COTA bus ridership climbing since pandemic drop

Annual ridership is moving in the right direction for the Central Ohio Transit Authority, though it remains well below pre-pandemic levels, per data shared with Axios.

Why it matters: Public transit is key to cities' broader health and vibrancy.

• It makes for cleaner, greener communities, opens up possibilities for those who can't afford a car, and frees up parking lots for other uses like housing or public gathering spaces.

By the numbers: Last year, the transit authority saw more than 11 million riders — a nearly 22% increase since hitting its lowest point in 2021.

Yes, but: Ridership is just 57% of what it was before COVID.

Between the lines: Our post-pandemic lifestyles are impacting travel patterns, with remote and hybrid work changing how, where and when we commute — and forcing cities nationwide to rethink public transit routes.

• A national workforce shortage is also making it harder to keep routes staffed and expand services, per the American Public Transportation Association.

The big picture: Ridership remained below pre-pandemic levels in nearly all major U.S. metro areas as of fall 2023, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report .

What they're saying: COTA has been gradually restoring its services to pre-pandemic levels and will continue making changes to attract more riders, spokesperson Jeff Pullin tells Axios.

Zoom in: New employee benefits aiming to improve recruitment and retention include a $100 monthly student loan stipend and paid family leave . A union contract approved in January includes 16% raises over three years.

• In 2021, bus fares became simpler and more affordable, and in 2022, all Columbus City Schools high schoolers started receiving free bus passes .

What's next: COTA's next goal is to begin offering midnight service later this year, which should boost third-shift worker ridership, Pullin says.

• A recently awarded state grant will also fund a feasibility study for a new route connecting Dublin and Intel's Ohio One , plus other job centers.

Bus expansion on the ballot

The biggest changes planned for Central Ohio transit in the years ahead could depend on voter support in November.

What we're watching: Franklin County residents are expected to vote on doubling the existing COTA sales tax from 0.5% to 1%, in part to support a transportation initiative called LinkUs .

Zoom in: The plan would fund at least three bus rapid-transit corridors , plus related investments like sidewalks, bikeways, trails and roadways to better connect our communities.

• The corridors would offer many benefits akin to light rail, such as dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare collection, signal priority, and level and multidoor loading platforms.

What's more: COTA's service hours would increase by 45%, including select, high-ridership lines that would operate 24 hours a day, Pullin tells us.

• The effort would also add more COTA//Plus zones , a "last-mile service" that has grown more popular every year since launching in Grove City, Westerville and the South Side in 2019.
• This allows COTA riders free service to and from bus stops anywhere in those communities.

Context: Columbus is the state's fastest-growing region, but funds transit at lower levels than other major cities, like Cleveland (1%) and Cincinnati (0.8%).

What's next: Aug. 7 is the deadline to place the issue on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.