Worthington City Council unanimously authorized city staff to submit an expression of interest for COTA Plus, an on-demand transit service that could provide residents with convenient, app-based transportation within the city. The service, which operates similarly to ride-sharing apps but at lower costs, is expanding to new communities through COTA's LinkUs initiative.
What is COTA Plus?
COTA Plus is a premium, on-demand service that allows riders to schedule point-to-point trips using a smartphone app or phone call. Unlike traditional fixed-route bus service, COTA Plus picks up passengers at designated stops throughout a zone, with stops typically no more than a block or two from any location.
The service uses smaller vehicles than traditional buses - either vans or small transit buses - and may pick up multiple passengers traveling in similar directions. Riders pay $3 per trip (base fare), with reduced rates for children and free connections to COTA's fixed-route service, such as the Line 102 that runs along High Street in Worthington.
How It Would Work in Worthington
City Manager Robyn Stewart explained that COTA Plus operates within designated zones. Both pickup and drop-off locations must be within the zone, though riders can connect to COTA's fixed bus routes to travel to other parts of the region.
"If you're coming up High Street on the 102 but you maybe work over on Huntley Road, you could get off at the 102 stop that's on High Street in Worthington and take COTA Plus conceivably over to Huntley to where your employer is," Stewart said, illustrating how the service provides "first mile, last mile" connections.
Standard operating hours would be Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., with COTA covering 90% of the costs and the city responsible for 10%. Extended hours or weekend service would require additional city investment.
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Who Would Use the Service?
Anyone can use COTA Plus, though the system prioritizes certain riders during busy times. Older adults and individuals with mobility limitations receive higher priority, and door-to-door service is available for those with mobility challenges.
The service was initially created to help workers reach employers, making it particularly valuable for economic development. Council Member Beth Kowalczyk noted this potential: "That makes me think even more about the value of this service for economic development purposes... that's something we should really evaluate."
Council Member Pete Bucher, who serves on COTA's board, emphasized the community benefit: "We are constantly looking at our walkability, our transportation, getting folks in and around Worthington. This program's had a lot of success and as you can see it comes at a really good value for local governments."
Next Steps and Questions
The expression of interest is due this Friday. If selected, COTA will work with Worthington to determine zone boundaries, likely pickup and drop-off locations, and other operational details. The final service would require a formal agreement with COTA before implementation.
Several questions remain to be answered in future discussions:
- Would the zone cover all of Worthington, or would it need to be smaller or larger?
- What would be the exact cost commitment for the city?
- What terms would govern the agreement, including options for terminating service if needed?
- Could the service be structured as a pilot program to evaluate usage and value?
Council members expressed interest in understanding how the service might support both economic development - by helping employees reach workplaces - and aging in place, as noted in the city's Age-Friendly Plan.
Stewart acknowledged the financial considerations, noting that the city's current budget projections show expenditures outpacing revenue growth. The proposed 2026 operating budget and capital improvements plan were distributed to council the same evening, with workshops scheduled throughout October and November.
COTA is seeking up to eight new zones but has not indicated whether additional opportunities will be offered if Worthington is not selected in this round. Three zones currently operate in Westboro, Grove City, and South Columbus.
The council's unanimous vote demonstrates strong interest in exploring this transportation option, though final commitment would require additional analysis and a formal agreement after learning more details about cost, zone configuration, and service parameters.