The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) Board of Trustees has unanimously adopted a balanced $238 million operating budget focused on more front-line staff, increased service, and improved customer experiences. The 2025 budget proposes an additional 63,000 service hours, more transit frequency, and better technology to help customers plan their trips.

Trustees also unanimously approved a $220.9 million 2025 capital budget, most of which will be invested in transit corridors authorized by the LinkUS mobility plan supported by voters on November 5.

“Our operating and capital budgets reflect the will of Central Ohio voters, who have given us
the resources to invest in a modern mass transit system,” said COTA President/CEO Monica
Téllez-Fowler.

“Starting next year and continuing for years to come, COTA service will have later hours of service, more frequency, and be easier for our customers to access our system.”

“Our residents and our customers have called for more transit service and today we begin delivering on our promise to them,” said COTA Board of Trustees Chair Marlon Moore.

“The full transformation of our system will take years to complete, but our customers will notice COTA improving each year, beginning in 2025.”

Highlights of the operating budget include funding support for:

• Increased service hours
• New operators and front-line staff
• Improved frequency and better connections
• Continued strategic planning for LinkUS
• Better bus location tracking
• Strong cybersecurity
• Highlights of the capital budget include funding support for:
• 28 new compressed natural gas buses
• West Broad Corridor infrastructure and planning
• East Main Street and Northwest Corridor planning
• The Rickenbacker Area Mobility Center
• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Pilot Program
• Enroute Electric Chargers

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