - January 2010 Service Change Details LOCAL ROUTES Service Span Expansion (WEEKDAY) The subsequent routes will expand late-night WEEKDAY service as follows:• The 10:45 P.M. trip from downtown will be moved to 11 P.M. • The 11:45 P.M. trip from downtown will be moved to 12 A.M. (midnight) 1 Cleveland Ave./Livingston Ave. 2 N. High St./E. Main St. 3 Northwest Blvd./W. Mound St. 4 Parsons Ave. 6 Mt. Vernon Ave./Sullivant Ave. 7 Neil Ave./Whittier St. 8 Frebis Ave./Hamilton Ave. 10 W. Broad St./E. Broad St. 16 Long St./S. High St. 18 Kenny Road The subsequent routes will expand late-night WEEKDAY service as follows: • NEW 11 P.M. trip from downtown added • NEW 12 A.M. (midnight) trip from downtown added 4 Indianola Ave. 5 W. Fifth Ave. 9 Leonard-Brentnell 11 Oak-Bryden/St. Clair Service Span Expansion (SATURDAY) The subsequent routes will expand late night SATURDAY service as follows:• NEW 11:00 P.M. trip from downtown added • NEW 12:00 A.M. (midnight) trip from downtown added 1 Cleveland Ave./Livingston Ave. 2 N. High St./E. Main St. 3 Northwest Blvd./W. Mound St. 4 Indianola Ave./Parsons Ave. 5 W. Fifth Ave. 6 Mt. Vernon Ave./Sullivant Ave. 7 Neil Ave./Whittier St. 8 Frebis Ave./Hamilton Ave. 9 Leonard-Brentnell 10 W. Broad St./E. Broad St. 11 Oak-Bryden/St. Clair 16 Long St./S. High St. 18 Kenny Road Service Span Expansion (SUNDAY) The subsequent routes will expand late night SUNDAY service as follows: • NEW 8 P.M. trip from downtown added • NEW 9 P.M. trip from downtown added 1 Cleveland Ave./Livingston Ave. 2 N. High St./E. Main St. 3 W. Mound St. 4 Indianola Ave./Parsons Ave. 5 W. Fifth Ave. 6 Mt. Vernon Ave./Sullivant Ave. 7 Neil Ave./Whittier St. 8 Frebis Ave./Hamilton Ave. 9 Leonard-Brentnell 10 W. Broad St./E. Broad St. 11 Oak-Bryden/St. Clair 16 Long St./S. High St. 18 Kenny Road Macy’s Kingsdale Park and Ride Relocation and Construction Due to construction at the Kingsdale Shopping Center, COTA’s park and ride on Northwest Blvd. will be moved and renamed Macy’s Kingsdale Park and Ride. The new location will be west of Macy’s along Tremont Road near Ridgecliff Road. The new Macy’s Kingsdale Park and Ride location will serve the #3, #84 and #60. The #60 Arlington Express will be realigned to travel on Tremont Road to Zollinger Road instead of Northwest Blvd. #83 Oakland-Weber The #83 Oakland-Weber will not serve the new Macy’s Kingsdale Park and Ride location continuing its current alignment on Northwest Blvd. 1 Cleveland Ave. Saturday Reliability • Span More evening service will be extended to Westerville. 1 Livingston Ave. Weekday Reliability • Span On Weekdays, a 7:16 A.M. trip leaving the Reynoldsburg Park and Ride will be added and the 5:59 A.M. trip leaving Northern Lights (6:25 A.M. from Broad St. and High St.) will travel to the Reynoldsburg Park and Ride instead of ending at Shady Lane Road and Main St. 1 Livingston Ave. Saturday Reliability • Alignment • Span All evening service will be extended to Reynoldsburg Park and Ride. Evening trips after 5 P.M. will no longer end at Shady Lane Road and Main St. 4 Indianola Ave. Sunday Alignment • Span Northbound trips travelling to Graceland will travel through the Broadmeadows and Highfield neighborhood. 8 Frebis Ave. All Days Alignment • Span To improve on-time performance and reduce traveling through residential neighborhoods late in the evening, the following trips leaving downtown will be realigned in the neighborhood south of Watkins Road. Realigned trips leaving downtown: • Weekday: 10 P.M., 11 P.M., 12 A.M. (Midnight) • Saturday: 10 P.M., 11 P.M., 12 A.M. (Midnight) • Sunday: 8 P.M., 9 P.M. The trips will be realigned to travel south on Fairwood Ave., east on Watkins Road, south on Weirton Dr., west on Southfield Dr. and north on Fairwood Ave. continuing the standard alignment. Service along Southfield Dr. south of Weirton Dr., Venice Dr., Zenner Dr., Quaker Road, Wayland Dr., Fairwood Ave. south of Southfield Dr., Southfield Dr. west of Fairwood Ave. and Grovewood Dr. will be discontinued. 