Last year, GOPC highlighted the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) C-Pass program in our Good Ideas Initiative. Last month, partners involved in the program elected to renew C-Pass for another 5 years, until Dec. 31, 2025.
C-Pass provides eligible downtown workers and some residents with free, unlimited access to the entire COTA bus network. The innovative program was created to address employer concerns over parking availability and cost in the downtown core of Columbus. Any business within the downtown special improvement district can opt in to participate in the C-Pass program, which open enrollment for employees at no cost to them. Since its launch, more than 450 downtown organizations have enrolled over 15,000 employees and residents. A 2019 satisfaction survey showed that 68% of respondents said they started riding COTA because of the C-Pass program, and 34% of companies surveyed reported that C-Pass helped them recruit and retain employees.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District (CCSID) partnered together in 2018 to fund the C-Pass program, each contributing $2.5 million. CCISD funding contributions were made possible through payments from building owners within the special improvement district. Initially, the program was going to be offered and funded through December 2020. The decision to continue funding C-Pass indicates a sustained commitment to expanding public transit and providing equitable access to downtown employees.
Leveraging existing public transit is a significantly cheaper alternative to address parking concerns when repopulating downtowns. The COTA C-Pass program demonstrates that transit is an effective tool to reduce car trips downtown and ease the scarcity of parking. The success of the C-Pass program also demonstrates the value in public-private partnerships to improve accessibility and increase the transportation options available for downtown residents and workers.
Currently, all COTA fares are suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When fares are reinstated, C-Pass will automatically be reactivated for all enrolled members.
See more: “COTA, Capital Crossroads SID, MORPC renew C-pass program through 2021” MassTransit article