The Central Ohio Transit Authority will ask voters to approve a sales tax increase to fund several bus rapid transit routes.
COTA's board unanimously approved the ballot language at a meeting Wednesday that voters in Franklin County and parts of Licking, Delaware, Union and Fairfield counties will see this November. Local sales tax would go up a half percent across COTA's service area in central Ohio.
The $6 billion this initiative would raise would fund the LinkUS bus rapid transit project. The system would streamline five bus lines with dedicated lanes including one route along West Broad Street and East Main Street.
The board said it expects another $800 million from federal grants.
COTA President and CEO Monica Tellez-Fowler said COTA wants to educate the community about bus rapid transit ahead of the election. She stressed the importance of doing this project now as central Ohio grows.
"The alternative is do nothing or wait and do something later. And I think we've seen other cities go down that path. And it is something that ultimately results in... you can't catch up," Tellez-Fowler said.
The sales tax would increase from 0.5% now to 1% if approved by voters. The new tax includes 0.5% that would support LinkUS and 0.25% that would replace a temporary tax that expires in 2026.
COTA already has a 0.25% permanent improvement levy.
Besides building the bus lanes on most of the transit routes, the project also aims to construct raised bus platforms, integrate bike lanes, sidewalks and other amenities to increase the walkability of the surrounding area.
Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said bus rapid transit is the best option for central Ohio to improve transit, especially in comparison with light rail.
"It is reliable. It gives us all the benefits of it with the fraction of the cost. Folks that have invested in light rail right now — when they're doing their 2.0 and they're updating their systems — they're not building more light rail. They're building bus rapid transit," Hardin said.
Hardin said it has been too long since Columbus has updated its transit system to this degree. He said putting this on the ballot is a "big bold step" and elected officials like him will make this a priority to pass in November.
Columbus Urban League President Stephanie Hightower and Dublin Mayor Chris Groomes also spoke in favor of the project at the meeting.
Service could start on the West Broad Street route in 2028. Construction would start in 2025 on that route and the East Main Street route would start soon after the first route opens.
A third route is planned that goes from downtown Columbus, through Ohio State University's campus and towards Dublin in the northwest part of the metropolitan area.
