10 - 20 - 40

10 - 20 - 40
July 15, 2008 by Jeff Johnson
On the days when I’m cruising around Columbus running errands, meeting friends, catching a film at the Wexner Center or just commuting to and from work its not uncommon for me to ride on any number of busses throughout the day. I’d met up with [...]

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NBC4 Reporter successfully rides the bus one time

NBC4i.com
Will She Be On Time? Hunt Tests COTA, Google
Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008
By Donna Willis
COTA began a partnership with Google Maps to help commuters get to work more easily by bus. The interactive gives you pickup and arrival times to help you better time your trip.
NBC 4’s Mikaela Hunt entered ride information into the new planner [...]

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Google Transit Goes Live for COTA

It’s official, COTA has joined 47 other US transit agencies and 17 international systems on Google Transit. This should make planning a trip on COTA lot easier because Google does a better job recognizing the intersections and landmarks a user inputs. You can also flip between driving and transit directions if you want [...]

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It’s All About Having Options

Was anyone else expecting Columbus to be mentioned along with the other cities that have neglected mass transit through the years?

HERE’S another video from NBC’s Today Show about the rails being packed for 4th of July travel.

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COTA benefits

Jeff at Urban Infill has some pretty good posts, but his latest is too good to miss.  He reflects on his COTA Challenge, which after 6 months is now more of a habit.  He had a car and would use it frequently, so his default mindset before the challenge was to use his car.  He [...]

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Congress + Solutions = WTF?

That was my initial reaction when I stumbled upon these quotes from Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md)…
We are in desperate need of significant transit improvements. We’ve got to have the facilities and we don’t today, and then we need the fare-box and economic policies that reward people for taking public transportation. Some try to say that [...]

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Cleveland RTA To Increase Fares

Transit agencies hate raising fares. It hurts the mission of providing affordable transportation to as many people as possible. However, sometimes it’s necessary to balance the budget and maintain service.
How long will it be before COTA follows GCRTA’s lead? A rumor was posted in April that said COTA may raise fares in [...]

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COTA Public Hearing Roundup

I was one of about 20 interested citizens at tonight’s COTA public hearing convened by Councilwoman O’Shaughnessy (Transportation Committee Chair) and Councilwoman Tavares.  I’ll summarize my “minutes” of the meeting below, but the overall message I got was:
1) COTA is a “prudent, cautious, and measured” organization.  Probably to a fault.
2) COTA is on sound financial [...]

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Meeting on Bicycle Law and COTA service Tuesday at 5 PM

 
While the press release is dated June 20th, I just heard about it today (June 23rd).  However, I’m out of town so maybe this has already made the rounds.  Tuesday at 5 PM Councilmember O’Shaugnessy is holding a public service and transportation committee meeting.  Some highlights from the press release:
 
At 5:00 PM the committee will hear from [...]

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COTA Running Full

Packed COTA buses passing by waiting riders
More people using public transit amid higher gas prices
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:52 PM
By Tim Doulin
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
“That happens to me all the time,” said Laverne Morris, a longtime COTA rider from Gahanna who works at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a secretary.She said the No. 1 Cleveland Avenue bus [...]

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