Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Will remove 71 bus stops, including three close to Ohio State University. The move is part of the agency’s Bus Stop Service Improvement Project. The project evaluated COTA bus stops and the spacing between them to improve efficiency.

Amy Develvis was shot in the head and was in critical condition, but is expected to survive. This is the second time in less than a week that a COTA bus has been shot.

COTA forbids drivers from texting or talking on cellphones while driving, even with hands-free devices.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority will soon upgrade bus fare collection technology, adding magnetic strips to student identification and requiring students to swipe their BuckIDs at the fare box as they board.

The University budgeted almost $772,000 in 2010 for fuel costs, but in 2011 that number jumped to almost $829,000. As part of their preparation, they partnered with the Central Ohio Transit Authority, which allows students to ride city buses by showing their BuckID at a cost to the student of $9 every quarter.

Audio will serve as an additional discouragement, allowing COTA to provide passengers better service along with a more secure and enjoyable experience.

More than 850 students, faculty and staff at OSU in Columbus supplied their input on possible changes to campus-related service provided by COTA.

The three-year labor contract is effective retroactively to Dec. 1, 2008 through November 30, 2011.