Public Meetings

Proposed Fare Adjustments

Oct. 16, 2014Oct. 21, 2014Oct. 23, 2014Oct. 29. 2014

Housekeeping Items

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The purpose of this meeting is to provide information about proposed fare adjustments which would be effective Jan. 1, 2015, and take public comments

Silence all cell phones

Be considerate of meeting attendees and COTA staff

When it is your turn to make a comment or ask a question about COTA’s fare policies and proposed adjustments, remain at your seat and we will call upon you

Comments and questions are limited to two minutes per person

Participants are encouraged to complete comment cards

Ask one question at a time so the appropriate COTA staff member may address your comment

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TaxpayersCOTA’s service area population

1.2 million

Customers70,000+ weekday trips

EmployeesApproximately 950

COTA Stakeholders

COTA

COTA Fare Policy

COTA has a duty to operate and manage taxpayer funds in a fiscally prudent and financially sound manner

As described in COTA’s Long Range Transit Plan, fares are evaluated every three years

COTA fares were last adjusted on January 1, 2012

Prior to recommending fare adjustments to the COTA Board of Trustees, COTA is conducting a public information and public comment process

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Fare Level Considerations

COTA considers a number of factors when evaluating fares:

Fare equity: Ensuring that transit users pay a fair and reasonable portion of the total cost of providing transit service (80 percent taxpayer subsidy/20 percent farebox recovery)

Maintaining affordability for customers Increasing costs associated with providing service and

maintaining service growth and improvements Comparable fares and farebox recovery rates in peer and

other Ohio transit agencies

Apply adjustments across entire fare structure

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Farebox Recovery Rates in Peer and Ohio Cities (2012)

Cincinnati 35.7% Milwaukee 29.3% Buffalo 26.0% Charlotte 23.4% Orlando 23.0% Cleveland 22.6% Columbus 21.5% Hartford 21.1% Providence 19.9% Toledo 18.4% Dayton 17.4% Louisville 15.9% Jacksonville 14.8% Austin 12.4%

Average w/o COTA 21.5%

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Local Bus Fares in Ohio Cities (2014)

Cleveland $2.25 (Free transfer)

Columbus $2.00 (Free transfer)

Cincinnati $1.75 ($2.65 outside city + $0.50 transfer)

Dayton $1.75 (+ $0.25 transfer)

Akron $1.25 (Free transfer)

Toledo $1.00 (Free transfer)

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Prudent Management of Resources

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COTA Local Bus Fare History

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Proposed COTA Fare Structure*

Current ProposedLocal $2.00 $2.25Express $2.75 $3.00Transfer Free FreeCBUS™ Free $0.5031-day Pass

Local $62.00 $69.00Express $85.00 $90.00Discount $31.00 $34.50CBUS N/A $15.00 7-day $25.00 $28.00 Local Day Pass $4.50 $5.00 Senior, Child, Key $1.00 $1.10 Mainstream:

Regular Fare $3.50 $4.00 Monthly Pass $105.00 $110.00 Non-ADA Service $5.00 $6.00 Will Call $4.00 $5.00 ADA fixed-route $1.00 Free

*Would be effective 1/1/2015 if approved10

Fare Adjustment Activities

Hold public meetings on fare structure

Accept and consider public input through Nov. 7

Present public input to COTA Board of Trustees on Oct. 22, 2014

COTA Board action on recommendations on Nov. 19, 2014

If approved, adjusted fares would go into effect on January 1, 2015

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Fare Adjustment Public Involvement

How to offer comments:

At public meetings Comment cards Call (614) 228-1776 cota.com Facebook: COTABus Twitter: @COTABus Write to us at:

Central Ohio Transit AuthorityAttention: Fare Adjustment Public Comments33 N. High St.Columbus, OH 43215

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COTA Fare Adjustments

Questions and Comments

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