Central Ohio Transit Authority
Columbus, OH · NTD ID 50016 · 2024 report year
Central Ohio Transit Authority carries 12.3 million passenger trips a year across two modes — bus and demand response — making it the 61st-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Columbus, OH.
It spends $211 million a year running that service, or $17.12 per trip. Its bus service, the largest of its modes, costs $16.08 per rider — 16% above the $13.86 median for the 1,162 US agencies reporting bus.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 36% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 7% on 2023. Fares cover 7% of operating cost.
Service by mode, 2024
| Mode | Annual trips | Operating expense | Cost per rider | vs national median | Farebox | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus#47 of 1,162 nationally | 11,853,423 | $191 million | $16.08 | +16% | 7% | 198 |
| Demand Response#45 of 1,920 nationally | 496,458 | $20.8 million | $41.84 | +10% | 2% | 91 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,349,881 | $211 million | $17.12 |
| 2023 | 11,526,490 | $192 million | $16.70 |
| 2022 | 10,275,316 | $154 million | $14.95 |
| 2021 | 9,142,214 | $185 million | $20.23 |
| 2020 | 10,492,348 | $220 million | $21.01 |
| 2019 | 19,430,144 | $208 million | $10.69 |
| 2018 | 19,205,244 | $192 million | $10.02 |
| 2017 | 18,688,788 | $184 million | $9.86 |
| 2016 | 18,827,815 | $163 million | $8.65 |
| 2015 | 19,202,529 | $148 million | $7.70 |
Where Central Ohio Transit Authority ranks
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Ask NTD about Central Ohio Transit Authority →Source & method. Figures are from the Federal Transit Administration's National Transit Database (NTD) annual reporting for 2024, the most recent published report year. Cost per rider is operating expense divided by unlinked passenger trips. Farebox recovery is fare revenue divided by operating expense. Ten-year trends are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; single-year figures are as reported. Agencies self-report to the NTD, and reporting practice varies, so figures are best read as comparable in magnitude rather than to the cent.