COTA is conducting preliminary design, engineering and environmental clearance for the Cleveland Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project. The proposed service will transport riders between downtown Columbus and Polaris Parkway/Africa Road, connect with existing bus routes, and include new stations. COTA is creating a unique identity for the proposed BRT/Enhanced Bus Service for Cleveland Avenue.

1. Corridor Public Meeting #1
Linden Public Library
April 9, 2014

2. 2
Agenda
1. Project History
2. About the Corridor
3. LPA Summary
4. What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?
5. What is Enhanced Bus Service?
6. Project Benefits
7. Project Development Progress
8. Corridor Station Locations
9. BRT Demonstration Video
10. Stations Near Your Neighborhood
11. Public Involvement Update
12. Brand & Creative Strategies
13. Public Arts Program
14. Project Timeline
15. Get Involved

3. 3
Project History

4. 4
About the
Corridor
 Serves Franklin County and the
northeast areas of Columbus
and adjacent communities
 Transit centers: Linden &
Easton
 Park & Ride: Northern Lights,
Westerville
 Line 1 Cleveland
• Second busiest route:
4,800 average weekday
daily riders
• Often has standing loads

5. 5
LPA
Summary
 BRT Stations (to SR-161)
• 32 northbound/29 southbound
 Enhanced local service stops
(north of SR-161)
• 7 northbound/6 southbound
 Estimated travel time (one-way)
• 20% travel time savings
• 35-39 minutes to SR-161
• 48-56 minutes to Polaris/Africa Rd.
 Local Line 1 continues to
operate
 Serves all stops
 30-minute frequency
 Preliminary project cost: $39.4
million
• 80% Federal & 20% Local
Note: This information is being updated in the current phase.

6. 6
A mix of characteristics:
 Reduced travel times
• Fewer stops
• Signal priority (reducing stops at traffic lights)
• Dedicated lanes at peak times (High Street
only)
 Frequent service
• 10 min. peak/15 min. off-peak
 Span of Service
• 16 hours (Monday-Saturday)
• 14 hours (Sunday)
 Unique and distinctive branding
 Enhanced passenger amenities
• Real-time information
• Enhanced stations
Kansas City Max Line
What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

7. 7
Characteristics:
 Upgrade in local bus service
 Operates within shared traffic
lanes with autos
 Focused on providing riders with
more travel options
 Designed to attract people who do
not regularly ride the bus
What is Enhanced Bus Service?
RapidRide enhanced bus service
in Seattle uses improved shelters
and upgraded buses to improve
its current transit system.

8. 8
Project Benefits
 Improved transit service
 Improved mobility and reliability in a congested corridor
 Travel times savings of up to 20 percent
 More travel options for growing transit-dependent populations
 Improved pedestrian access and safety
 Create opportunities for economic development within the corridor
 A projected 15-20 percent increase in ridership in the first five years
* Please note that these benefits are being refined in the
current project development phase

9. 9
Project Development
Progress
 Preliminary engineering
• Preliminary plans for corridor completed
• 30% corridor/station designs to be completed in June
• 60% corridor/station designs to be completed in
September
• Complete conceptual station designs
 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process
• Environmental analysis ongoing
• Categorical exclusion to be completed in May
 Interactive public education and engagement
• Market research
• Brand and creative strategies

10. 10
Corridor Station Locations

11. 11
BRT Demonstration Video

12. 12
Stations Near Your Neighborhood

13. 13
Public Involvement Update
 Notifications to 1,700 property owners
 Flyers & commuter bulletins posted
along corridor
 E-blast notifications, news
releases & social media posts
 General Public Meeting on Feb. 27
 Stakeholder & Advisory Group
Meetings in Jan. & Mar.
 Meetings with property owners
impacted by proposed station
locations & transit centers at
Columbus Square and Northern
Lights
 Advisory & Technical Working Groups
meetings with representatives from
local municipalities

14. 14
Brand & Creative
Strategies
 Safety
 Dependability
 Service to
others
 Common good
Brand Purpose:
 Build a more cohesive
community by helping people
achieve more in their daily lives.
Brand Positioning:
 Life driver
Brand Promise:
 We make it easier and more
convenient to get where you
need to go.
What We Want People To Think:
 Cleveland Avenue BRT makes
my life easier.
 Diversity
 Respect
 Caring
Creative Objectives:
 Generate ridership & foster greater
economic development along
corridor
 Raise awareness by building a
strong, distinctive brand for
Cleveland Avenue BRT and execute
brand through various ways
VALUE
S
Research (Feb. 2014)  Draft Concepts (April 2014)  Brand Approval
(May 2014)

15. 15
Public Art at CTA Stations in
Chicago, ILPublic Art at Kansas City BRT
Station
 Development of Public Arts guidelines
 Establishment of a “Public Arts” theme
 Met with Columbus Art Commission staff
on March 24 to present station design
concepts
 Presentation to Commission on April 22
regarding station design concepts
Public Arts
Program

16. 16
Project
Timeline
Milestones for Current Phase:
 Complete environmental review (May 2014)
 Complete preliminary design up to 60% (Sept. 2014)
 Submit application to FTA (Sept. 2014)
 FTA New Starts Annual Report (February 2015)

17. 17
Next
Meetings
Upcoming Meetings:
 Corridor Meeting #2
 April 17, 2014
 Point of Pride, 1410 Cleveland Avenue
 Corridor Meeting #3
 April 30, 2014
 Northern Lights Library, 4093 Cleveland Avenue
 General Public Meeting
 July 27, 2014

18. 18
Get
Involved
For more project information:
 Visit www.COTABRT.com
 Email COTABRT@cota.com
 Call (614) 228-1776 or TTY/TTD (614) 275-5878
Sign up to receive all project notices via email or direct mail.
Project materials can be produced in Spanish or Somali upon request.
Stay Connected With COTA!
COTABus | @COTABus

19. Questions or Comments?
We want to know what you think!
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