The city plans to perform a transit route study this summer as it explores relocating its ColumBUS transit depot from Mill Race Station on Carl Miske Drive.
The transportation study — the city’s first in about five years — will look at bus ridership, in addition to bicycle and transit routes, said Bryan Burton, director of public works.
Local funds needed for the study will come from the Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, with 80 percent of the cost reimbursed through the federal government.
The Columbus Board of Works will be asked in June to approve a contract that could cost $75,000 to $80,000, Burton said.
The city is looking at a possible transit depot relocation due to increased CSX rail traffic coming this fall on the Louisville & Indiana train tracks through Columbus, that will pass close to Mill Race Station.
It has already set aside $600,000 for the relocation.
“By doing that, the routes will change,” Burton said.
Columbus is considering a site in the area at 13th Street and Hutchins Avenue as a possible location for the transit depot, he said. The city is also looking at purchasing software that would allow the public to show where transit buses are in the Columbus in real-time, which could be accessed by downloading a mobile app on a cell phone.
A committee will look into the matter further. Members will include Burton; Dave Hayward, executive director of public works/city engineer; Laura Thayer, Columbus Area MPO director; and Eric Frey, executive director of the Administrative Resources association.
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ColumBUS Transit is located at Mill Race Station on Carl Miske Drive.
Bus service is offered from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
More information: Call 812-376-2506 or visit columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/
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