COTA expands late-night service in Columbus, moving towards 24-hour transit
COTA used to offer the midnight service before the pandemic, but for the first time in five years, they've brought it back.
'This is the first step towards fulfilling the promises we've made, and it starts with really expanding and improving our current service,' said Monica Tellez-Fowler, CEO of COTA.
CEO of COTA, Monica Tellez-Fowler, and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin wore their 'Midnight in Motion' shirts to make this announcement.
'Think about the single parent who gets off after midnight, the nurse coming home from the hospital, the young entrepreneur who works late. This is for them. We see you and we're making improvements to support your schedule,' said Tellez-Fowler.
This late-night expansion is one of the first tangible moves from the LinkUs initiative, a 25-year plan. This past November, voters approved the comprehensive mobility and growth strategy plan. The initiative helps position COTA to become a 24-hour transit system.
Boy back home after recovering from severe dog attack
'This is what Central Ohio Transit is now going forward, and we look to expand more,' said Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin.
With the passing of Issue 47, it will increase COTA's total share of sales tax from 0.5% to 1%. That sales tax increase began in April. The LinkUS initiative will expand COTA's services and create more than 500 miles of bike paths, sidewalks, and trails across Franklin County by 2050.
'We get to now have a first-rate, top-of-the-line transit system that serves all of our residents throughout our community,' said Hardin.
This late-night expansion will include most downtown lines. Lines 1 through 11 and CMAX will have lineups available at 10 pm, 11 pm, and midnight. Additionally, 17 crosstown lines will now operate past midnight to better connect customers across the region.
'It was always about people, making sure that they had access and opportunities to get to where they need to go, be that nighttime activities or work or back home,' said Hardin.
These changes will only take place Monday through Saturday. According to COTA, Sunday evening hours will remain unchanged for now. These late-night hours begin this Monday.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business Wire
Resecurity Appoints Luiz Cota as Territory Manager for Brazil
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Resecurity, Inc., a global leader in cybersecurity and threat intelligence solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Luiz Cota as Territory Manager for Brazil. With more than three decades of experience in technology and cybersecurity across Latin America, Cota will spearhead Resecurity's efforts to expand its footprint in Brazil and strengthen cyber defense capabilities for local enterprises, public institutions, and critical infrastructure. Throughout his career, Luiz Cota has held senior roles at leading cybersecurity and technology firms including Cisco, IronPort, SurfControl, Fidelis, and Offensive Security. His extensive background in both commercial and technical domains positions him to effectively adapt and deliver Resecurity's advanced threat intelligence solutions to meet the unique needs of the Brazilian market. Cota brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and strategic business insight. He founded Brazil's first cyber-insurance brokerage, advising startups and established enterprises on cyber risk mitigation, threat modeling, and digital resilience. With a clear understanding of Brazil's regulatory framework, digital economy, and emerging threat landscape, he is uniquely equipped to help organizations implement localized, intelligence-driven cybersecurity strategies. 'Luiz offers a profound understanding of the Brazilian cybersecurity landscape and a proven ability to execute complex go-to-market strategies,' said Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity. 'His leadership will be key as we accelerate our growth in Latin America and support Brazilian organizations in building stronger defenses against rapidly evolving cyber threats.' Luiz Cota holds a degree in Electronic Engineering, a specialization in marketing, and an MBA, enabling him to bridge the gap between technical innovation and business execution. He will lead Resecurity's regional initiatives in partnership development, threat intelligence delivery, and customer success, with a focus on empowering local partners and clients to anticipate, detect, and respond to cyber risks with greater precision. 'Cybersecurity has become a strategic priority in Brazil as digital transformation advances across all sectors,' said Luiz Cota. 'I'm excited to join Resecurity and bring world-class cyber intelligence capabilities to organizations committed to protecting their data, infrastructure, and people.' This appointment marks a significant step in Resecurity's regional expansion strategy, reinforcing its commitment to providing scalable, proactive, and locally relevant cybersecurity solutions throughout Latin America. About Resecurity Resecurity® is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified endpoint protection, fraud prevention, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence platform. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, by Inc. Magazine, Resecurity was named one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California. As a member of InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA), AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, FS-ISAC, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (AmChamKSA), Singapore (AmChamSG), Korea (AmChamKorea), Mexico (AmChamMX), Thailand (AmChamThailand), and UAE (AmChamDubai). To learn more about Resecurity, visit
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Ohio ‘BMV cheat code' praised, agency says 10 million trips saved
