The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has announced expanded late-night service hours beginning Monday, May 5, 2025, with most bus lines operating past midnight Mondays through Saturdays — a major milestone in COTA’s commitment to providing accessible public transit for all customers.

These major service improvements are made possible through the LinkUS initiative, the region’s comprehensive mobility and growth strategy that was approved by Central Ohio voters last November.

The late-night improvements represent one of the first tangible investments delivering on LinkUS promises and positioning COTA on a path to ultimately become a 24-hour transit system.

“This is more than a service expansion; it is a commitment to our values of improving the customer experience for customer,” said Monica Téllez-Fowler, COTA President/CEO.

“By extending our hours past midnight, we are delivering on our promise to serve the entire community, especially our region’s second- and third-shift workers who deserve the same reliable access to opportunity as everyone else. This is just the beginning of a more accessible future.”

The late-night service expansion will include core downtown lines such as Lines 1-11, 102, and CMAX,
with late-night lineups available at 10 p.m., 11 p.m., and midnight Monday through Saturday.

Additionally, 17 crosstown lines, including Lines 21 through 34, will now operate past midnight to better
connect customers across the region. Sunday evening service hours will remain unchanged for now,
but COTA plans to build on these changes in future trimesters.

Also beginning May 5, Line 34 (Morse Road) will extend beyond the Easton Transit Center to the
Hamilton Road Meijer, improving access to grocery options and enhancing service along one of the
region’s key workforce corridors.

For summer, COTA’s seasonal Zoo Bus will also return on Saturday, May 10, offering
weekend service to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium through Memorial Day. Beginning Memorial Day,
May 26, the Zoo Bus will operate seven days a week through Labor Day. Riders receive discounted
admission to both the Zoo and Zoombezi Bay.

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