COTA Receives $42 Million Federal Investment for Linkus West Broad Rapid Transit Corridor

3/14/2024

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) will receive a $42 million investment to help fund the construction of a 9-mile bus rapid transit system on the West Broad Street Corridor, as part of the agency’s collaborative mobility initiative, LinkUS. The investment comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Reconnecting Communities pilot program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The project also received strong support from the Central Ohio congressional delegation, particularly U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and Representatives Joyce Beatty and Mike Carey.

“This significant investment by US DOT illustrates the important role bus rapid transit plays in connecting people to opportunity and reflects how LinkUS is crucial to transforming Central Ohio mobility for future generations and our future workforce,” said Joanna M. Pinkerton, COTA President/CEO. “We are grateful to Secretary Buttigieg, Central Ohio’s congressional delegation, and our partners at the Federal Transit Administration for their support of LinkUS. With this transformative investment, the West Broad Street corridor will be reshaped to be more accessible, more equitable, and more supportive of jobs and housing in our growing region.”

“LinkUS is pivotal to managing inclusive growth and mobility in Columbus and our Central Ohio region, and we thank the Biden administration, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, and U.S. Rep. Mike Carey for supporting this critical investment,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “As we grow by nearly 1 million people in the near future, we can’t build infrastructure fast enough to handle 1 million more cars. The LinkUS initiative will ensure that no one’s opportunity is limited by transportation and will help us build a region that is welcoming, walkable, and offers affordable housing for all our residents.”

The LinkUS Initiative is Central Ohio’s comprehensive transportation and mobility plan to help address growth, affordability, and opportunity in Central Ohio. The USDOT investment will help build 17 new stations, a new park and ride center, and add 9.3 miles of the bus rapid transit (BRT) route on West Broad Street from downtown Columbus to Prairie Township. The BRT corridor will be designed to decrease commute times, attract new businesses, connect workforce to businesses, and increase opportunities for more affordable housing.