List of COTA bus routes

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) operates 41 fixed-route bus services throughout the Columbus metropolitan area in Central Ohio. The agency operates its standard and frequent bus services seven days per week, and rush hour service Monday to Friday.[1] All buses and routes are wheelchair and mobility device-accessible, and include front-mounted bike racks.[2]

List of routes

Line type		Days	Minimum service frequency	No. of routes
	Standard line	Mon–Sun	Every 15–30 minutes	17
	Frequent line	Mon–Sun	Every 15 minutes	10
	Rush hour line (express)	Mon–Fri	Varies, rush hour times only	14
Source:[1]

Routes 1–13: through downtown

No. and designation		Frequency	Destinations				Area	Ref.
1	Kenny/Livingston	Frequent	NB/WB	To Pickforde Dr & Bethel Rd	SB/EB	To Reynoldsburg Park & Ride	Map: Route 1 Kenny/Livingston	[3]
2	E Main/N High	Frequent	NB/WB	To N High St & Fenway Rd	SB/EB	To Hanson St & E Main St	Map: Route 2 E Main/N High	[4]
3	Northwest/Harrisburg	Standard	NB	To Tremont Rd & Langham Rd	SB	To Parkway Centre	Map: Route 3 Northwest/Harrisburg	[5]
4	Indianola/Lockbourne	Standard	NB	To Boardwalk St & Shapter Ave	SB	To Thimbleberry Rd & Alum Creek Dr	Map: Route 4 Indianola/Lockbourne	[6]
5	W 5th Ave/Refugee	Frequent	NB/WB	To Renner Rd Park & Ride / Hollywood Casino	SB/EB	To Gender Road Towne Centre	Map: Route 5 W 5th Ave/Refugee	[7]
6	Cleveland/Sullivant	Standard	NB/EB	To Northland Transit Center	SB/WB	To Hollywood Casino	Map: Route 6 Cleveland/Sullivant	[8]
7	Mt Vernon	Frequent	NB/EB	To Int'l Gateway & Sawyer Rd / Easton Transit Center	SB/WB	To E Mound St & S 4th St	Map: Route 7 Mt Vernon	[9]
8	Karl/S High/Parsons	Frequent	NB	To Boardwalk St & Shapter Ave	SB	To Great Southern Park & Ride	Map: Route 8 Karl/S High/Parsons	[10]
9	W Mound/Brentnell	Standard	NB/EB	To Easton Transit Center	SB/WB	To Westwoods Park & Ride	Map: Route 9 W Mound/Brentnell	[11]
10	E Broad/W Broad	Frequent	WB	To Westwoods Park & Ride	EB	To Limited Brands	🌍	[12]
11	Bryden/Maize	Standard	NB/WB	To N High St & Fenway Rd	SB/EB	To Frebis Ave & Alum Creek Dr	Map: Route 11 Bryden/Maize	[13]
12	McKinley/Fields	Standard	WB	To McKinley Ave Garage	EB	To Fields Ave Garage	Map: Route 12 McKinley/Fields	[14]
13	Arlington/1st Ave	Rush hour	NB	To Nottingham & Riverside Dr	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 13 Arlington/1st Ave	[15]

Routes 21–25: north–south

No. and designation		Frequency	Destinations				Area	Ref.
21	Hilliard Rome	Standard	NB	To Pickforde Dr & Bethel Rd	SB	To Hollywood Casino	Map: Route 21 Hilliard Rome	[16]
22	OSU/Rickenbacker	Standard	NB/WB	To Grandview Yard	SB/EB	To London-Groveport & Alum Creek Dr	Map: Route 22 OSU/Rickenbacker	[17]
23	James/Stelzer	Frequent	NB	To Easton Transit Center	SB	To Eastland Mall	Map: Route 23 James/Stelzer	[18]
24	Hamilton Rd	Standard	NB	To Easton Transit Center	SB	To Eastland Mall	Map: Route 24 Hamilton Rd	[19]
25	Brice	Standard	NB	To Easton Transit Center	SB	To Canal Winchester Park & Ride	Map: Route 25 Brice	[20]

Routes 31–35: west–east

No. and designation		Frequency	Destinations				Area	Ref.
31	Hudson	Standard	WB/SB	To Grandview Yard	EB/NB	To Easton Transit Center	Map: Route 31 Hudson	[21]
32	N Broadway	Standard	WB	To Heritage Club Dr & Main St	EB	To Easton Transit Center	Map: Route 32 N Broadway	[22]
33	Henderson	Standard	WB	To 565 Metro Place	EB	To N High St & W Kanawha Ave	Map: Route 33 Henderson	[23]
34	Morse	Frequent	WB	To N High St & Fenway Rd	EB	To Easton Transit Center	Map: Route 34 Morse	[24]
35	Dublin-Granville	Standard	WB	To Boardwalk St & Shapter Ave	SB	To Easton Transit Center	Map: Route 35 Dublin-Granville	[25]

Routes 41–52: east Columbus

No. and designation		Frequency	Destinations				Area	Ref.
41	Crosswoods/Polaris	Rush hour	NB	To Crosswoods Park & Ride	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 41 Crosswoods/Polaris	[26]
42	Sharon Woods	Rush hour	NB	To Sharon Woods & Skywae Dr	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 42 Sharon Woods	[27]
43	Westerville	Rush hour	NB	To Westerville Park & Ride	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 43 Westerville	[28]
44	Easton	Rush hour	NB/EB	To Easton Transit Center	SB/WB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 44 Easton	[29]
45	New Albany	Rush hour	NB/EB	To New Albany Park & Ride	SB/WB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 45 New Albany	[30]
46	Gahanna	Rush hour	NB/EB	To Gahanna Park & Ride	SB/WB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 46 Gahanna	[31]
51	Reynoldsburg	Rush hour	WB	To Spring Street Terminal	EB	To Reynoldburg Park & Ride	Map: Route 51 Reynoldsburg	[32]
52	Canal Winchester	Rush hour	NB/WB	To Spring Street Terminal	SB/EB	To Canal Winchester Park & Ride	Map: Route 52 Canal Winchester	[33]

