September 2019 Service Changes Public Information Meetings August 8 & 13, 2019

MEETING PURPOSE Thank you for joining us and participating in this community discussion. The purpose of this meeting is to provide information on the service changes that will take effect on: Monday, September 2, 2019 (Labor Day). Sunday/Holiday schedule operates on Labor Day. Public comment meetings were held on May 16th & 21st.

MEETING FORMAT Be considerate of meeting attendees and COTA staff. Please silence cell phones and other technology. Participants are encouraged to complete comment cards. Please print clearly. Following the presentation, staff will be available to take your comments or feedback.

SERVICE CHANGE SCHEDULE COTA modifies service three times per year – the first Monday of: January May September September 2019 changes will begin on: Monday, September 2, 2019 Sunday/Holiday schedule operates on Labor Day.

September 2019 Service Changes TRAVEL TIMES Changes

Schedule adjustments Goal: Improve on-time service by adjusting the scheduled stop departure and arrival times Frequent Lines 5 W. 5th Ave./Refugee (Weekdays) 23 James/Stelzer (All days time added northbound due to construction detour) Standard Lines 9 W. Mound/Refugee (Weekdays) 25 Brice (Weekdays) 31 Hudson (Weekdays) Rush Hour (Weekdays) 72 Tuttle 6

September 2019 Service Changes Seasonal service

Zoo bus 2019: End of seasonal service Labor Day (September 2) is the final day for Zoo Bus service in 2019. Zoo Bus operates Holiday/Sunday on Labor Day. 8

September 2019 Service Changes Route changes

OSUAir: Discontinue service Goal: Because OSU students utilize AirConnect, COTA will discontinue unproductive OSUAir service. Next Steps: Increase outreach to OSU student bus pass holders to encourage use of AirConnect. Improve transfer experience between OSU area bus lines and AirConnect in downtown Columbus. Why? OSU student ridership data shows very low use of OSUAir. Most OSU student pass holders already opt to use AirConnect over OSUAir. 10

AirConnect: New downtown Routing Goal: Improve transfer experience and reduce customer confusion by moving AirConnect to High Street in both directions in downtown Columbus. New transfer to Line 102 at Convention Center. 11

Long-Term Detour: Line 51 Reynoldsburg Goal: Maintain afternoon/evening service quality when Ohio DOT closes the downtown 3rd Street ramp to I-70 for a highway expansion project sometime in late Fall 2019. The nearest I-70 entrance to downtown will be Miller-Kelton during the construction closure. Temporary routing: From 3rd Street, turn right on Rich St. and then left on S. High St. Continue on S. High St. to SR 104. Use 104 eastbound. Exit 104 at James Road to access I-70 and continue over regular route. 12

Long-Term Detour: Line 23 at James & Livingston Goal: Maintain northbound Line 23 service on James Road between E. Livingston & E. Main during a construction project which began July 1. Southbound buses will stay on the regular route. Temporary Northbound Routing: Westbound on E. Livingston Ave. Right on Eastmoor Blvd. Right on E. Main St. Left on James Road and continue on regular route 13

COTA MicroTransit Pilot September 2019 Service Changes COTA MicroTransit Pilot

Overview COTA PLUS: Grove city on-demand shuttle pilot Goal: Address gaps by expanding mobility options through connections to fixed-route system. Overview On-demand, COTA-operated service within a defined zone. Shared trips with multiple pickups and drop offs. Provide access to new Mt. Carmel Grove City Hospital, Mid-Ohio Foodbank and multiple businesses. For more info, visit: https://www.cota.com/cotaplus 15

September 2019 Service Changes COTA Connector card

COTA Connector payment system Target Date for Launch: October 1 Customers will be able to create an account, add funds, and then use either a smart card or a mobile phone app to pay at the farebox. Both Connector Card and mobile app will be full fare “pay-as-you go” - each tap at the fare box will deduct $2.00 or $2.75 (local or express). Connector card and mobile will be offered in addition to existing products like paper passes or trip tickets. Customers will be able to replenish their accounts in person, online at COTA.com, from the mobile app directly (for mobile users), or at one of COTA’s ticket vending machines (capability expected Q4 2019) 17

construction-Related September 2019 Service Changes construction-Related

Short North Streetscape Construction Goal: Maintain service during construction on N. High Street from Starr Avenue to 9th Avenue through 2020. Expect delays and temporary stop closures For more information on the project: columbus.gov/highstreet Lines affected: CBUS Line 1 Kenny/Livingston Line 2 E. Main/N. High Line 5 W. 5th Ave./Refugee Night Owl Line 102 Polaris Pkwy/ N. High (formerly Line 2L) 19

Short North Streetscape Construction Project Status, as of Spring 2019 20

Ongoing construction impacts Goal: Maintain bus service during regional construction projects. E. Livingston Ave. between S. High St. and Parsons Ave. (Line 1, Line 4, Line 8) Short North Phases 3 & 4 from Starr to 9th Avenues (CBUS, Line 1, Line 2, Line 102 (formerly 2L), Line 5, Night Owl) Cleveland Ave. from E. Long St. to Mt. Vernon – Creative Campus Project (Line 6, Line 9, CMAX) North Broadway & Olentangy River Road roadway & freeway improvements (Line 32, Line 72) Polaris Parkway from I-71 to Westerville Rd. improvements (Line 102 (formerly 2L), CMAX) N. High St. & E. 15th Ave. redevelopment (Line 1, Line 2, Line 102 (formerly 2L), Line 31, Night Owl) Riverside Dr. & Nottingham Rd. ODOT paving, crosswalk, and ramp improvements from April 11th through late 2019 (Line 32, Zoo Bus, Line 73) 21

Watch for delays in the following areas Goal: Inform customers of expected upcoming construction delays. Hamilton Road from 161 to Morse Road street widening (Line 24) July 2019 E Main St & McNaughten (Line 2, Line 25) expected August 2019 Cleveland Ave and 161 (CMAX, Line 35) expected October 2019 22

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