In this report, you'll see how we've delivered on our promises to take public transit to the next level with innovative and fiscally-responsible ways to meet the ever-changing needs of central Ohio. COTA is changing the paradigm for providing its services and changing the way our community thinks about and uses public transportation.

1. REPORT TO THE
COMMUNITY 2014

2. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dawn Tyler Lee, Chair
Senior Vice President of Community Impact, United Way
Appointed by City of Columbus
J. Cleve Ricksecker, Vice Chair
Executive Director, Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District
Appointed by City of Columbus
William A. Anthony, Jr.
Director, Franklin County Board of Elections
Appointed by City of Columbus
Jennifer L. Brunner
Partner, Brunner Quinn Law Firm
Appointed by City of Columbus
James E. Daley
Owner/Operator, Daley Properties
Appointed by City of Reynoldsburg
Mabel G. Freeman, Ph.D.
Special Assistant to the President, Columbus State Community College
Appointed by City of Bexley
James E. Kunk
President, Central Ohio Region, The Huntington National Bank
Appointed by City of Columbus
Harry W. Proctor
Retired – Administrative Organizer, SEIU District 1199 (WV/KY/OH)
Appointed by Franklin County
Craig P. Treneff
Attorney at Law, Craig P. Treneff Law Office
Appointed by City of Westerville
Jean Carter Ryan
President, Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority
Appointed by City of Columbus
Richard R. Zitzke
Chief of Police, City of Whitehall
Appointed by City of Whitehall
Robert J. Weiler, Sr.
Chairman, The Robert J. Weiler Company
Appointed by City of Columbus
One vacancy, Franklin County
A MESSAGE
from the
Board Chair and President/CEO
The Central Ohio Transit Authority is committed to excellence in serving our stakeholders – customers, employees and taxpayers. In order to provide excellent
service, COTA is pursuing a threefold strategy: aligning COTA’s goals with the goals of the broader community; maximizing COTA’s existing service to ensure a
sound foundation upon which to grow public transportation as our region grows; and planning the next generation of public transportation for Columbus and
central Ohio that will transform the transportation system and the quality of life in our community.
In 2006, the voters of central Ohio approved a renewable 0.25% sales tax to fund implementation of our Long-Range Transit Plan. Since that time, COTA has
been delivering on the ambitious commitments we made. We’ve modernized our bus fleet, launched an environmentally-friendly and cost-saving transition to
natural gas fuel, substantially increased the level and quality of fixed-route bus and Mainstream service, updated operational facilities, strategically invested
for future growth, and expanded partnerships throughout the community.
Despite these significant accomplishments, we’re just getting started. As central Ohio grows by 500,000 new residents over the next 35 years, COTA is
poised to use public transportation resources in support of workforce development by expanding service to new and growing jobs centers. It is also poised to
deploy transit services that promote and support economic and residential development by delivering new and creative services to growing population areas
and emerging activity centers.
In this report, you’ll see how we’ve delivered on our promises to take public transit to the next level with innovative and fiscally-responsible ways to meet the
ever-changing needs of central Ohio. COTA is changing the paradigm for providing its services and changing the way our community thinks about and uses
public transportation.
We look forward to continuing to focus COTA’s efforts on the goals of our vibrant and growing region. While doing so, we invite every member of our
community to join COTA and its strategic partners as we launch the planning process that will deliver the community’s visionary plan for the next generation
of public transportation for Columbus and central Ohio.
Dawn Tyler Lee
Chair, Board of Trustees
W. Curtis Stitt
President/CEO

