Announcement7/13/2020

COTA Launches Zoo Bus Through Labor Day

Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) announced today that Zoo Bus is now available for the remainder of the summer. Zoo Bus is a popular summer transit service at COTA and an easy way to travel between downtown Columbus and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay.

Zoo Bus service will run daily through Labor Day, September 7. Customers can board Zoo Bus at the Statehouse downtown, at the Griggs Dam Park & Ride or the Dublin Park & Ride. Zoo Bus operates five trips per day, with the first departing from State and Broad streets at 8:30 a.m. and the last vehicle leaving the Zoo at 7 p.m., returning downtown at approximately 7:45 p.m.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are extra steps zoo patrons must take this year. To encourage social distancing, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay require customers to make a reservation in advance. When COTA Zoo Bus customers make a reservation, they can receive a voucher for $3 Zoo admission or $10 off Zoombezi Bay, per person. To register, go to the Columbus Zoo website and click on the orange “Tickets” tab. Under “Daily Tickets,” click the button that says “Zoo Bus Customer Registration.” After your registration is confirmed, please be sure to follow the instructions on how to redeem the voucher at the Zoo’s ticket window.

COTA also takes extensive steps to ensure customers safety during the pandemic. All fares have been suspended to allow customers to board at the rear doors, to encourage social distancing. A maximum of 20 customers are allowed on each transit vehicle, and all customers are required to wear masks. COTA sanitizes each vehicle 2-4 times per day, using CDC-approved sanitizing solutions and each vehicle is treated with an antimicrobial solution, providing an added layer of protection used in the medical and hospitality industries.

For more information about Zoo Bus, visit COTA.com/zoobus or call COTA Customer Service at (614) 228-1776. For Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay admission prices and hours, visit columbuszoo.org.