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Colombus C-Pass renewed to give workers free travel until 2025

Posted: 16 November 2020 | | No comments yet

The Central Ohio Transit Authority says the c-pass will help reduce traffic in the city and contributed to a record-breaking 2019 in terms of ridership numbers.

Bus in Columbus Ohio

COTA has appointed three new board members

The Downtown C-pass programme, a transit pass programme for workers in downtown Columbus, has been officially renewed until December 31, 2025 by the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA).

The C-pass programme is a partnership of the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District (CCSID), Authority, COTA, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). Launched in June 2018 by downtown property owners, the programme provides unlimited COTA transit access to enrolled workers and residents at no cost to them. It is funded by participating property owners in the CCSID and MORPC.

“Downtown C-pass has proven to be a successful programme that reduces car trips into downtown and eases the scarcity of parking,” said Marc Conte, acting Executive Director for CCSID. “This supports our property owners’ efforts to lease more space while providing employers with a valuable recruitment and retention tool.”

Since its launch, more than 450 downtown organisations have enrolled over 15,000 employees and residents, according to COTA. The authority also claimed that the C-pass contributed to its 31-year ridership high in 2019 and has more than doubled the ridership of the downtown workforce.

“Renewing the C-pass programme ensures thousands of downtown employees will have equitable access to transportation to work for years to come,” said COTA President/CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton. “This valuable programme and partnership serve as a model for other communities to consider; equitable access to mobility solutions will always be a crucial part of economic and workforce development.”

“As Central Ohio remains on track to reach 3 million people, research tells us that residents want more transportation options, including transit,” said MORPC Executive Director William Murdock. “C-pass went from a ground-breaking idea to a real-life tool that is transforming the way people commute, and MORPC is proud to continue partnering on it.”

Currently, COTA fares are temporarily suspended and when fares are reinstated, C-pass will automatically be reactivated for all enrolled members.