3. 68 Lines
Local, Express
& Crosstown
VISION
COTA will be the region’s
transportation leader.
COTA MOVES CENTRAL OHIO
550+
coach
operators
18.7
million+
passenger trips
3,500+
bus stops
69
Mainstream
vehicles
332
fixed-route
buses
28
Park & Ride
facilities
981,000
service hours
in 2014
562
sq mile
service area
370+
passenger
shelters
in 2013
System 2007
2008
Ridership (2009
Fixed-Route and 2010
2011
Mainstream)
2012
2013 # OF TRIPS
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
MISSION
COTA is committed to excellence in
serving our stakeholders including customers, employees and
taxpayers. We will deliver quality transportation services and
conduct business courteously, safely, ethically and reliably.
We will demonstrate leadership that is fiscally responsible and
environmentally conscientious.
HISTORY
COTA was created by an agreement executed on Feb. 17,
1971, with Franklin County and the cities of Bexley, Columbus,
Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Grove City, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg,
Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall and Worthington. In 2008,
an amended agreement added the city of Dublin.
COTA’s first day providing public transportation services was
Jan. 1, 1974.

4. FUNDING & Service
COTA’s operations are funded by a 0.5% sales and use tax, of
which 0.25% is continuing and 0.25% is renewable. The tax
is collected in Franklin County and parts of Delaware, Fairfield,
Licking and Union counties. The 10-year renewable sales and
use tax was approved by voters in 2006 to begin implementation
of COTA’s Long-Range Transit Plan. Sales tax revenue makes
up 83% of COTA’s operating revenue, while fare box and other
revenue accounts for 17%.
service expansion
In 2007, COTA began expanding service,
developing new Park & Ride facilities, and
modernizing its fleet and facilities. This year,
over 60,000 service hours are being added.
COTA’s service expansion and growth includes
Mainstream. As fixed-route service expands,
Mainstream service and capacity also grows.
FINANCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
The Auditor of State Award with Distinction (2012)
is given to those entities that receive a “clean” audit report, as well as
file an annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and timely financial
reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Additional achievements include a “clean” audit report for
six consecutive years (2008-2013) and 24 consecutive years receiving
the Government Finance Officers Association’s “Excellence in Financial
Reporting Certificate,” 1989-2012.
USING TAX DOLLARS EFFECTIVELY
New Revenue Stream Fueled Service Growth
Since the passage of the renewable sales tax in 2006, COTA has:
• Increased service levels by 57% or 357,000 service hours
• Invested in infrastructure improvements to support growth
• Modernized and transitioned bus fleet to clean burning fuel
• Restored/improved facility assets to “like new” condition
• Replaced/improved passenger amenities
(shelters, Park & Rides, bus stops)
• Made strategic property acquisitions for future
transit services
• Updated technology infrastructure
• Leveraged $142.8 million of federal grant dollars
• Increased working capital reserve level that allows COTA to
plan longer term
• Brought costs under control and in line with peer transit agencies
mainstream SERVICE
Mainstream is a demand-response, shared-ride service available to individuals whose disabilities prevent them from accessing COTA’s fixed-route
bus system. Eligibility is determined through an application and assessment process based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
COTA provided more than 275,000 Mainstream passenger trips in 2013. Mobility Services also offers free, personalized travel training to those seeking
independence by using public transit.
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014 (B*)
Annual Fixed-Route Service Hours 1,000,000
900,000
800,000
HOURS
700,000
600,000
SERVICE 500,000
0
678,302
753,637
801,153
839,635
860,757
918,742
981,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
635,828
2006 623,987
*Budgeted

5. STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS &
acquisitions
acquisitions
Strategic land purchases were made to enhance and expand
customer amenities and services. Sites include land surrounding
the McKinley Operations Facility and Fields Avenue campus;
Westview Turnaround; and New Albany, Grove City and Canal
Winchester properties for Park & Rides.
Capital investments
McKinley Operations Facility
Fixed-route bus operations and vehicle maintenance facility
Undergoing renovations to “like new” condition
Spring Street Terminal
Serves commuters in the northern Downtown area
Undergoing renovations and upgrades
COTA Transit Terminal
Serves commuters in the southern Downtown area
Renovations and upgrades completed in August 2014
Street and Remote Operations Facility
Bus shelter maintenance and support vehicle storage facility
New acquisition. Renovation completed in 2012
William J. Lhota Building
Administrative headquarters and customer service/pass sales
New acquisition. Renovations completed in 2010
Mobility Services Facility
Mainstream operations facility
New state-of-the-art bus and disability assessment facility
completed in 2011
Fields Operations Facility
Fixed-route bus operations and vehicle maintenance facility
Renovation completed in 2009
MODERnIZATION OF BUS FLEET
COTA’s fixed-route fleet is one of the youngest in the country with
an average bus age of 4.6 years. The national average in 2013
was 7.8 years. COTA replaces one-twelfth of its fleet each year,
based on the average 12 year life span of a bus.
PARTNERShips
COTA is proud to partner with community organizations
to offer pass programs:
• The Ohio State University
• Columbus College of Art & Design
• Columbus City Schools
• Franklin County
• City Year Columbus Ambassador Program

