Keep on Riding
By Claire Miller
T
ransportation became a critical issue for essential workers during the pandemic. As ridership decreased while people stayed home, transportation options decreased as well. The Central Ohio Transit Authority eliminated some fixed routes that weren’t seeing significant use, but the organization hasn’t left passengers without options. The solution to the issue has been to offer the COTA//Plus Bus On Demand, an on-demand mobility service with full-size buses. The program allows riders within a northeast section of Franklin County to request rides in the areas around temporarily suspended 20
fixed routes. The on-demand service links passengers to bus lines 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 23, 24, 25, 31, 34 and 35. That extension of the COTA//Plus program, which provides on-demand service in other central Ohio communities as well, came as a direct result of community outreach from New Albany. “We cut some service that went out to the New Albany business park and those businesses in New Albany reached out to us and said, ‘Hey, can you help us?’” says Jason Yanni, senior director of product management and innovation for COTA. “We developed (COTA//Plus) in response to the community outreach and what they needed.”
In April, 2020, service was temporarily suspended on lines 25, 35 and 45, which serve the Brice, Dublin-Granville and New Albany areas, respectively. When businesses reached out to COTA, rider demand didn’t warrant reinstating regular service at the inactive fixed routes. Instead, COTA//Plus Bus on Demand allows riders to request service as needed in areas where the suspended routes previously ran. The northeast service zone includes Mount Carmel East, Mount Carmel St. Ann’s, Easton Town Center and the New Albany International Business Park. Initially a three-month pilot, the program has continued for more than a year and a half. www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com
Photo courtesy of COTA
Transportation options for all
