Ridership up for Central Ohio Transit

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has seen an 8.6 percent increase in ridership as of early August, compared to 2010, and 10.3 percent compared to 2009.

For the week ending August 7, alone, ridership spiked 15.5 percent over the same week in 2010, with a total weekly ridership of 352,229.

COTA provided more than 17 million rides in 2010 and is on pace to provide over 18 million rides in 2011. On an average weekday last week, COTA provided over 62,000 rides, which was 15.8 percent higher than in 2010. It was also the 15th consecutive week of increased ridership this year.

COTA officials attributed much of the increases earlier in the year to surging gas prices. However, as fuel prices have retreated, ridership has continued to grow.

"People are continuing to try public transit," said Bill Lhota, COTA President/CEO. "We are especially pleased that once they realize using COTA results in significant cost savings when compared to driving, they remain transit customers."