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To congratulate and celebrate COTA on earning the Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award.
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WHEREAS, for the second time in three years, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has earned the Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award, recognizing the organization as the best transit organization of its size in North America; and
WHEREAS, the award was announced by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and recognizes COTA for demonstrating excellence in providing mobility options for the Central region; and
WHEREAS, COTA received the international award in the midsize category for systems with annual ridership of more than 4 million and fewer than 20 million passenger trips. In 2019, COTA’s ridership was 19, 141, 454 the highest since 1988; and
WHEREAS, APTA evaluated COTA on successes it achieved from 2017 to 2019, which include: Highest ridership in 31 years, COTA’s development of on-demand service such as COTA/Plus and Mainstream On-Demand, adoption of a five-year strategic plan with core focus on equity, diversity and inclusion, commitment to low and no-emission transit vehicles, development of the C-pass program for downtown employees, launch of CMAX, the region’s first bus rapid transit, commitment to consider studies, to improve mobility and foster economic development; and
WHEREAS, Congratulations to Joanna Pinkerton, President & CEO, COTA’s board of trustees, and your colleagues at COTA on earning the American Public Association’s Public Transportation System Achievement Award for the second time in three years! This recognition again certifies that COTA is the best transit organization of its size on the continent; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: that this council hereby congratulates and celebrates COTA on earning the Outstanding Public Transportation System Award.