Press Release:
COTA dedicates first passenger shelters on Capitol Square

COLUMBUS—Friday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m., COTA will join local leaders, community stakeholders, customers and project partners to celebrate its first passenger shelters built on Capitol Square.
The state-of-the-art shelters will be dedicated with a short ribbon-cutting ceremony at the South High Street shelter in front of the Statehouse. Photo ops and interviews will be available directly after the program.
These high-capacity shelters, located on East Broad Street and South High Street, will support approximately 5,000 boardings each day and serve 35 lines. The capacity of the High Street shelter is approximately 40 people inside and 70 people outside under the extended roof. The Broad Street shelter can accommodate approximately 30 people inside and 50 people outside.
The new shelters are unlike any other shelters in COTA’s system. Based upon a 19th century streetcar passenger shelter located at the U.S. Capitol, major amenities include infrared heaters, internal lighting and copper roofing. The heaters are timed to operate during certain portions of the year and only during normal bus service hours while being triggered to turn on by predetermined temperature levels. Shelter lights are activated by how dark it becomes outside.
The two new shelters at the Statehouse cost approximately $295,000.00, from design to installation. The funding for the shelters was 20 percent COTA local funds and 80 percent federal funds. Made of steel, glass and copper, the unique shelters are expected to last 50-100 years with proper maintenance.
COTA is proud to provide these exceptional amenities for its customers and community. It is part of COTA’s vision to be a distinctive asset to central Ohio and demonstrate its commitment to the revitalization of Downtown. Major partners in bringing the shelters to fruition include the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB), Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District (SID), City of Columbus, Schooley Caldwell Associates and Rio Grande Group, LLC.
Special event attendees will include, but are not limited to, new COTA President/CEO Curtis Stitt, City Council Member Eileen Paley, Executive Director of the CSRAB William Carleton, Executive Director of Capital Crossroads SID Cleve Ricksecker and COTA Board of Trustees members Robert Weiler and James Kunk.
NOTE: Shelter graphics and blue prints available upon request. Attached graphic is U.S. Capitol shelter after which new COTA Statehouse shelters are modeled.