11 Oak-Bryden Saturday Reliability • Frequency • Alignment • Span Saturday service will be extended east of Eastland Mall to the Kroger at Gender Road and Refugee Road. Frequency of service will be stretched from 45 minutes to approximately 50 minutes. Saturday service will no longer enter Eastland Mall. 11 Oak-Bryden Sunday Reliability • Frequency • Alignment • Span Sunday service will be extended east of Eastland Mall to the Kroger at Gender Road and Refugee Road. Frequency of service will be stretched from 45 minutes to approximately 60 minutes. All trips will now meet the Broad St. and High St. line-ups on the hour. Sunday service will no longer enter Eastland Mall. 11 St. Clair All Days Alignment Due to the temporary closing of Sawyer Towers, service will no longer be provided on Sawyer Tower Blvd. 11 St. Clair Saturday Reliability • Frequency • Span In order to reach the Kroger at Gender Road and Refugee Road on the Oak- Bryden side of the route, the frequency has been stretched from 45 minutes to approximately 50 minutes. 11 St. Clair Sunday Reliability • Frequency • Span In order to reach the Kroger at Gender Road and Refugee Roads on the Oak- Bryden side of the route, the frequency has been stretched from 45 minutes to approximately 60 minutes. All trips will now meet the Broad St. and High St. line-ups on the hour. 12 McKinley/Fields Weekday Reliability The start and end of the line will now be at the COTA administration parking lot stop on McKinley Ave. 12 McKinley/Fields Saturday Reliability • Frequency • Alignment • Span Due to the increase in span of service on Saturdays on local routes, service will be extended from 7:10 P.M. to 9 P.M. 12 McKinley/Fields Sunday Reliability • Frequency • Alignment • Span Due to the increase in span of service on Sundays on Local routes, service will begin earlier at approximately 10:30 A.M. and be extended later to approximately 6 P.M. Travel times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance. 15 Grove City Weekday Reliability • Frequency • Alignment • Span Westbound service will be realigned to serve the Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s new distribution center and pantry. Only westbound service to downtown will be realigned. Service will depart Buckeye Parkway for downtown, travel west on Stringtown Road, north on Marlane Dr., west on Ohio Dr., south on Gantz Road and continue west on Stringtown Road following the standard alignment. Eastbound service will not be affected. The 4:02 P.M. trip departing Buckeye Parkway to downtown will now depart at 4:10 P.M. The 4:59 P.M. trip leaving from Long St. and High St. to Grove City will now depart at 5:08 P.M. Travel times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance. 15 Grove City Saturday Reliability • Frequency • Alignment • Span Westbound service will be realigned to serve the Mid-Ohio Food Bank’s new distribution center and pantry. Only westbound service to downtown will be realigned. Service will depart Buckeye Parkway for downtown, travel west on Stringtown Road, north on Marlane Dr., west on Ohio Dr., south on Gantz Road and continue west on Stringtown Road following the standard alignment. Eastbound service will not be affected. Travel times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance. EXPRESS ROUTES 35 Tamarack Express Weekday Alignment In order to reduce traveling through residential neighborhoods, service will be realigned to continue north on Sharon Woods Blvd., west on Schrock Road and south on Skywae Dr. Service will be discontinued on Hillandale Ave. and Justice Ave. 38 Easton Express Weekday Alignment In a system wide effort to improve performance, service will be discontinued north of SR 161. Service along Sunbury Road north of SR 161, Dempsey Road, Paris Blvd., Paris Blvd. N. and Buenos Aires Blvd. will be discontinued. Service south of SR 161 will not be affected. Scheduled times will not change. Service will now start in the A.M. and end in the P.M. at Strawberry Farms Blvd. and Ashtonwoods Pl. 39 New Albany Express Weekday Alignment In order to increase directness, service will be discontinued along the deviation on Dublin-Granville Road that serves the neighborhood along Deer Run Pl. to the intersection of Little Turtle Way/Blendon Pond Dr. A.M. Service will continue west on Dublin-Granville Road to Little Turtle Way, continuing the standard alignment. P.M. service will follow the reverse alignment. 