Public Transit In Columbus (Worthington: condos, to live in, centers)

[OREGONRAIN]

What is the extent of transit in the Columbus area? Is it only a bus system, and if so how extensive is it?

[JayLynn]

It is only a bus system. It seems pretty reliable, being that I always see lots of people waiting at bus stops at all times of the day.

[MattDen]

I lived in Columbus about 3 years ago.

I found the public transit in Columbus decent during the day, but night service is not existant past midnight. I would give the transit an average grade in my opinion.

The best route is the number 2 bus route which is North High Street this route goes from Downtown to Worthington via OSU. It runs about every 5-10 minutes during the day and usually goes to about every 15-30 minutes during the evening.

The other routes are usually every half-hour during the day, except some of the east-side routes which are more like every 20 minutes.

The one thing about Columbus is the time the bus ends. The routes are done by midnight weekdays and 7:30pm on Sundays!

I would highly recommend if your moving to Columbus and using the bus to live in a very urban area because suburban service is lacking compared to other cities.

I did find the service reliable, although because of the traffic in Columbus the buses occasionally are late. If your on a high-frequency bus route like the route 1,2 or 10 they run fairly frequently so it doent matter if one is a few minutes late. Some of the buses that go the suburban areas run late quite often due to the very high traffic volume.

The bus fare was $1.25 when I was there and a monthly pass was 40 dollars (it might have gone up)

[OREGONRAIN]

Thanks for the info, I guess Portland has spoiled me with transit, we have everything from light rail, street cars and buses than run every 15 minutes all over,its a shame so much of the USA Doesn't care about transit, anyway thanks.

[streetcreed]

Yes, Columbus most lacking element at the moment is transit, Columbus has grown and densified a lot, and is at this moment. With all of the cultural changes that have occured with Columbus' mass economic growth from the 70's on, the transit simply Hasnt caught up yet.

If you live in an urban area buses are reliable, but not so good at night.
However, right now the mayor, city, leading business have all decided that transit is the element of the city that needs some drastic attention.

Columbus' transit authority is going to be getting TWICE as much funding starting next year, becasue a levy for 10 yrs was past this fall. Just a few years ago a double increase in transit funding would be impossible in Columbus, so mass transit is becoming more of a leading issue.

Also, the city is heavily looking into restoring urban street car lines, basing some studies off of the lines in Portland.

The line that is being looked at now would travel High St. through downtown, German Village, and into the Short North.

If street cars do happen, what Columbus badly needs is a fast transit service that would travel from suburban areas of the city and the suburbs to the innercity. example :light rail

[OREGONRAIN]

Thank you, that was a very infomative post.

[still looking 62]

I agree, thanks Streetcreed. Public Transit is a necessity for me and one that I rely on.

[CirclevilleGuy]

There have been rumors along the lines of a large metro rail system in Columbus in the next few years. Streetcred is right in what he says, we really haven't caught up with what other cities have done in terms of mass transit. Once Columbus starts working on it more, our city will be even better.

BTW http://www.cota.com is the website for the Columbus transit system.

[OREGONRAIN]

Several US cities have come to Portland thru the years to study the one we have, and to say there is a extensive one here would be a understatement. I don't think Columbus has, but I hope they do. I am all for light rail, or other forms of transit. The only downside with these newer transit systems I find is. When developers build condos and apts it seems they limit parking spaces at these complexes, to force people to take the train. Portland is in the middle of nowhere yet we have severe parking problems, and I take the train on many occassions, so I don't have to give up the parking space where I live. Sometimes that gets on my nerves. I hope columbus builds a rail system, and I hope the locals make it a point to let them know, they will take the system, but they want the option of having a car for the times the train is not practical for where they are going.

[streetcreed]

Columbus is already 222 square miles large, so light rail makes sense for a city that is urban and has already developed into a modern more suburban style city as well. If light rail is built it would likely connect areas of the city that are already miles away from downtown and already developed.

Columbus has many entertainment centers that are spread out across the city. Along with the central city, Easton Town Center has developed on the NE side of the city, and to get here by bus can take just under an hour. The only other way to get to Easton is highway or city streets. Columbus is a city that needs light rail to connect its many different centers that are spread out across the city.

In the newer areas of Columbus we almost have the issue of too much parking. Its only in our central city where parking is already an issue because that area of the city can be very dense.