2022 Annual Report
WHAT A year
From the onset of the global pandemic, COTA never missed a day of service. Now three years later, we are faced with a new challenge — an unprecedented national workforce shortage. It’s a crisis from which COTA is not immune.
Despite the roadblocks, COTA made consistent strides toward improving the accessibility of our mobility solutions. Our Board of Trustees approved the Income Assistance Program, providing 50 percent discounts to qualified customers and fare capping with COTA’s digital payment system. Our new Educational Pass Program gives students at area schools and universities unlimited access to our fixed-route services, and our partnership with Columbus City Schools brought unlimited transit to about 13,000 high schoolers. Through the LinkUS initiative, development continues on the East, West and Northwest high-capacity corridors to create better connections to jobs and housing with an enhanced mobility system that includes rapid transit, expanded COTA//Plus on-demand transit zones and infrastructure such as bike paths, sidewalks and improved streets.
Whatever challenges the future holds, COTA, along with our incredible partners and employees, will forge ahead with resiliency and dedication to our customers and community. Thank you for supporting us, and we look forward to a brighter future together.
Meet COTA’s Executive Leadership >
Meet COTA’s Board of Trustees >
Joanna M. Pinkerton, P.E.
President/CEO
Craig P. Treneff
COTA Board of Trustees Chair
Marlon Moore
COTA Board of Trustees Vice Chair
EMBRACING THE future
As the region’s mobility solutions provider, COTA connects people to social and economic prosperity through innovative services. In 2022, COTA continued modernizing and advancing how we provide transit services and how customers interact with us. We delivered new approaches that provide equitable transportation and access to jobs, healthcare, food, services and entertainment throughout Central Ohio.
Always focused on the customer and residents with these innovations, COTA continued our move to support those most in need by launching deeply discounted fares and working towards digital literacy.
We launched a new AI-supported traffic management system with 14 local partners across 13 counties to improve safety for employees and customers while expanding our efforts to establish new rapid transit routes as the region grows. We also secured a federal innovation grant to purchase new zero-emission vehicles that support the region’s environmental and carbon-reduction goals.
Secured $26.7M in FTA grants for 28 battery-electric vehicles
FARE EQUITY AND SAFETY INITIATIVES
FOR CUSTOMERS & OPERATORS
Part of providing equitable transit is making it affordable for COTA customers who are most in need of our mobility services to connect to jobs, healthcare and other essential services. In 2022, we helped deliver prosperity through a new Income Assistance Program, which gives customers participating in one of seven low-income assistance programs, such as SNAP and WIC, a 50 percent discount on fixed-route fares. The program is administered through COTA’s digital fare system, guaranteeing customers receive the lowest fare. Those who may qualify can enroll in person at COTA’s Customer Experience Center.
Safety is also a critical requirement for public transportation, and in March COTA launched the Safe and Secure COTA for All Task Force with an eight-person Strategic Response Team to help with safety and security issues involving customers on transit vehicles. To improve the customer experience and better support those in need, these specially trained individuals identify solutions that connect people to community resources to help address mental health, substance abuse and homelessness challenges, among others.
COTA is proud to offer popular and affordable on-demand rides through COTA//Plus, our region’s on-demand public microtransit service. Ridership continues to increase in Grove City, Westerville and 13 neighborhoods in South Columbus, where we provided more than 113,000 trips this year. COTA//Plus provides crucial first- and last-mile solutions to connect customers to fixed-route transit, work, school, shopping and more. We look forward to adding new zones as part of the future LinkUS initiative.
Our Mainstream On-Demand service continues in its fourth year, providing on-demand trips for seniors. In 2022, COTA Mainstream launched an online booking portal to help our customers with functional limitations better access our paratransit services. The web portal allows customers or their caregivers to set up an account, book trips and cancel trips with the touch of a few buttons. At the request of many Mainstream customers, we are proud to provide this online booking to make travel easier.
partnerships
IMPACTING OUR CUSTOMERS
We work with a diverse collection of partners to strengthen and uplift the community and help us become one of the top public transit operations in the country. Essential programs have foundations in the area’s youth, including the Summer Pass and Educational Pass programs. Our partnerships with local organizations allow thousands of customers to enjoy cultural institutions and museums, Columbus Zoo and Red, White & BOOM.
SUMMER PASS program
We reimagined our Summer Pass Program to provide students of all ages unlimited access to COTA’s transit services during the summer. Under this program, students receive four months of transit for the price of one! We provided safe, reliable and affordable transit services to local campuses, libraries, summer camps, jobs and internships at a discounted rate.
EDUCATIONAL PASS program
The Educational Pass Program is available to any school or district in our service area and provides extraordinary discounts throughout the academic year. This program is already used by The Ohio State University, Capital University, Columbus College of Art & Design, Whitehall City Schools and several charter schools. In August, Columbus City Schools joined the program, providing passes for students in grades 9-12. The collaboration allows more than 85,000 students to use COTA to get to class, after-school activities, internships, night and weekend events and part-time jobs at no cost.
red, white & BOOM
COTA took the stress out of driving and searching for parking to attend the largest fireworks show in the Midwest with extended transit service to and from downtown Columbus. Red, White & BOOM returned after a two-year hiatus, and COTA is proud of its continued role as the offcial mobility sponsor of the festivities.
C-PASS PROGRAM expands
Our Downtown C-pass Program, now in its fifth year, expanded in 2022 through a Short North Alliance (SNA) sponsorship. This partnership supported Short North employees and residents by offering them unlimited access to COTA’s fixed-route lines. Throughout this six-month pilot, 65 percent of Short North C-pass trips were taken by people who work in this premier arts district.
