The document summarizes proposed fare adjustments for COTA public transportation that would take effect on January 1, 2018. It announces three public meetings on October 17-19 to receive public comments and answer questions. An independent fare analysis was conducted and two preliminary fare structure options are presented, with estimated systemwide fare recoveries of 20% and 18%. The document provides details on the current and proposed fare structures and passes. It outlines the process for public input and board approval of the new fares.

1. Proposed Fare Adjustments Public
Meetings
October 17, 2017 12 noon
October 18, 2017 12 noon & 6pm
October 19, 2017 6pm

2. 2
MEETING PURPOSE
Thank you for joining us and participating in this community
discussion.
The purpose of this meeting is to take public comments
and answer questions on proposed fare adjustments that
would be effective on Monday, January 1, 2018. No final
decisions have been made.

3. 3
MEETING FORMAT
Be considerate of meeting attendees and COTA staff.
Please silence cell phones.
We welcome questions at the end of the presentation.
• Please raise your hand, so that we may call on you.
• Ask one question at a time.
• Questions and comments are limited to two (2)
minutes per person.
Participants are encouraged to complete comment cards.
Please print clearly.

4. 4
COTA FARE POLICY
• COTA has a responsibility to operate with and manage taxpayer
funds in a prudent and sound manner.
• A system-wide fare recovery goal of 20% was adopted in 2009.
• As described in COTA’s Long Range Transit Plan, fares are
evaluated every three years.
• COTA fares were last adjusted on January 1, 2012.
• The increase proposed for 2015 was not adopted.
• COTA will conduct a public information and comment process prior
to recommending fare adjustments to the Board of Trustees.
Full policies available at COTA.com/policies/fare-change-policy

5. 5
COTA STAKEHOLDERS
Taxpayers
COTA’s Service Area population
1.3 million
Customers
60,000 weekday trips
18 million annual trips
Employees
Approximately 1,000
COTA Management

6. FARE ANALYSIS

7. 7
FARE ANALYSIS
• An independent evaluation of COTA’s current fare structure was
completed, including a peer agency comparative analysis.
• Preliminary fare structure options have been identified.
• Next steps:
• Consider input from the public
• Identify structures to be evaluated based on Board and staff input
• Evaluate potential ridership and revenue impacts
• Refine alternatives
• Perform a Title VI analysis
• Make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees

8. 8
SUMMARY OF INDEPENDENT EVALUATION
• COTA’s fare structure is in the general range of its peer transit
agencies, in terms of:
• Fares related to class of service – Frequent/Standard; Rush Hour;
Mainstream
• Transfer availability and validity
• Methods of payments
• Special fares
• Fare media
• The target fare recovery rate of 20% is within the range of 15%-30%
for our peer transit agencies. Much of this range is due to local
financial or policy choices, rather than specific system characteristics.
• COTA’s pass program is broadly representative of its peers and is
appropriate to its size.

9. 9
HISTORY OF COTA’S LOCAL BUS BASE CASH FARE
$0.50
$0.74
$1.26
$1.38
$1.59
$1.80
$2.04
$2.21
$2.33
$2.48
$0.50
$0.60
$0.75
$1.00
$1.10
$1.25
$1.50
$1.75
$2.00
$0.00
$0.50
$1.00
$1.50
$2.00
$2.50
$3.00
Local Fare Inflated from 1974 Nominal Local Fare

10. 10
FARE STRUCTURE CONSIDERATIONS
• Flatten the structure
• Fewer distinct classes of service, as a result of service changes (TSR)
and new services (CMAX Bus Rapid Transit)
• Reduce potential for customers paying more for a trip because of their
choice of fare media (cash or pass)
• Take advantage of and stay within the capabilities of the new fare
collection system
• Future-proof for planned transition to mobile application payment and
“tap-on” smartcards

11. 11
FARE LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS
• Ensure that transit users pay a fair and reasonable portion of the
total cost of providing transit service (goal of 80 percent taxpayer
support / 20 percent farebox recovery from customers)
• Maintain affordability for customers
• Cover the costs associated with providing service and continuing
service growth and improvements
• Match fares and farebox recovery rates with peer and other Ohio
transit agencies
• Apply adjustments uniformly across the entire fare structure, as
practicable

