COTA's 2009 ridership up
In addition to higher ridership, COTA continues its service expansion and bus fleet upgrade making transit more convenient and reliable for central Ohio residents.
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) provided more than 16.8 million passenger trips in 2009, an increase of 1.2 percent compared to 2008. On an average weekday, more than 55,000 passenger trips were taken on COTA in 2009.
While COTA's ridership was up, ridership on public transit nationally declined in 2009 compared to 2008, according to the American Public Transportation Association. 10.2 billion trips were taken in the U.S. in 2009, with large bus systems reporting a decrease of 5.2 percent. Across the country, transit systems have been drastically reducing service and raising fares. Comparable transit systems in Ohio reported ridership declines of more than 10 percent.
At COTA, ridership increases are continuing in 2010. Year-to-date, ridership is up two percent. For the week ending March 28, COTA ridership was up 1.4 percent over the same week a year ago.
In addition to higher ridership, COTA continues its service expansion and bus fleet upgrade making transit more convenient and reliable for central Ohio residents.
More Bus
Frontrunner Bus Group Expands with New Massachusetts Headquarters
The significantly larger facility will provide the infrastructure needed to support the company’s growing workforce, advanced technologies, and expanding product line.
Read More →
Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility
In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.
Read More →
Reinventing Fleet Maintenance with Real-time Visibility and AI
Transit leaders need to know what needs fixing, where to look, who is responsible, when work is completed, and what it costs without having to chase information across disconnected systems.
Read More →
SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue
The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
Photo Highlights from APTA's 2026 Mobility Conference
The photo gallery captures scenes from the conference, including the International Bus Roadeo, exhibit hall activities, the Bus Showcase, and much more.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
Philadelphia's SEPTA Approves Annual Transit Service Plan
Between 2021 and 2024, SEPTA held more than 200 public meetings — including 144 in-person sessions — throughout the SEPTA service region.
Read More →
A True Low-Floor Minibus Design Delivers Better Accessibility and Efficiency for Everyone
As transit demands evolve, so should your fleet. Download the whitepaper to see how the Low-Floor Frontrunner Minibus compares to traditional options.
Read More →
WMATA Debuts 'Fares Pay for Service' Awareness Campaign
The campaign was highlighted during a media event at the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in Silver Spring, where WMATA’s GM/CEO Randy Clarke joined Metro Transit Police officers, WMATA management team, board members, and staff to expand fare enforcement and customer education efforts on Metro Bus routes throughout the region.
Read More →