Routes 61–74: west Columbus

No. and designation		Frequency	Destinations				Area	Ref.
61	Grove City	Rush hour	NB	To Spring Street Terminal	SB	To Grove City Park & Ride	Map: Route 61 Grove City	[34]
71	Hilliard	Rush hour	NB/WB	To Hilliard Park & Ride	SB/EB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 71 Hilliard	[35]
72	Tuttle	Rush hour	NB	To 5139 Park Center Ave	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 72 Tuttle	[36]
73	Dublin	Rush hour	NB	To Dublin Park & Ride	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 73 Dublin	[37]
74	Smoky Row	Rush hour	NB	To Sawmill Rd & Hard Rd	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: Route 74 Smoky Row	[38]

Other routes

Designation	Service type	Frequency	Destinations				Area	Ref.
CMAX	BRT line	Frequent	NB	To Polaris Pkwy & Africa Rd	SB	To E Mound St & S 4th St	Map: CMAX	[39]
102 Polaris Pkwy/N High	Limited-stop	Standard	NB	To Meijer & Polaris Woods	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: 102 Polaris Pkwy/N High	[40]
CBUS	Downtown circulator	Frequent	NB	To 3rd Ave & Say Ave	SB	To E/W Sycamore St	Map: CBUS	[41]
Night Owl	Late-night	Standard	NB	To N High St & Blenheim Rd	SB	To W Broad St & N High St	Map: Night Owl	[42]
COTA AirConnect	Airport bus	Standard	NB	To CMH Airport	SB	To COTA Transit Terminal	Map: AirConnect	[43]
Other fixed-route services: SmartRide New Albany Blue, Red, Green shuttles;[44] GREAT Blue, Red, Green shuttles[45]

History

COTA began operating the CBUS service, a free downtown circulator, on May 5, 2014.[46] In May 2016, COTA began its AirConnect service between downtown and John Glenn Columbus International Airport, available with the $2.75 rush hour service fare. Previously, the agency offered a similar service with a $5 fare from 2001 to 2003, cut due to low ridership.[47] On May 1, 2017, the agency overhauled its bus network, the first redesign since COTA's establishment in 1971. The effort simplified routes, increased bus frequency, connected more locations, and reduced bus congestion in downtown Columbus. The redesign doubled the agency's number of frequent lines and significantly increased weekend service.[48][49]

COTA began its CMAX service, the first bus rapid transit service in Columbus, on January 1, 2018.[50] In 2019, COTA ended its OSUAir service that connected Ohio State University directly with the Columbus airport, citing low ridership amid other bus route options.[51][52]

References

1. "Our Fares". Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
2. "Frequently Asked Questions". Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
3. "1 Kenny/Livingston" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
4. "2 E Main/N High" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
5. "3 Northwest/Harrisburg" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
6. "4 Indianola/Lockbourne" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
7. "5 W 5th Ave/Refugee" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
8. "6 Cleveland/Sullivant" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
9. "7 Mt Vernon" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
10. "8 Karl/S High/Parsons" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
11. "9 W Mound/Brentnell" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
12. "10 E Broad/W Broad" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
13. "11 Bryden/Maize" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
14. "12 McKinley/Fields" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
15. "13 Arlington/1st Ave" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
16. "21 Hilliard Rome" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
17. "22 OSU/Rickenbacker" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
18. "23 James-Stelzer" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
19. "24 Hamilton Rd" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
20. "25 Brice" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
21. "31 Hudson" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
22. "32 N Broadway" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
23. "33 Henderson" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
24. "34 Morse" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
25. "35 Dublin-Granville" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
26. "41 Crosswoods/Polaris" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
27. "42 Sharon Woods" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
28. "43 Westerville" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
29. "44 Easton" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
30. "45 New Albany" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
31. "46 Gahanna" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
32. "51 Reynoldsburg" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
33. "52 Canal Winchester" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
34. "61 Grove City" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
35. "71 Hilliard" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
36. "72 Tuttle" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
37. "73 Dublin" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
38. "74 Smoky Row" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
39. "CMAX" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
40. "102 Polaris Pkwy/N High" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
41. "CBUS" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
42. "Night Owl" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
43. "COTA AirConnect" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
44. "SmartRide New Albany" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
45. "GREAT: Groveport Rickenbacker Employee Access Transit" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
46. Warren, Brett (May 5, 2014). "Free CBUS Downtown Circulator Launches". Columbus Underground. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
47. Ferenchik, Mark (May 31, 2018). "AirConnect ridership low, but COTA officials confident it will increase". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
48. "Transit System Redesign". Retrieved March 30, 2020.
49. Schmitt, Angie (August 14, 2018). "The Columbus Bus Network Redesign Boosted Ridership". Streetsblog USA. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
50. "New COTA bus line promises faster service across town". WBNS-10TV. January 1, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
51. Weyrich, Lydia (November 25, 2019). "COTA No Longer Provides Direct Service to Airport". The Lantern. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
52. "Transit System Redesign". Retrieved March 30, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• System map