40 New Albany Business Express Weekday Reliability • Alignment In order to increase directness, service will leave the Easton Transit Center Park and Ride, travel north on Stelzer Road, north on Sunbury Road and east on SR 161 continuing the standard alignment. Travel times will be adjusted to reduce total trip time. 50 Rickenbacker Express Weekday Reliability P.M. trip times will be modified to accommodate the 4:30 P.M. shift end time. 55 Gender Road Express Weekday NEW ROUTE New express route will originate at the new Gender Road Park and Ride, just north of the US 33 and Gender Road interchange. The A.M. service will travel south from the park and ride on Gender Road, west and north on US 33, west on I-70, west on Fulton St. and north on High St. ending at High St. and Nationwide Blvd. The P.M. service will start at High St. and Nationwide Blvd., travel south along High St., east on Main St., south on Third St., east on I-70, east and south on US 33 and north on Gender Road to the Gender Road Park and Ride. The new Gender Road Park and Ride will be located at Gender Road Christian Church, 5336 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester. It is north of the Gender Road and Lehman Road intersection. Two morning and two afternoon trips serving the 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. downtown work start times and the 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. downtown work end times will be provided. 65 Southpark Express Weekday Reliability • Frequency • Alignment • Span An additional trip will be added. The A.M. trip will depart downtown at 7:50 A.M. and arrive at the Grove City Park and Ride at 8:19 A.M. The P.M. trip will depart the Grove City Park and Ride at 5:16 P.M. and arrive downtown at 5:49 P.M. Service will be realigned to serve the Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s new distribution center and pantry. In the A.M., after departing downtown, service will continue south on I-71, west on Stringtown Road, north on Marlane Dr., west and north on Brookham Dr., north on Gantz Road, east on Southpark Pl., west on Southpark Pl., south on Gantz Road and west on Stringtown Road to the Grove City Park and Ride. In the P.M., after departing the Grove City Park and Ride, service will continue east on Stringtown Road, north on Gantz Road, east on Ohio Dr., north on Marlane Dr., west and north on Brookham Dr., north on Gantz Road, east on Southpark Pl., west on Southpark Pl., south on Gantz Road and east on Stringtown Road continuing the standard alignment north on I-71 to downtown. CROSSTOWN ROUTES 81 Hudson/Ohio Weekday Alignment • New Service Select trips will be extended to serve the Rickenbacker Area Industrial Parks. Four A.M. and four P.M. trips will be realigned to continue south on Alum Creek Dr., east on Spiegel Dr., south on Port Road, west on London-Groveport Road and north on Alum Creek Dr. continuing the standard alignment. Trips serving the Rickenbacker Area Industrial Parks will not serve Williams Road, Millstone Road or Thimbleberry Road. 83 Oakland/Weber Weekday Reliability The 7:40 a.m. trip from Northern Lights will be shifted two minutes earlier leaving at 7:38 a.m. in order to improve transfer connections to other lines. 92 James Road Weekday Span Weekday service will be extended from 8:30 P.M. to approximately 10 P.M. 95 Morse/Henderson Weekday Reliability • Span Weekday service will be extended from 10 P.M. to approximately 10:30 P.M. The construction on Henderson Road has been completed. Westbound service has been restored to pre-construction alignment. Travel times have been adjusted to improve on-time performance and the frequency has been improved from approximately 35 minutes to 30 minutes. 95 Morse/Henderson Saturday Reliability • Span The construction on Henderson Road has been completed. Westbound service has been restored to pre-construction alignment. Travel times have been adjusted to improve on-time performance and the frequency has been improved from approximately 50 minutes to 45 minutes.
December 30, 200915 yr COTA Releases New List Of Banned Riders And I thought only Urban Ohio had to ban some of their users! :wink:
December 30, 200915 yr Note that virtually all of COTA's major routes will now see extended late-night service....the release below details all up-coming route changes. Good deal. Lack of late night service has always been one of the major complaints about COTA. More about the 2010 changes at http://www.columbusunderground.com/cota-adds-more-late-night-service-in-2010.
