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.