COTA Announces More Programs to Provide Access for Thousands of Central Ohioans to Get to Vaccination Sites
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is announcing multiple efforts to provide transportation for thousands of people to COVID-19 vaccination sites across COTA’s service area.
Funding for COTA’s vaccine transportation initiatives and partnerships is provided by the Ohio Department of Transportation with the specific goal to help underserved communities have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Customers must have a scheduled appointment to access these transportation opportunities. To book a vaccine appointment, click here. The following four initiatives are now underway:
Vaccination Pass Program
COTA has partnered with dozens of non-profit organizations to provide transportation access to vaccination sites for thousands of Central Ohioans at no cost to them. This week, COTA delivered more than 10,000 one-day transit passes to nearly 30 non-profits. Those passes will be distributed to people in need to provide transit access to and from any vaccination location in COTA’s service area.
The following non-profit organizations that received transit passes include Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, Columbus Urban League, Communities in Schools of Ohio, Dress for Success Columbus, Equitas Health, Freedom a la Cart, Gladden Community House, Goodwill Columbus, Huckleberry House, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, IMPACT Community Action, Lifecare Alliance, Lifecare Alliance Columbus Cancer Clinic, MOBILE, Muslim Family Services of Ohio, North Community Counseling Center (five locations), Penney Watkins, Reeb Avenue Center, South Side Early Learning Center, United Schools Network, and YMCA Shelter Services (Van Buren Center Women and Families and Van Buren North Men’s Shelter).
COTA is also working with other local nonprofit partners to address any transportation needs to any vaccination site in the COTA service area.
St. John Arena Mass Vaccination Clinic
This week, COTA will once again provide transportation assistance to customers in underserved communities who are scheduled to be vaccinated at the pop-up mass vaccination clinic at St. John Arena.
The mass vaccination site will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 8-11. People who have scheduled their vaccination can book a trip to and from St. John Arena at no charge using the following methods:
- COTA Mainstream On-Demand – Customers can book a trip by calling (614) 344-4488. Customers may schedule their trips now or at least 1 hour before the trip. A Mainstream On-Demand vehicle will pick the customer up at their home and take them to St. John Arena. After the vaccination, customers will need to call when they are ready to be picked up. Again, there is no charge to customers going to St. John Arena.
- COTA//Plus South Columbus – Customers who live or work in South Columbus can take COTA//Plus to St. John Arena on those vaccination days at no charge. COTA//Plus is an on-demand microtransit service that can be hailed via the COTA//Plus App or by calling COTA’s Customer Care hotline at 614-228-1776.
Take COTA//Plus to Vaccine Sites
Customers living in Westerville, Grove City and South Columbus can take COTA//Plus to any vaccination site within their defined zone at no charge. COTA//Plus is a door-to-door, on-demand service that can be hailed via the COTA//Plus App or by calling COTA’s Customer Care hotline at 614-228-1776.
Columbus Stand Up! Partnership
COTA has also partnered with Columbus Stand Up! to provide complimentary transportation for people living in underserved communities to any Columbus vaccination site, 7-days a week. Columbus Stand Up! is a grassroots organization committed to keeping communities safe and healthy. Once a customer has a confirmed appointment, they can schedule transportation at no cost to them by clicking here.
