Study suggests new transit center, higher fares, adjusted routes

ColumBUS buses feature the city's iconic Dancing C's images.

Riders of Columbus’ city transit system, ColumBUS, still have a ways to go before they’ll see any drastic changes to their usual bus routes.

The final draft of a months-long transit study, completed by Indianapolis-based Lochmueller Group, is under review by local stakeholders and community members. Executive Director of Public Works/City Engineer Dave Hayward said it may be a while before any new additions or changes are made to the current transit system.

The study is the city’s first in about five years, and is being paid 80% with federal money, while the remainder is being picked up using funds in the city’s CAMPO budget, Laura Thayer, director of the Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and transportation planner the city, told The Republic in December.

Area trends, demographics, future transportation needs, transportation infrastructure and goals and objectives are included in the plan, which is available to view on the city’s website.

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Among the proposed updates is the construction of a new transit center. The current transit center is located at Mill Race Station on Carl Miske Drive, an area of the city west of the railroad tracks, which could be cut off from the eastern part of the city when longer trains pass through Columbus more frequently.

"We need a new transit center," Hayward said. "Unfortunately when we built the one that we’re currently operating with, the trains were running three or four times a day and now they’re running about 15 times and continuing to increase."

That’s a problem that Hayward said must be addressed.

The study anticipates a new location, proposing the property at 13th Street and Hutchins Avenue for its central location and accessibility to local United Way agencies, Hayward said. The location is not confirmed, but Hayward said it does work with what the city is trying to accomplish.

Once a final destination for the new center is determined, the city will begin refining its transit routes according to the study’s suggestions, public input and observation.

The current five routes will be adjusted with the move to the new transit center, with a focus on eliminating extensive one-way loops and accommodating areas with higher ridership.

According to the study, Route 1 has low ridership due to extensive one-way loops. It is also the city’s longest route at 13.7 miles. Under Lochmueller’s proposal, the route would be altered the most to eliminate one-way loops, which Lochmueller suggests are confusing and difficult to understand.

Route 2, a 12-mile trek that runs along 25th Street, is cited as one of the most productive routes.

Route 3 and 4 are consistently productive and would remain largely unchanged with the exception of new designated stops along Route 4 between Mill Race Park and Columbus East High School. Lochmueller noted route 5 is the least productive route for the city. It runs to the west side of Columbus and would be extended to include the new transit center if placed at 13th Street and Hutchins Avenue.

"The routes can’t be implemented without a new transit center," Hayward said. "We haven’t started designing a new center. We haven’t even selected the final location. We’ve got some steps that need to take place. They gave us some good information there — the good meat. We’ve got to prepare the other dishes that go along with it to make it a meal. That’s where we’re at this point."

About 20 people attended the city’s second open house to offer public opinions and ask questions about the transit system. Hayward said the most common feedback centered on current fare rates, which run at 25 cents a ride, extended hours, route extensions and the possibility of linking with local substance abuse treatment centers to provide transportation to clients.

The study suggests increasing the current ride fare structure and Hayward said many people agreed that a quarter was too low.

"We’ve charged 25 cents per ride as long as anybody can remember," Hayward said. "Just about everybody I’ve talked to has spoken favorably, including the riders. They realize you can’t do anything for a quarter anymore and here we are giving bus rides for a quarter."

Several people spoke in favor of extending the system’s hours to run from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. instead of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. so third-shift workers could catch a ride.

"We really have to consider all the dots," Hayward said. "Most cities that you aspire to be like have a transit system that’s active and functional. We want to keep up with those trends, we want to be one of those cities."

ColumBUS serves 500 to 600 people per day and provided 214,271 rides in 2018. As of the end of May 2019, ColumBUS had transported 88,217 riders, according to Cindy Setser, the city’s transit coordinator.

Hayward said some people need transit — it’s their transportation of last resort. There are others who just want to use transit. He said there has been a significant increase in international ridership, especially  international professionals who are used to walking out the front door and taking the bus to work.

"You have to balance both of those and think about the needs and wants and try to make that all come together," Hayward said.

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The 114-page transit study, completed by Indianapolis-based Lochmueller Group, is accessible to the public at columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2019/07/Draft-Columbus-Final-Report-06-28-19.pdf.

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The city has received and is still reviewing the final draft of the Fixed Route Study for the ColumBUS transit system, city engineer Dave Hayward said.

The report contains some ideas that will require further study and consideration and is a next step in transforming the transit system.

A committee of city officials and community members will review Lochmueller’s study along with public input, which local residents and transit users could submit online through Aug. 2.

Some of the suggested and contemplated changes may require budget revisions or authorization by Columbus City Council. Once the Fixed Route Study is finalized, an implementation schedule will be announced.

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