COTA Thanks DeWine, Ohio General Assembly for Support on Key Transit Initiatives in State Transportation Budget
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) expresses its appreciation to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly for their continued support of public transit in the recently approved state transportation budget.
The budget includes a strong investment in transit funding, including the allocation of $27 million over the next two years for Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership (OWMP) grants, which are critical to ensuring access to reliable transportation for Ohio’s workforce. These funds will help sustain and enhance mobility solutions that connect people to jobs, education, and essential services throughout the state.
“We are incredibly grateful to Governor DeWine, Senate President McColley, House Speaker Huffman, House and Senate majority and minority leadership, Transportation Chairs Senator Patton and Representative Willis, and the Ohio Department of Transportation for their commitment to public transit for our workforce,” said COTA President/CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler. “This investment recognizes transit’s essential role in keeping our communities and economy moving forward. It is particularly vital as we continue building a workforce-ready Central Ohio, ensuring that people can access high-quality jobs, education, and healthcare. With the tremendous efforts of JobsOhio and One Columbus driving economic growth, it is now more important than ever to invest in transit solutions that support our workforce today and for generations to come.”
COTA has been a grateful beneficiary of OWMP grant funds during the past biennium, utilizing these critical dollars to advance workforce mobility solutions. These investments have supported the construction of the Mobility Center at Rickenbacker, a workforce transportation analysis from Dublin to Newark, and enhancements to COTA transit stops near key employment centers. These projects underscore the importance of continued transit funding to support economic development and job accessibility in the region.
