GCAC Presents: COTA Combines Service and Art

Imagine the following scenario: You are a person in a wheelchair. Rolling over gravel and cracks in the sidewalk you make your way to the bus stop. You come to the corner of a busy downtown intersection and wait for the light to change. You press the button to trigger the light so you can cross the street safely. You make your way to the bus stop and wait for your bus to arrive. Your bus pulls up and “kneels” and you roll onto the bus. You deposit your fare. You notice how nice the bus driver is while she helps strap your wheelchair into place. You hear the familiar sound of the bus pulling away as you head toward your destination.

Those of us without disabilities take so many day-to-day things for granted. For people with physical and mental disabilities, even every day activities like riding the bus can be a challenge. The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is constructing a new assessment center, operations and maintenance facility to handle the increased demand for its transportation service for persons with disabilities, known as Mainstream. The state of the art center will have room for up to 104 paratransit vehicles and serve as the headquarters for COTA Mainstream administrative staff. In addition the facility will be used as an instructional facility to help people with disabilities prepare for using public transportation as well as enable COTA to evaluate an applicant’s ability to access and utilize COTA’s Fixed Route bus service and qualify for Mainstream service.

When the new 104,000 square foot center opens across from the Fields Avenue facility in December of this year, individuals will be met with real life simulations that will incorporate sights and sounds. Part of the sights will be a 70 foot long mural that will be created by an artist selected through a national call for entry launching later this month. COTA has engaged an art selection committee to organize the call and to assist in making the final selection.

In addition to this large scale mural, COTA also plans to incorporate sculpture as well as a rotating art exhibition. VSA Ohio, the partner providing the artwork for the exhibition, will work with COTA to showcase art from across Ohio that is created by individuals with disabilities of all kinds.

“VSA Ohio is proud to partner with COTA to fill this space with high-quality artwork made by professional artists with disabilities. These artists embody the word limitless, an important message for COTA riders and the staff who work to make our community accessible”, said Erin Hoppe, Executive Director of VSA Ohio.

While not a life changing moment for those of us lucky enough not to have a disability, for someone in a wheelchair or with a mental disorder moments like the scenario described above can be triumphs and help empower them towards independence.

For more information, contact: Chad Fosnight, Central Ohio Transit Authority, 614-275-5969

GCAC presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.