Your resource for all things LinkUS, Central Ohio Transit Authority's comprehensive transportation plan and strategy to increase transit services to address growth, affordability and opportunity gaps in our community. Take a deeper dive into the initiative, hear from the community and receive updates on the project right to your inbox.

On May 21, Central Ohio heard from Mayor Andrew Ginther during the State of the City on how LinkUS will support Columbus as it grows by connecting the dots between housing, healthcare, education and each other. We’re proud to partner with the City of Columbus to link our region together with increased COTA service and 500+ miles of sidewalk, bikeway and trail improvements. As Mayor Ginther said, let us move forward together.

The COTA Board of Trustees unanimously approved language to place a levy on the Nov. 5 ballot that, if approved, will create a funding stream for modernizing our public transit system and expanding sidewalks, bikeways and trails through LinkUS. Working alongside COTA, we will create an even more connected city, one with more walkable communities and reliable, expanded public transit for all.

COTA is bringing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) like Central Ohio has never seen before to the region through LinkUS, enhancing COTA service’s reliability, speed and affordability. BRT offers perks like:

LinkUS stands to benefit all of Central Ohio, but we connected with Small Business Owner Letha Pugh to hear how it will personally impact her. Letha knows transportation access is critical to the livelihood of her employees and her businesses.

Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin believes strongly in LinkUS’ ability to increase access and connection as our region grows. Hear more from the councilperson about creating a legacy of equity and justice for future generations.

From how LinkUS will support inclusive growth to when Central Ohioans can expect bus rapid transit corridors to begin construction, the Columbus Metropolitan Club panel and forum discussed LinkUS' outcomes and answered questions for many.

West Broad Bus Rapid Transit Corridor

• Design: The West Broad Bus Rapid Transit Corridor recently completed 60% of design. We are now advancing toward our 90% design completion goal in 2024.

• Engagement opportunities: We are conducting meetings with key stakeholders and businesses along the corridor to share the project and schedule. You may see a member of our team at one of the bus stops along this corridor this June! We’re collecting input from current riders on the project and would love to hear from you. 

• Funding: New funding was recently awarded for this corridor, including:

• A $42 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help fund the construction of BRT through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhood (RCN) Program
• A $15 million grant administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC)
• A $1.2 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration's Transit-Oriented Development Pilot Program (TOD) to plan for transit-oriented development along the corridor

See how COTA service and travel options will expand on an immersive augmented reality (AR) tour through the West Broad BRT Corridor! COTA and LinkUS have partnered with inCitu to bring to life future transit and infrastructure improvements along the corridor, all from the screen of your smartphone.

Using AR technology, the self-guided tour offers a close look at BRT stations, vehicles, potential housing and commercial developments, expanded sidewalks, bike paths and trails and more. 

Download the inCitu AR app and visit the stops at West Broad and Westland Mall, West Broad and South Westgate Avenue, and West Broad and Belle Street to get started and make sure to tag @LinkUSColumbus in photos from your tour!

East Main Bus Rapid Transit Corridor

This corridor will run along East Main Street from Downtown Columbus to Reynoldsburg. 

• Design: The project team has recently completed 30% design and are now proceeding toward 60% through 2024.

• Alignment update: On May 22, 2024, the COTA Board of Trustees adopted a revised East Main BRT Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), which confirmed a revision to the routing and station locations in downtown Columbus and the east end of line. Previously, the downtown routing for East Main BRT used High Street to East Main Street. The revised East Main BRT routing will now connect East Main Street to COTA’s Spring Street Terminal using 3rd Street rather than High Street and using bi-directional travel on East Main Street rather than the current one-way pair of Rich and East Main Streets. Additionally, the alignment has been extended 0.6 miles at the east end in Reynoldsburg from Taylor Road to the Eastwood Development. This revised LPA decision was based on a combination of technical analysis, stakeholder and public feedback to provide a better fit within the broader downtown Columbus environment and the growth happening out in Reynoldsburg. The adoption includes a strong continued commitment by project partners and stakeholders to continue working together to advance improved transit options in Central Ohio.

• Engagement opportunities: Keep an eye out for upcoming East Main engagement opportunities in neighborhoods along the corridor this summer as we are planning business meetings, community events and pop-ups to share the latest project updates.

Since our last newsletter, we have connected with hundreds of individuals through Community Stakeholder Meetings, Listening Sessions and State of the City events to share more about LinkUS, including:

• Equitable transit-oriented development updates like the $1.2 Million Pilot Program for TOD Planning Grant for West Broad BRT and our ETOD Action Plan completed in June

• How the Linden Green Line will transform a 7-mile corridor into a park and trail system

• A new experience recently introduced to the West Broad BRT Corridor, which allows visitors to three area stops to view the future of the corridor through an augmented reality experience. Learn more.

 We greatly appreciate your time and the insights shared in these meetings and look forward to meeting with even more members of the community. 

Schedule a Listening Session

Want to learn more and share your thoughts? Organizations and businesses looking to get involved can schedule a listening session, ideal for groups of 5-10, to hear directly from LinkUS and give feedback.

1 big thing: 🚍 COTA ridership on the climb

The biggest changes planned for Central Ohio transit in the years ahead could depend on voter support in November. What we're watching: Franklin County residents are expected to vote on doubling the existing COTA sales tax from 0.5% to 1%, in part to support a transportation initiative called LinkUS.

Columbus’ $8 Billion Transit Investment: Can LinkUS Build a Better Commute?

Next November, Columbus voters may be asked to approve a 0.5% sales tax increase to generate $6 billion of the estimated $8 billion cost of the massive long-term transit improvement project known as LinkUS. LinkUS promises to better connect parts of Columbus.

Central Ohio’s first rapid transit bus corridors are coming through a $2 billion project

A rapid transit corridor could land in downtown Columbus as one of multiple bus rapid transit systems coming to central Ohio. The corridor, aimed for West Broad Street, would run along 9.3 miles of the street, stretching from downtown Columbus to Prairie Township and traveling through areas like Franklinton and Hilltop.

The future of transit: Voters will decide an issue in November that could change how Central Ohio residents get around the growing region.

The idea is simple enough: Streamline how people get around Central Ohio with easier and more equitable access to rapid transit to keep up with expanding workforce needs through 2050. Think light rail, but with slick, new buses instead of trains moving people through the region’s busiest corridors.

How much would it cost to finish Columbus sidewalks? You could buy an MLB team for less

A ballot initiative that voters could decide on this fall called LinkUS would fund more than 500 miles of new sidewalks and bus rapid transit in central Ohio.

COTA Lands $42 Million Federal Grant for First Transit Corridor

The Central Ohio Transit Authority has been awarded $41.9 million in federal funding for the first of several planned Bus Rapid Transit corridors. The project, which will essentially be the first piece of the larger LinkUs initiative, calls for redesigning West Broad Street, from Downtown to Prairie Township.

It is too hard, dangerous to get around Columbus. Ginther, city council sing LinkUS’ praises.

LinkUS is the ambitious big picture for the region, proposing to achieve sustainable growth with a highly connected network of sidewalks, quality public transit, protected bike lanes, and trails.

LinkUS offers virtual look at proposed bus rapid transit corridor on West Broad Street

Columbus' first virtual bus stops are here. On a media tour Thursday, LinkUS — a bus rapid transit (BRT) initiative planned by the Central Ohio Transit Authority and other government agencies — showed off their new augmented reality (AR) stops along the planned West Broad Street Corridor.