Discount Fares

Reduced Fare Program

To improve access for those who need it most, COTA offers discounted fares through the Reduced Fare Program, providing eligible customers with half-price fares. This program is available to select groups, ensuring more people can reach their destinations. Eligible individuals include:

  • Veterans
  • Medicare cardholders
  • Individuals with disabilities who are “unable without special facilities or special planning or design to utilize public transportation facilities and services effectively,” according to Federal and State law – learn more about accessibility services
  • Individuals 65 years and older
  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients
  • Individuals enrolled in the following public assistance programs:
    • SNAP food assistance
    • Publicly funded childcare
    • Ohio Works First cash assistance
    • Prevention, Retention and Contingency emergency assistance
    • Medicaid
    • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
    • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

To claim this discount, customers must complete the application form and bring proof of participation in one of the above programs to COTA’s Customer Experience Center located at 33 N. High St., open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. One of our friendly Customer Experience Champions will help you set up a COTA account with your discount.
Please Note: Any customer who wishes to participate in our discount program must use COTA’s account-based payment system via either the Transit App or a COTA SmartCard which will ensure that customers are not being charged more than $2.25 per day or $31 per calendar month with this discount.

Questions? We can help!

WHAT IS THE REDUCED FARE PROGRAM?
COTA’s Reduced Fare Program provides a 50 percent discount on fares for our fixed-route service for qualifying individuals.
HOW DO I ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM?
Customers will need to apply for the discount at COTA’s Customer Experience Center located at 33 N. High St., open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To apply, customers must bring proper documentation.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR THIS PROGRAM?
Veterans, Medicare cardholders, individuals with disabilities, customers 65 years and older, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients and any customer currently receiving income assistance through one of the qualifying FCJFS programs may be eligible for this program.
WHAT QUALIFIES AS PROPER DOCUMENTATION TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNT?
People 65 and older: Photo ID with your birth date.
Veterans: Active Military or Veteran ID Card
Medicare Cardholders: Medicare card displaying your name, Medicare number and coverage details. You can access a digital copy through MyMedicare.gov.
Individuals With Disabilities: Documentation from a licensed or certified professional who is most familiar with your functional limitations imposed by your condition. For Mainstream customers, visit COTA.com/Mainstream for information on the required application.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Recipients: A benefit verification letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA)
Customers Receiving Income Assistance: A document from a qualifying agency that displays your name and verifies you have received assistance from one of the six FCJFS programs in the past 12 months:

  • SNAP food assistance
  • Publicly funded childcare
  • Ohio Works First (OWF) cash assistance
  • Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) emergency assistance
  • Medicaid
  • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

All applicants must bring photo identification and verification of Social Security number.

HOW DO I OBTAIN “PROPER DOCUMENTATION” FROM A FCJFS PROGRAM?
There are several ways to present proper documentation:

  • If you receive income assistance from one of the six county-wide programs, you should have received a verification letter in the mail. Simply bring that letter to COTA’s Customer Experience Center and receive your fare discount.
  • You can also log on or create an account at https://benefits.ohio.gov to obtain verification. Go to My Benefits which shows your name and the income assistance you receive. Either print or take a screenshot of that page and bring it to COTA’s Customer Experience Center.
  • You also can log on to the benefits website using your smartphone and show it to the COTA Customer Experience Representative during the application process.
WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE MY FCJFS INCOME ASSISTANCE VERIFICATION LETTER AND DO NOT HAVE COMPUTER ACCESS?
Customers can log on or create an account at https://benefits.ohio.gov to obtain verification. You can call FCJFS at 1-844-640-6446 to have a verification letter mailed to your house. However, due to a high volume of customers, it could take FCJFS a few weeks to process this request.
AFTER ENROLLING IN THE PROGRAM, HOW DO CUSTOMERS RECEIVE THE DISCOUNT?
To claim this discount, customers must bring proof of participation in a qualified program to COTA’s Customer Experience Center located at 33 N. High St., open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. One of our friendly Customer Care Advocates will help you set up a COTA account with your discount.
Any customer who wishes to participate in our discount program must use COTA’s account-based payment system via either the Transit App or a COTA SmartCard which will ensure that customers are not being charged more than $2.25 per day or $31 per calendar month with this discount.
WILL I BE ABLE TO PAY CASH AT THE FARE BOX IF I QUALIFY FOR THE INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM?
No, any customer who wishes to participate in our discount program must use COTA’s account-based payment system via either the Transit App or a COTA SmartCard which will ensure that customers are not being charged more than $2.25 per day or $31 per calendar month with this discount.
You can also load cash onto the Transit app or your Smartcard to ensure you will receive your 50 percent discount per trip. There are several ways to load cash:

WHY DO CUSTOMERS NEED TO USE THE TRANSIT APP OR SMARTCARD TO USE THIS SERVICE?
The account-based payment system allows COTA to designate a customer’s account as a discounted account to ensure they are not being charged more than $2.25 per day or $31 per calendar month.
ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES APPLYING AT THE COTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER?
Unfortunately, no. To claim this discount, customers must apply at COTA’s Customer Experience Center located at 33 N. High St., open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. One of our friendly Customer Care Advocates will help you set up a COTA account with your discount.
Fare Option Regular Fares Reduced Rate Fares
Standard and Frequent $2.00 $1.00
Transfers No fare* No fare
With ADA Card No fare No fare
DayPass $4.50 $2.25
31-Day Pass $62.00 $31.00

*Transfers are available upon request and are valid for up to two hours.