The Central Ohio Transit Authority Board of Directors approved a resolution this morning that extends free fares for the Downtown CBUS Circulator route through the end of April 2016. The free fare system was scheduled to expire on May 3rd if the transit authority was unable to secure additional private funding for the popular Downtown route.
“We’ve got commitments and firm pledges for around $133,000 which exceeds our target goal of getting half way to $266,000 for the next year,” said COTA CEO & President Curtis Stitt when addressing the Board this morning. “I feel comfortable requesting the extension for another year of free fares for CBUS.”
Stitt added that a new task force of contributing organizations would also be assembled to identify long-term solutions to funding the route. The annual operating costs of the CBUS is approximately $1.3 million, so the $266,000 goal would represent the offset of a 20% fare box collection goal.
“Nobody wants to see COTA come back year after year to put our hand out,” explained Stitt. “All have expressed interest for free fares and to work with us to secure appropriate sources to obtain revenue.”
Ridership of the CBUS, which launched on May 5th, 2014, is expected to exceed 500,000 trips in its first year.
The COTA Board of Directors also approved a new pilot program this morning that would provide an OSU-style bus pass ridership program for employees of major companies Downtown.
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