In 2008, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) increased its ridership by nearly 10 percent compared with 2007, providing more than 16.4 million passenger trips.  

Nationally, public transit ridership was up 4 percent in 2008 according to a report released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on Monday. Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation last year, the highest level of ridership in 52 years. COTA’s ridership increase was among the highest among comparable transit authorities.

COTA is expanding service 60,000 hours annually by adding service to its busiest routes, introducing service to new destinations and adding new express routes. It is also acquiring 40 new coaches annually, adding Park-and-Ride locations, investing in the renovation of its fixed-route bus facilities, and constructing a new facility for Mainstream, its demand response service for people with disabilities.

The increases in 2008 are continuing in 2009, with ridership up 7.6 percent over the same period a year ago for the week ending March 1. Meanwhile, year-to-date ridership is up 4.5 percent.