The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)
and Federal Express (Fed Ex) have had a win-win partnership for nearly three years.
Located in the southern part of Franklin County, Fed Ex needed employees for their Package
Delivery Distribution center. The area was in a low density, semi-rural neighborhood that
did not have bus service. During this time, COTA was awarded a Job Access and Reverse
Commuter Grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The idea of a partnership was
logical:
- COTA provides fixed-route service from central Columbus to
serve their afternoon and evening shifts. The route is run as regular service and is open
to the general public.
- COTA assists Fed Ex by providing job fairs and coordinating
with local work-force development agencies to find potential employees.
- Many job fairs have been held in COTA's Linden Transit
Center, a project funded through the FTA's Livable Communities Initiative and located
in the heart of the Columbus Empowerment Zone.
- Fed Ex guarantees a minimum twenty-five percent fare-box
recovery through pass sales. Fed Ex subsidizes the cost of the pass to their employees.
- Approximately 60 passenger boardings are made on the average
weekday.
- COTA also assist Fed Ex in recruiting students from the Ohio
State University. Students ride for free by showing the "Buck ID" card. COTA has
one of the largest university transit pass programs in the United States.
For more information about COTA's Job
Access program, please contact Mrs. Stacey Callahan, Mobility Administrator at (614)
485-7405.
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