Press Release4/20/2023

COTA to Host Largest Ever Transit Operator Hiring Event in Organization History on April 26

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) will host the organization’s largest hiring event ever on Wednesday, April 26 at 1333 Fields Ave. in Columbus. COTA is looking to fill more than 100 openings for Transit Operators.

The Spring Hiring Event allows attendees to learn about operator careers with COTA by having one-on-one conversations with COTA Transit Operators, sitting in the operator’s seat of a COTA bus, and learning about the rewarding benefits of a transit career. Those interested can begin the hiring process with onsite interviews and qualified attendees will leave the event with a job offer.

Local food trucks will also provide food and snacks to those in attendance at no cost to applicants. There will be two hiring sessions on April 26: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Those interested are encouraged to register for the Spring Hiring Event at https://cota.com/hiring/. Walk-in applicants are also welcome. This event is only for operator positions.

The COTA 1333 Fields location is directly accessible via the following transit lines:

  • Line 8 Karl/S.High/Parsons
  • Line 12 McKinley/Fields
  • Line 22 OSU/Rickenbacker

Applicants can plan their trip at COTA.com or by downloading and using the Transit app. For anyone driving to the event, free parking is available directly across the street from the Fields Avenue Facility.

In October, the American Public Transportation Association published a report on the national transit workforce shortage, noting that 96% of agencies are experiencing a workforce shortage 84% of those are seeing a negative impact on service.

In Central Ohio, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission announced recently the region is growing more rapidly than previously projected, now anticipating more than 3 million residents by 2050. Accessible and affordable public transportation will be essential to our expanding region.

COTA’s recruitment efforts include a monetary hiring incentive of at least $2,000. COTA offers a $20.50 pay rate during training, a $21.74 pay rate at onboarding and a $33.44 pay rate after five years.

COTA’s benefits include comprehensive medical/prescription, dental and vision insurance, flexible health and dependent care spending accounts, retirement/savings benefits, time off (vacation, holiday, sick pay) and personal training and development, job advancement, tuition reimbursement, monthly student loan repayment stipends and employee assistance program (EAP).

All job offers will be contingent on the completion and passage of a drug screening and background check. Both will be conducted on site during the hiring event.

Interested individuals are encouraged to register ahead of the hiring event at COTA.com/hiring/