Pryce Secures Funds to Help COTA
Improve Services

Money will purchase new facility for Paratransit Service
and implementation of Smart Card system

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) today announced federal funding to help the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) continue to provide bus service for disabled patrons and complete implementation of a new fare-card system. COTA will receive nearly $1.3 million as part of the fiscal year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations conference report.

“A sound public-transportation system is vital to our region’s health, especially for those who are in physical and financial need of transportation” said Pryce. “These two initiatives are steps in the right direction for COTA. The new service facility will help COTA provide a high-level of service to its customers by ensuring that the vehicles COTA has on the road are well-maintained. The Smart Card is a win for everyone. It makes fare payment easy for riders and COTA has revenue up-front, which can help the agency make good financial decisions.”

Details on COTA’s two initiatives which Rep. Pryce secured federal funding:

Paratransit and Small Bus Service Facility

COTA will receive $555,000 to build a new 104,000 square-foot Paratransit and Small Bus Service facility that will house COTA’s fleet of paratransit vehicles, cars and small buses and provide space to keep the vehicles properly maintained. The facility will be built on property owned by COTA adjacent to the McKinley Avenue bus garage and will replace a small facility that COTA currently leases to house the paratransit fleet.

COTA currently provides door-to-door transit service to approximately 500 disabled riders each day.

Intelligent Transportation System

COTA will receive approximately $800,000 for the third and final phase of the installation of a Smart Card system. Smart Cards make fare payment more convenient for customers and will make the financial management of COTA’s fare revenues more secure and efficient for the agency.