ZOO BUS
There’s nothing wild about teaming up with one of America’s premier zoological parks. Each summer, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium visitors who ride the COTA Zoo Bus receive park admission for $3, or $10 off Zoombezi Bay admission.
EMPLOYEES INVESTING IN THE community
MEET COTA’S EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS
Our employees are the driving force behind how we serve and meet the community’s needs. COTA’s Employee Resource Groups (ERG) are designed to cultivate a better work experience by bringing employees together in a safe place, improving overall satisfaction, driving company innovation and fostering relationships within the communities we serve.
PARENTS ACTIVELY COLLABORATING TOGETHER (PACT)
PACT promotes an inclusive environment for working parents and family structures through support, educational resources and outreach. In 2022, its 25 members participated in Camp COTA, allowing children of COTA employees to experience a day in the life at COTA and explore future career opportunities.
WOMEN FOR INSPIRATION, STRENGTH & EXCELLENCE (WISE)
WISE is focused on career development, wealth building and whole-person living for women across Team COTA. In 2022, WISE worked with PACT to support the development of a new Paid Family Leave policy. WISE researched peer agencies and drafted the proposal for human resources.
BLACK EMPLOYEES LEADING IN INCLUSION, EXCELLENCE, VISION & EDUCATION (BELIEVE)
BELIEVE strives to break down barriers and dissolve systemic issues through advocacy, corporate events, employee activities, networking and community partnerships. Its 81 members created and hosted three fresh produce/food drives in collaboration with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective in 2022.
VETERANS EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP (VERG)
VERG is committed to providing an inclusive environment and advocating for growth, career advancement and overall support of all COTA’s Veterans and their families. In 2022, its 110 members hosted toy drives benefitting Toys for Tots, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Black Girl Magic and participated in events supporting Central Ohio Veterans.
PEOPLE RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL DEFINITIONS EVERYWHERE (PRIDE)
PRIDE strives to create and maintain a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies at COTA. The mission of PRIDE is to increase awareness, decrease prejudices and create a safe atmosphere for all at COTA. In June 2022, PRIDE participated in the Stonewall Columbus Pride March to show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
OUR DEMOGRAPHICS
60% AFRICAN AMERICAN
35% CAUCASIAN
2% MULTI-RACIAL
2% HISPANIC
1% ASIAN
.3% PACIFIC ISLANDER & NATIVE AMERICAN
.2% NATIVE AMERICAN
*Demographics represent all members of Team COTA.
ACHIEVING ORGANIZATIONAL excellence
TRANSIT SYSTEM OF THE YEAR
ODOT
SPIRIT OF COLUMBUS AWARD
Columbus Foundation
BEST COMPANIES FOR WOMEN TO ADVANCE
Parity.org
SMART 50 AWARD
Smart Cities Connect
Awarded for: Traffic Management Project
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING
Government Finance Officers Association
DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ADVOCACY
ODOT
Awarded to: Quincy Howard
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
YWCA
Awarded to: Joanna M. Pinkerton
CHAMPIONS OF THE CHALLENGE (MID-SIZED AGENCY)
Federal Transit Administration
Awarded for: COTA’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
C-SUITE MOST ADMIRED EXECUTIVE HONOREE
Columbus Business First
Awarded to: Joanna M. Pinkerton
2022 EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
2022 COLUMBUS MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Columbus Urban League
Awarded to: Sindy Mondesir
SMART 50 AWARD
Smart Business Columbus
Awarded to: Sophia Mohr
COMMUNICATOR AWARDS
AIVA
Awarded for: 2021 Annual Report
NATIONAL REVEREND JERRY MOORE PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP AWARD
COMTO
Awarded to: Quincy Howard
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
OPTA
Awarded to: Ivy Curtis & BELIEVE ERG
90+ CASH VEST AWARD
Three+One
WE MAKE THIS CITY move
Across the nation, there is an unprecedented workforce shortage. COTA is responding to this challenge with a targeted recruitment campaign to attract community-minded people to one of the most important jobs in the region.
raising THE BAR
We remain committed to operational and reputational excellence. Despite a national workforce shortage, Team COTA never stopped moving our region forward.
TEAM DEMOGRAPHICS
1,081 Employees
686 Operators
12 Board of Trustees Members
65% Male
35% Female*
*This rate is more than double the national average for the transportation industry. (Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University, Attracting and Attaining Women in the Transportation Industry, 2019).
RIDERSHIP
10,190,000**
2022 FIXED ROUTE RIDERSHIP
203,771
WEEKLY RIDERSHIP AVERAGE
113,592
2022 COTA//PLUS RIDERSHIP
292,505
2022 MAINSTREAM RIDERSHIP
**Unofficial ridership data
OUR FLEET
251 Eco-friendly hybrids or compressed natural gas
2 Electric buses
62 Mainstream
14 Mainstream On-Demand
17 COTA//Plus
42 Traditional fuel fleet
WE SHOW UP
Amid a global pandemic, national labor shortage and uncertain economy, COTA continues to provide essential mobility access to our customers. This is possible thanks to our award-winning team and extraordinary support from our community partners and customers.
In 2023, COTA is committed to increasing our frontline workforce to enhance the service our customers rely on daily. The new year brings new initiatives to improve the customer experience, including onboard air-filtration systems, faster Wi-Fi and more low- and zero-emission transit vehicles.
COTA continues to provide
essential mobility access
to our customers.
We are evolving to support our people and grow our economy.
LinkUs continues to forge a path to bring rapid transit and world-class transportation to our growing region. As more jobs come to Central Ohio, transit will be crucial to connecting people to those job centers, and collaboration with partner agencies will be vital to making that happen.
Our region is growing, and we are excited about what the future holds. We look forward to going on that journey with you.
