Click here to view June upcoming NECAA Phase III Public Meetings.

COTA’s Northeast Corridor Alternatives Analysis (NECAA) project seeks to identify ways to improve service and address the growing demand for public transit in the Cleveland Avenue area.  Line #1 Cleveland/Livingston is COTA’s second busiest line in the system with the majority of daily ridership occurring along Cleveland Avenue.  Weekday passenger trips along Cleveland Avenue are averaging over 10 percent above 2010 levels, resulting in standing loads on several daily trips. 

In 2010, COTA successfully applied for a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant to study a variety of transportation alternatives to improve transit in the corridor.  Initiated in October 2011, this Alternatives Analysis is the first step to securing federal funding to implement both service and passenger amenity improvements. This effort  is being conducted in coordination with initiatives by the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and other agencies, each designed to help enhance the area by providing quality and affordable housing, promoting economic development opportunities, and improving mobility options.


Project Update
Following extensive analysis and solicited public input regarding potential service alternatives to significantly improve public transit service in the Cleveland Avenue/Northeast Corridor area, COTA is hosting three public meetings to share results from the detailed alternatives analysis (click here for meeting dates).

Included in this presentation will be a recommendation for a proposed Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) resulting from this analysis. Comments from the community continue to be a vital component of the selection process, and COTA is seeking your input regarding the proposed LPA. 

Earlier in 2012, four possible alignments for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system were recommended for consideration (click here for map). Bus Rapid Transit in mixed traffic, the mode of transportation chosen for further study in this corridor, offers a variety of tools to help increase the speed and convenience of transit service and improve mobility throughout the corridor including:



• More frequent service
• limited stops
• transit signal priority
• real-time passenger information
• uniquely branded and designed stations and vehicles
• improved pedestrian amenities

(Pictured above: Kansas City’s Main St. MAX BRT)

While COTA will continue to engage community members and other stakeholders throughout additional phases of the proposed project, this meeting is the final round of soliciting input regarding the selection of a LPA. COTA’s Board of Trustees is expected to consider adoption of a LPA on June 27th. 

To view the Round II Public Involvement presentation (February 2012) please click here.

To view the Round I Public Involvement presentation (November 2011) conducted at the public meetings, please click here.

Public Participation: COTA welcomes public comments on the NECAA Project. Public comments can be made on COTA’s website by clicking here, calling our Customer Service Center at (614) 228-1776, or by U.S. Mail to COTA, Capital Projects and Planning at 33 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Take the Online Survey (Updated February 2012)
COTA also encourages you to participate by providing us your feedback via an online survey, which was recently updated to reflect the evaluation of initial alternatives. Please tell us about how you use COTA and provide feedback regarding the alternatives recommended for further detailed analysis!

Please continue to visit this page in order to receive the latest updates regarding this project and to share your comments.  Thank you for your participation!