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A trip to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is often considered a brutal exercise in patience, with customers waiting in long lines clutching what they hope are the right documents, but the agency's reputation could be changing with technology. According to Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel and BMV Registrar Charles Norman, online tools designed to reduce the number of times customers are required to visit are now alleviating some of the pain. In a recent joint news release, it was announced that Ohioans have been spared more than 10 million trips to the BMV due to upgrades that enable certain transactions without being physically present. 'We've put significant focus on using technology to save customers' valuable time and cut down on congestion at BMV deputy registrar locations across the state,' said DeWine. 'This milestone demonstrates the importance of these upgrades, which have made BMV services more accessible and efficient.' The changes began in 2019 and Ohio 'now has one of the most expansive menus of online services of any motor vehicle agency in the country,' according to DeWine's administration. 'Ohio has definitely been ahead of the game in modernizing BMV services,' said Tressel. 'No one enjoys waiting in long lines, and giving Ohioans the option to conduct more business online reduces wait times for those who do visit the BMV in person.' • Online renewal of driver's licenses or identification cards — recently expanded to eligible commercial driver's license (CDL) holders. Once approved, the customer will receive a printable interim credential, and the renewed license or identification card will arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 days. • Online ordering of temporary tags and renewing vehicle registration via OPLATES. • Online driving knowledge test to receive a temporary driver's permit and online scheduling of driver exams. Ohio BMV is also expanding driver's exam locations by partnering with approved third parties. • Online transfer a title for person-to-person vehicle sale with the new Ohio Title Portal. The title transfer request will be electronically sent to the applicable county's title office for review and approval of the transaction. • BMV Express self-service kiosks for renewing and printing vehicle registration documentation at grocery stores and e-check stations. The kiosks immediately print new vehicle registration cards and license plate stickers on-site, with the average transaction taking less than two minutes. While drivers can still visit any of Ohio's deputy registrar locations to complete any BMV-related tasks, the agency recommends using its 'Get In Line, Online' before leaving home. The service allows customers to advance in the queue without physically waiting in the office. After checking in online, customers have until close of business that day to arrive at the deputy registrar location, check in at a self-service kiosk, and claim their spot in line. One customer lauded the offering on social media, calling it a 'BMV cheat code.' 'If anyone's going to the BMV and doesn't want to wait forever, just use the online check-in like an hour before u go,' the Reddit user shared. 'They send you a message saying text HERE when you arrive.' I texted it right when I parked my car, walked in and there was around 30–40 people there waiting, sat down literally 2 mins, and they called my number … I'm doing this every time I go to the BMV from now on, hope they don't change it!' 'The BMV is always looking for convenient, innovative solutions to enhance the overall customer experience for Ohioans,' said Norman. 'We are dedicated to finding opportunities that modernize and improve our processes so that we can provide more service options.' A full list of online options can be found on the BMV's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Republicans say unclaimed funds used before without challenge amid Browns stadium debate
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — On Wednesday, state lawmakers passed the two-year state operating budget worth $60 billion, which included a way to give the state a little more money to play with, and the Cleveland Browns some financial help building a new stadium. Lawmakers wanted some sort of consistent revenue fund for current and future requests from other teams. Gov. Mike DeWine first suggested doubling the state's online sports gambling tax. Republicans quickly rejected that idea. Instead, Ohio lawmakers are hoping to tap into the state's unclaimed funds. An unclaimed fund is money that someone probably doesn't even know they have, being held by the state. It could be anything from a check never cashed to an account forgotten. People can claim their funds at any time through an official state website. Right now, that fund houses $3.7 billion. Now, lawmakers want to capitalize on what they call idle money and use it for a new 'Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility' fund. This all stemmed from the Cleveland Browns asking the state for $600 million to build a new stadium. Under this budget, $1 billion will be put into the fund: $600 million for the Cleveland Browns and $400 million to be used on other projects. 'There are at least a dozen times in the past when the state has taken money from the unclaimed funds and in some cases emergency situations,' Ohio Senate Finance Chair Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said. 'So, this is not the first time and we didn't recall any challenges to those occasions when that money was used.' 'We pulled levers that we pulled in the Great Recession to keep our budget stable, to make sure we didn't have massive layoffs, to make sure that our schools remained open and kids could get educated. That is how dire it was, that is the last time we raided unclaimed funds in this magnitude,' Ohio House Finance Ranking Member Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) said. The proposal, if signed into law by DeWine, is already facing a lawsuit. DannLaw plans to file class action lawsuit challenging the provision if it does take effect. 'The Ohio Supreme Court has been crystal clear: unclaimed funds are not state property — it's private property,' attorney and former state representative Jeffrey Crossman said. 'This case is about protecting Ohioans' constitutional rights and stopping the legislature from liquidating private property and turning it into a billionaire's building fund. Ohioans shouldn't have to race the clock to reclaim what's already theirs.' The governor must enact the budget by July 1, but he does have the ability to line item veto any provision within the spending bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
