COTA To Increase Fares For 2010
NBC 4
Residents who use COTA’s transit services will see an increase in fares Friday, Jan. 1, 2010.
Related Links
Click here for more information.
Published: November 17, 2009
Updated: November 17, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Central Ohio Transit Authority board of trustees approved fare increases Tuesday.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
COTA’s board approved fare increases Tuesday effective Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, for all fixed-route bus and paratransit services.
COTA last raised fares in 2006.
One-way local cash fares will increase from $1.50 to $1.75 while local monthly passes with unlimited rides will increase from $45 to $55.
“We believe that our customers should contribute a reasonable portion of the cost to provide transit service,” said COTA President/CEO Bill Lhota. “By adjusting fares upward we are striving to maintain an equitable ratio between the fare paid by the customer and amount subsidized by the taxpayers.”
The proposed increase positions COTA closer to the transit industry standard fare box recovery rate while accounting for the inflationary factors that impact the cost of providing transit service.
“Because of the challenging economic environment, the new fare structure is designed to minimize the impact on our customers while also helping us to catch up with inflation,” Lhota said.
The fare increases are projected to generate approximately $2.1 million in additional revenue annually.
Even with the increase, COTA’s fare structure is generally equal to or less than the transit fare structure in other major Ohio cities.
FARE SCHEDULE
- Local $1.50 currently; $1.75 with increase
- Express $2 currently; $2.50 with increase
- Monthly Unlimited (local) $45 currently; $55 with increase
- Monthly Unlimited (express) $62 currently; $78 with increase
- Monthly Unlimited (discount) $22 currently; $27.50 with increase
- 7-Day $18 currently; $22 with increase
- Single Day $3.50 currently; $4 with increase
- Senior, Child, Key $.75 currently; $.85 with increase
- ADA (Mainstream) $2.25 currently; $3 with increase
- ADA (Mainstream) monthly $70 currently; $89 with increase
- Non-ADA $3 currently; $3.50 with increase
- ADA (Sedan Voucher) $3.50 currently; $4 with increase
- ADA (Will Call) $3 currently; $3.50 with increase
Transfers will be free, and ADA cardholders ride fixed-route service for free.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail
.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Well, I have to pay it but it really steams me. It appears that the current city government has no clue or no concern with the impact their selfish decisions will be making on most of the citizens. They don’t have to ride the bus or pay to park so what do they care. But, people voted those losers right back into office so I guess you get what you deserve.
Well, goodbye Columbus! I can tell you I won’t be coming downtown for anything now. Except maybe the casinos, but I’ll be taking the bus and using that extra money I’ll be paying for a pass. They gave away the river front park, they are going to build a ridiculously over priced playground for gangs and drugies, then there is the new slums coming soon, parking is already stupid and now they’re making it worse. I hate downtown anyway.
what happen to the sales tax increase we voted just a few years ago? why do they need more money it sure is not for gas, since gas prices are down. maybe it is to pay for the empty busses.
COTA is a joke, half the time the buses are empty. On slow times COTA needs tyo switch to smaller buses, stop the idle times at the park and rides and get rid of routes that nobody is taking.This alone would save COTA millions of dollars. But hey, I am just a mindless taxpayer who could care less where my money goes….COLEMAN MUST GO, RECALL!!!
Hopefully things really do come in threes and we’re done. Today alone it’s been
1. IRS messed up and it’s going to cost YOU.
2. Raise parking meter rates.
2. Raise COTA fees.
But remember…Coleman’s budget for next year is already over due to a decrease in expected tax collections, even with the new .5%. Keep those checkbooks out Columbus.
Advertisement