news

COTA recognised for its cleaning and sanitisation efforts

Posted: 11 March 2021 | | No comments yet

COTA has been awarded accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council for the cleaning and sanitisation of its facilities and services.

COTA has been accredited for cleaning its buses

COTA has been accredited for its facilities as well as its fixed-route buses

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has earned the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation, which COTA says continues its commitment to providing a safe environment for transit customers and employees.

GBAC is the cleaning industry’s gold standard of prepared facilities and the only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities. To obtain the GBAC STAR accreditation, organisations must have:

  • A cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks associated with infectious agents such as COVID-19
  • The proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious disease
  • Highly informed cleaning professionals who are trained for an outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response.

COTA was recently evaluated and earned accreditation for all seven COTA facilities and its transit services, including fixed-route buses, paratransit and on-demand services. Since March 2020, COTA says it has implemented extensive cleaning and sanitisation of transit vehicles, shelters and facilities.

“We are incredibly proud to be one of the first transit agencies in the country to earn this prestigious certification,” said COTA President/CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton.

“As Columbus works to safely recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COTA and other organizations are ensuring that our residents and visitors have confidence in public transportation, hotels, convention, and sporting and concert venues.

“Our commitment to providing the best experience for our customers always begins with safety and we are grateful to Experience Columbus for leading this effort.”  

In May 2020, Experience Columbus announced a citywide effort to help the organisation’s industry sectors — event venues, transportation, lodging, and attractions – achieve GBAC STAR accreditation. Through the initiative, COTA became the first public transit system in the nation to apply and the second to be awarded.

“We’re proud to be one of only two destinations in the world that can offer a GBAC accredited public transit system,” said Experience Columbus President/CEO Brian Ross.

“COTA is an essential piece of the visitor experience in Columbus, and we’re glad to know travellers can feel an added level of comfort now that the organization has received its GBAC STAR Accreditation.

“COTA has been a leader in the community and the industry in regards to COVID-19 cleaning practices, and this third-party validation of their efforts is further proof of that.”