12. 12
FAREBOX RECOVERY RATES* IN PEER AND OHIO CITIES (2015)
COTA Peers and Ohio Systems
(2016)
Other Similar Systems
(2016)
Cincinnati 33.6%
Buffalo 32.7%
Orlando 29.7%
Milwaukee 27.3%
Charlotte 25.9%
Toledo 24.9%
Providence 22.1%
Cleveland 21.3%
Hartford 20.7%
Indianapolis 18.9%
Columbus (2017 Projection - 14.2%) 18.8%
Louisville 18.5%
Dayton 18.1%
Jacksonville 15.4%
Average without COTA 23.8%
Median without COTA 22.1%
Rochester 35.8%
Broward 31.4%
Tampa 23.5%
Tucson 20.9%
Columbus (2017 Projection - 14.2%) 18.8%
Norfolk 18.6%
Average without COTA 26.0%
Weighted average without COTA 24.3%
* For directly operated buses, not including paratransit services

13. 13
LOCAL BUS FARES FOR COTA PEERS AND OHIO TRANSIT SYSTEMS
City Base Fare Differences (fleet, size, ridership
and service)
Cleveland $2.50 (free transfer) Larger and multimodal
Milwaukee $2.25 (cash, no transfer) –
$1.75 (smart card, free transfer)
Higher service intensity
Buffalo $2.00 (no transfer) Multimodal and lower service intensity
Providence $2.00 + $1.00 transfer Lower service intensity
Columbus $2.00 (free transfer)
Orlando $2.00 (free transfer) More boardings and longer trips
Indianapolis $1.75 (no transfer) Smaller
Cincinnati $1.75 + $0.50 transfer + $0.90
outside city
Dayton $1.75 + $0.25 transfer Smaller
Hartford $1.75 (free transfer) Lower service intensity
Jacksonville $1.50 (no transfer) Smaller and longer trips
Akron $1.25 (free transfer) Smaller
Toledo $1.25 (free transfer) Smaller

14. 14
FARE ANALYSIS CONCLUSIONS
• A general fare increase is overdue in terms of both timing and cost
recovery
• COTA’s fare recovery is now at the low end of the range for peers and
similar systems
• Increases in service since 2011 have not been met with corresponding
demand growth
• It is too early to gauge the demand effects of the Transit System
Redesign (TSR), but if projections are realized, cost recovery will be
below goal (about 14%)
• Attention should focus on preventing further loss in fare recovery and
on achieving goals for the structure (e.g. flattening and future-proofing)

15. FARE ANALYSIS

16. 16
PRELIMINARY FARE STRUCTURE OPTIONS
Goals:
• Maintain planned service levels
• Improve systemwide fare recovery from the estimated 14.2% for
2017
Options:
• Option 1: Target for a 20% system-wide fare recovery, per 2009
board policy
• Option 2: Target for an 18% system-wide fare recovery, based on
taxpayers’ share of operating costs of 82 percent

17. 17
PRELIMINARY FARE STRUCTURE OPTIONS
Features Proposed for All Options
• Guaranteed Lowest Fare
Similar to a frequency-based discount, this would guarantee riders the
lowest fare for which they are eligible based on the extent of the usage of
their fare cards.
For example, if a day pass is $5 and the rider has paid $5 in fares within a 24 hour period, the rider
would not pay a fare for additional trips taken in the remainder of the 24 hour period.
• End Express Upcharge
This would “flatten” COTA’s fare schedule and make all bus fares consistent
across all express (Rush Hour) and local (Frequent/Standard) lines.
• 2-Hour Round Trip Ticket
This would allow a customer to pay one fare for a 2-hour period, making all
transfers free including round trips.

