Accessibility

Reducing Barriers and Creating Possibility

COTA is committed to ensuring all our customers have equal access to our many services to help you move your own life forward. We are constantly improving our fixed route and paratransit services with fleet enhancements, station design, wayfinding infrastructure and operational innovations.

While our fixed-route vehicles are equipped with features to enhance accessibility — including the ability to lower the bus for easier boarding, ramps or lifts and audio announcements and visual displays — we also offer paratransit services for those whose functional limitations prevent or limit their use of fixed-route service.

Learn more about our paratransit services.

Mobility devices like wheelchairs and walkers as well as service animals are permitted aboard our vehicles. For the safety and comfort of everyone who rides, we ask for those who bring these items with them to follow our Code of Conduct, including:

• Maintaining Service Animals: Service animals trained to assist people with disabilities are welcome on board. Please keep your service animal on a leash and ensure they remain well behaved. Other animals or pets may ride only if they are in a cage or case that fits on your lap.
• Securing Mobility Device: We ask customers riding COTA to give priority seating by the door to older adults and people with disabilities. To protect you and your fellow passengers, and to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the vehicle’s Operator will secure any mobility device that you have on board. Please cooperate with your Operator to ensure everyone has a safe ride.

Read our full Code of Conduct & Policies.

COTA is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all of its programs and services. The ADA prohibits discrimination against an individual with a disability in connection with the provision of transportation service. {§ 37.5(a)}. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of a disability may file a formal complaint with COTA no later than 180 calendar days after the alleged discrimination occurred by filling out COTA’s ADA Complaint Form and forwarding the completed form by electronic mail or postal service to:

Central Ohio Transit Authority
Attn: ADA Coordinator
33 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Complaints may also be taken by phone at 614-228-1776 during the following hours:
Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding COTA’s ADA policy you may contact COTA’s ADA Coordinator by email (ADAcoordinator@cota.com) or by phone at 614-308-4338.

COTA provides reasonable modification to policies and procedures to customers to ensure they can effectively use the agency’s transit services. Individuals requesting a modification should clearly describe what they need in order to use COTA vehicle and paratransit services. To make a request, please contact the:

COTA Mobility Coordinator
Email: PullinsTL@cota.com
Phone: 614-275-5833
Address: Attn. Mobility Coordinator
Central Ohio Transit Authority
1330 Fields Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43201

Please note, COTA may deny a requested modification if:

1. The modification will fundamentally alter the nature of service, program or activity;
2. The modification will result in a direct threat to the health and safety of others;
3. The individual is able to use the service, program or activity for its intended purpose without the requested modification or;
4. The modification will result in undue financial or administrative burden on COTA.