COTA begins work on $65 million McKinley avenue renovation

Ground has been broken at the McKinley Avenue facility

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has broken ground on what it has called a transformative modernisation project for its primary transit facility, enabling a more sustainable fleet while providing workforce training for the surrounding community.

The $65 million renovation of COTA’s McKinley Avenue facility will include expansive electric vehicle charging capabilities, easing the transition to diesel-free transit vehicles. Meanwhile, COTA says the project will engage young people at the middle school, high school, trade school and college levels to provide hands-on job training, job shadowing, internships and externships. 

COTA claims it is on track to meet its commitment to be diesel-free by 2025, replacing all diesel transit vehicles with Compressed Natural Gas and soon piloting an electrical fleet. COTA reduced greenhouse gases by nine per cent between 2012 and 2020 – a period during which the Central Ohio region saw a 40 per cent increase in transportation-related greenhouse gases. COTA is also committed to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, a goal that is aligned with the City of Columbus Climate Action Plan. 

“This project is about transformation, which is focused on quality of life for all people,” said COTA President/CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton.

“These are ambitious, necessary, and achievable goals which will ensure our next generation of workforce has a healthy region to prosper. COTA is committed to showing that sustainable growth can be done and it must be done to support vibrant, healthy neighbourhoods and a vibrant, healthy economy for everyone.”

The renovation of COTA’s McKinley Avenue facility is projected to be completed in June 2023.