The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) board approved a balanced budget that advances the LinkUS mobility initiative, increases service, and improves the customer experience. 

The 2026 budget includes additional bus operators, more service hours, and planning and construction for 37 sidewalk and bikeways projects. In a resolution approved unanimously, COTA Trustees authorized approximately $276 million for operations, $230 million for capital improvements, and $51 million for LinkUS sidewalks and bikeway projects.

“We offered more service in 2025, and our community responded with a significant increase in ridership,” said COTA President/CEO Monica Tellez-Fowler. “Today, the COTA Board adopted a budget for 2026 that allows us to maintain and build on this momentum as we move closer to a modernized transit system in Central Ohio.”

Expected Budget Impact

LinkUS investments in 2026 will include:

• Advancement of the West Broad Street bus rapid transit line.

• Launch of Line 30, a new bus route connecting Dublin, Hilliard, and Upper Arlington to The Ohio State University.

• Planning and construction of 37 sidewalk and bikeway projects.

• Launch of a new COTA//Plus Zone.

• Continued stakeholder and community education and engagement.

Highlights of the operations portion of the budget include support for:

• 42 new operators for fixed route and COTA//Plus.

• Approximately 94,000 additional service hours to improve service frequency for existing transit lines and better support COTA Mainstream services.

• Operations at the new Mobility Center at Rickenbacker.

• Operational efficiency, transit safety, and strong cybersecurity.

Highlights of the capital improvements portion of the budget include support for:

• 38 new buses, 30 new COTA//Plus vans, and 15 new COTA Mainstream vehicles.

• Study and design of a downtown transit center.

• Completion of the Mobility Center at Rickenbacker.

• Technology upgrades and deployment.