January 4, 201015 yr PILOT-PROGRAM SUCCESS COTA riders like text messages Friday, January 1, 2010 - 5:41 AM By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch A test of whether COTA passengers in the Ohio State University area would use text messaging to get bus schedule information is going well and could pave the way for a real-time bus-positioning system as early as 2011. Since the pilot program went live on Oct. 15, more than 4,000 Central Ohio Transit Authority passengers have received a total of about 18,500 text messages on their cell phones providing them with bus-schedule information, COTA spokeswoman Elizabeth Berkemer said. COTA said in July that the pilot program was to inch closer to a goal of easily accessible, real-time bus information. An $8.1 million bus-tracking upgrade to be used by COTA staff should be operating in early 2011, and COTA could then hire a third-party service to distribute that information via text messaging. Full story at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/01/01/copy/cota_upgrade.ART_ART_01-01-10_B3_RUG5TOO.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
March 4, 201015 yr Write up on Columbus Underground of the 3/2/10 Downtown Town Hall meeting..... http://www.columbusunderground.com/2010-downtown-strategic-plan-meeting-1-recap Thanks to the more than 100 folks who attended and shared ideas… but that’s just the start. If you have more to say about the challenges and opportunities for the next 10 years of downtown, please check out: http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/plan/public-input We’ll be taking comments and concepts through 3/19, then putting them together for a new array of presentation materials for public review on 4/15 at Columbus State during the second Town Hall meeting. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 24, 201015 yr Here's some interesting COTA News from Columbus Underground... COTA Rolls Out New Hybrid-Electric Buses COTA is turning a little bit greener today as they introduce six new hybrid-electric buses into their fleet. The hybrid buses will feature a distinct design and color scheme that will help them to stand out from the standard vehicles. The hybrid buses will be cycled through multiple routes every day, but primarily used on routes where speeds are lower and stops are more frequent. COTA President and CEO Bill Lhota, along with Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and other elected officials will be unveiling the new buses and speaking today about COTA’s sustainability program at the the Fields Avenue Facility at 2pm. Additional information to follow the event. MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/cota-rolls-out-new-hybrid-electric-buses
March 24, 201015 yr Just updated that story to include a photo of the new bus design: <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/hybrid2.jpg">
March 24, 201015 yr Any idea who the manufacturer is of the hybrid buses/ powertrain&transmission? In Cleveland the Euclid Corridor Buses are hybrids made by Allison, though they function in a very non-hybrid like way where the electric motor is primarily used in speeds ABOVE 25mph. PDF>http://www.allisontransmission.com/servlet/DownloadFile?Dir=publications/pubs&FileToGet=SA3576EN.pdf
March 24, 201015 yr ^Haven't seen any press release from COTA that lists the powertrain manufacturer. But according to the initial Dispatch article below, the new COTA buses operate the same way as the Euclid Corridor Buses you described. A smaller than normal diesel engine operates full time and electric motors provide acceleration. COTA unveils hybrid buses Gov. Ted Strickland helped the Central Ohio Transit Authority unveil its first six hybrid diesel-electric buses at a ceremony this afternoon. The $574,000 buses still have diesel engines that idle constantly, but those engines are smaller than standard bus engine - basically the same diesel used to power a pickup truck. The buses will get about 7 miles to the gallon, about twice what a normal bus gets, said Max Camper, supervisor of COTA hybrid maintenance. The hybrid buses accelerate with the power provided by two electric motors, powered by batteries that are being recharged by the diesel engine and electricity from the brakes, Camper said. The buses cost $232,000 more than a regular diesel bus, but they will produce less emissions and use less diesel. A federal grant paid $2.1 million toward the cost of the buses, which will be phased into service likely in June, said COTA spokeswoman Beth Berkemer. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/03/24/COTA-unveils-hybrid-buses.html
March 30, 201015 yr COTA Press Release: COTA “Going Green” with First Hybrid Buses Photo of the new Hybrid Bus Photo of the standard COTA Bus
April 14, 201015 yr If the former GM/Delphi plant is the chosen spot for the new Casino:Will there be COTA nearby? Will the 3C service be nearby VS the downtown site? Will any planned light rail or streetcar lines be close by?
April 15, 201015 yr COTA's #10 line runs on Broad Street, so that will service between the Casino site & Downtown. No rail transit is planned for that area at this point in time, as far as I'm aware.
April 17, 201015 yr http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/04/19/story4.html?b=1271649600%5E3206351 Friday, April 16, 2010 | Modified: Saturday, April 17, 2010 COTA ready to park staff at downtown HQ Business First of Columbus - by Adrian Burns Central Ohio’s bus system is in the final stages of an $8.6 million renovation of 33 N. High St., where COTA officials plan to begin moving headquarters staff May 7. About 115 employees will relocate from an out-of-the-way maintenance facility and office complex on the west side that became the agency’s de facto headquarters but was dim, cramped and far from most bus routes. By contrast, the 63,000-square-foot downtown office space is well lit, spacious, organized by department and overlooks COTA’s main hub on Capitol Square. Full story at link above:
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