Title
To recognize and celebrate Friday, February 14th, 2020 as Ohio Loves Transit Day in the City of Columbus.
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Public Transit Association recognizes outstanding public transportation on the third annual Ohio Loves Transit Day taking place on the 14th day of February; and
WHEREAS, in Columbus, Ohio, residents have relied on the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) millions of times to arrive safely at home, work, school, and innumerable other destinations; and
WHEREAS, 58% of downtown companies participate in the C-Pass program with 15,167 memberships and 1,242,586 rides in 2019; and
WHEREAS, COTA directly employs 1,200 Ohioans, including 728 transit operators, and supports thousands of additional jobs through their work; and
WHEREAS, 3,043 stops along 42 routes operated by COTA help connect Columbus residents to one another while reducing wear on public roads, levels of traffic, and carbon emissions; and
WHEREAS, COTA’s deployment of 179 compressed natural gas buses protects Ohio’s air, water, and environmental future, while also supporting Columbus as a growing green city; and
WHEREAS, the outstanding work done by the Central Ohio Transit Authority since 1974 in providing central Ohioans with affordable and reliable transportation is deserving of recognition; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby recognize and celebrate Thursday, February 14th, 2020 as Ohio Loves Transit Day in the City of Columbus.