18. 18
PRELIMINARY FARE STRUCTURE OPTIONS
*The AirConnect fares listed are the on-board cash fares. Passes will be accepted at their normal rate.
** Transfers will be valid in all vehicles for 2 hours regardless of direction of travel.
Fare Structure Current
Option 1
Est. 20%
Fare Recovery
Option 2
Est. 18%
Fare Recovery
Single Fares
Standard & Frequent $2.00 $2.75 $2.50
Rush Hour (Express) $2.75 $2.75 $2.50
AirConnect* $2.75 $2.75 $5.50
Transfer** Free Free Free
CBUS Free Free Free
Senior, Child, Key $1.00 $1.35 $1.25
ADA Card Free Free Free
Passes
31-day Standard & Frequent $62.00 $86.00 $82.00
31-day Rush Hour $85.00 $86.00 $82.00
31- day Senior, Child, Key $31.00 $43.00 $41.00
7-Day Standard & Frequent $25.00 $34.00 $31.00
Standard & Frequent Day $4.50 $6.25 $5.50
Discount Day Pass $2.25 $3.00 $2.75
Mobility Services
ADA Mainstream $3.50 $4.75 $4.50
ADA Mainstream Monthly $105.00 $146.00 $135.00
Non-ADA Service $5.00 $7.00 $6.00

19. 19
Fare Structure Current
Option 1
Est. 20%
Fare Recovery
Single Fares
Standard & Frequent $2.00 $2.75
Rush Hour (Express) $2.75 $2.75
AirConnect* $2.75 $2.75
Transfer** Free Free
CBUS Free Free
Senior, Child, Key $1.00 $1.35
ADA Card Free Free
Passes
31-day Standard & Frequent $62.00 $86.00
31-day Rush Hour $85.00 $86.00
31- day Senior, Child, Key $31.00 $43.00
7-Day Standard & Frequent $25.00 $34.00
Standard & Frequent Day $4.50 $6.25
Discount Day Pass $2.25 $3.00
Mobility Services
ADA Mainstream $3.50 $4.75
ADA Mainstream Monthly $105.00 $146.00
Non-ADA Service $5.00 $7.00
*The AirConnect fares listed are the on-board cash fares. Passes will be accepted at their normal rate.
** Transfers will be valid in all vehicles for 2 hours regardless of direction of travel.
PRELIMINARY FARE STRUCTURE OPTIONS

20. 20
Fare Structure Current
Option 1
Est. 20%
Fare Recovery
Option 2
Est. 18%
Fare Recovery
Single Fares
Standard & Frequent $2.00 $2.75 $2.50
Rush Hour (Express) $2.75 $2.75 $2.50
AirConnect* $2.75 $2.75 $5.50
Transfer** Free Free Free
CBUS Free Free Free
Senior, Child, Key $1.00 $1.35 $1.25
ADA Card Free Free Free
Passes
31-day Standard & Frequent $62.00 $86.00 $82.00
31-day Rush Hour $85.00 $86.00 $82.00
31- day Senior, Child, Key $31.00 $43.00 $41.00
7-Day Standard & Frequent $25.00 $34.00 $31.00
Standard & Frequent Day $4.50 $6.25 $5.50
Discount Day Pass $2.25 $3.00 $2.75
Mobility Services
ADA Mainstream $3.50 $4.75 $4.50
ADA Mainstream Monthly $105.00 $146.00 $135.00
Non-ADA Service $5.00 $7.00 $6.00
PRELIMINARY FARE STRUCTURE OPTIONS
*The AirConnect fares listed are the on-board cash fares. Passes will be accepted at their normal rate.
** Transfers will be valid in all vehicles for 2 hours regardless of direction of travel.

21. 21
FARE STRUCTURE CHANGE ACTIVITIES
Oct. 3 - Nov. 3: Public Comment Period – accept and consider
public input
Oct. 17 - 19: Public Meetings on fare structure alternatives
Oct. 19: Board Finance Committee – summarize preliminary public
input and discuss options in greater detail
Oct. 25: Board of Trustees – provide summary of public input and
discussion of Finance Committee
Nov. 8: Board Finance Committee – Present public input results and
discuss recommendations to full Board
Nov. 15: COTA Board of Trustees – present Finance Committee
recommendations and approve 2018 fare structure
Jan. 1: Implement new fare structure

22. 22
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (OCT 3 – NOV 3)
How to offer comments:
• Comment cards at public meetings
• Call (614) 228-1776
• Online contact form at COTA.com/contact
• Facebook: Post on COTABus profile
• Twitter: Tweet at @COTABus
• Write to us at:
Central Ohio Transit Authority
Attention: Fare Adjustment Public Comments
33 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215

23. QUESTIONS?
Thank you for joining us!