6. 20 11 20 12
2012
going green
Sustainable Development &
Investments
COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS
By 2025, COTA will phase out all diesel-powered fixed-route,
Mainstream and support vehicles. All newly acquired vehicles will
be powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). This commitment,
based on both environmental and economic factors, will result in
air quality improvements and a substantial reduction in operating
fuel costs.
Today, COTA’s 66 CNG-powered coaches are fueled at a newly
constructed, COTA-owned and operated CNG fueling station on
the grounds of the McKinley Operations Facility that opened
in May 2013. In the first year of CNG operation, COTA saved
$564,000 in fuel costs.
LEED CERTIFICATION
COTA incorporates Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED®) standards in the design and construction of
all new and renovated facility projects. Four COTA facilities are
LEED® certified by the US Green Building Council:
Fields Operations
Facility
Jan. 2011
Mobility Services
Facility
Oct. 2012
William J. Lhota
Building
Apr. 2012
Street & Remote
Operations Facility
Apr. 2014
LEED®, and its related logo, is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green
Building Council® and is used with permission.
enhancing downtown
development
In May 2014, COTA launched the CBUS, a free service that
circulates in downtown Columbus and adjacent neighborhoods.
The CBUS serves downtown employees, residents and visitors
wishing to make connections between residential districts,
employment centers, dining, nightlife, cultural offerings, parks,
hotels and convention facilities.
Over 165,000 trips
taken on the CBUS

7. strengthening
service
BUS RAPID TRANSIT
In order to provide an improved transit option within one of
Columbus’ busiest corridors, COTA began working in 2010
to bring Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)/Enhanced Bus Service to
Cleveland Avenue. The proposed 15.6-mile service will transport
riders between downtown Columbus and Polaris Parkway/Africa
Road.
The preliminary project cost is approximately $40 million, of
which COTA is seeking 80% in grant funding from the Federal
Transit Administration’s Section 5309 New Starts program.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
WHAT WILL THE NEXT GENERATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION LOOK LIKE IN CENTRAL OHIO?
Columbus is the largest city in Ohio and the 15th-fastest-growing city in the country. Projections indicate that by 2050 the central
Ohio region will grow by more than 500,000 people. How will this growing number of people move through the region each day?
COTA will lead the central Ohio community in envisioning
what our public transportation system needs to accomplish
in the next 20, 30, 40 years and beyond. This extensive
visioning process will reach out to all of the members of the
community with an interest in our future transit model, and
will not be fiscally constrained or restricted by transit mode.
COTA looks forward to leading this exciting process and
developing the community’s vision for the next generation of
public transportation for Columbus and central Ohio.
How will you help plan the future of
public transportation in central Ohio?
cota.com/NextGeneration
#COTANextGen
TRANSIT SYSTEM REVIEW
In October 2013, COTA embarked on a complete review of its
bus network. The intent of this Transit System Review (TSR) is
to improve the effectiveness of COTA’s bus network to meet
the needs of growing and changing land uses in central Ohio.
The recommendations that result will be constrained by COTA’s
current funding levels.
Proposed network and downtown operations plans were drafted,
allocating 70% of resources to maximizing ridership and 30% of
resources to providing coverage.
COTA will lead
the community in
developing the vision
for the next generation
of public transportation
for columbus and
central ohio