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transportation
[getting to, around, and out of columbus]
By land, air, and sea. Well maybe not sea, but
getting around Columbus is fairly easy with the right tools and
information. With
Port Columbus International Airport just 8 miles from
downtown Columbus flying to Columbus is reasonably painless.
With I-71 and I-70 intersecting in the heart of downtown, the
drive will be nice if gas doesn't sky rocket again. Though
Columbus is home to several boatable rivers and lakes, it might
be a little hard to commute to Columbus by water. If biking is
your mode of transportation, Columbus boasts numerous bike
trails throughout the metropolitan area for your peddling needs.
There are also numerous chauffeur services that service Columbus
and the surrounding areas for those executive and special events
or just plain events.
[by cota buses]
Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) begins operations on
January 1, 1974 with 53 routes spanning a total of 936.8 miles. COTA has a service area of 562 square miles and served over 146
million passengers in 2005. They span all of Franklin county as
well as small portions of Delaware, Fairfield, and Licking
Counties.
From one-way fares to monthly passes, you’ll find a lot of
ways to go with COTA! COTA also offers promotions for colleges,
including OSU, CCAD, and Columbus Public Schools as well as
deals with a variety of companies throughout the Columbus area.
Cash Fares*
This list outlines one-way fares for all of COTA services.
Please have exact fare ready. Bus operators carry no cash.
Fareboxes accept both bills and coins.
Fixed-Route Cash Fares*
- ADA ID -
FREE
- Children 6 and under and not over 48" (limit 3
accompanied by adult family member) - FREE
- Children over 48" to 12 years old - 75˘
- Express - $2.00
- Link
(Fare up-charge from local to crosstown bus - $1.00 or
to express bus - $1.50) - 50˘
- Local or Crosstown - $1.50
- Senior Discount ID or Key ID - 75˘
- Transfer - Free
Project Mainstream Cash Fare*
- ADA One Way - $2.25
- Non-ADA
One Way - $3.00
Passes*
Convenient, pre-paid passes give you unlimited service for one
day, one week (7 days) or one month.
Fixed-Route Passes (purchased in advance)*
- 7-Day Pass (use any 7 consecutive days) - $18.00
(additional 50˘ required per trip for express
service)
- Adult DayPass (can be purchased on the bus) -
$3.50(additional 50˘ required per trip for express
service)
- Discount Day Pass (Senior, Key ID, Children over
48" to 12 years old) - $1.75
- Monthly Discount (Senior, Key, Children over 48"
to 12 years old) - $22.00
- Monthly Express - $62.00
- Monthly Local - $45.00 (additional 50˘ required
for express service)
Project Mainstream Passes*
- Monthly Project Mainstream - $70.00 (additional $0.75 for each one way
non-ADA trip)
*NOTE: All fares are subject to change. COTA offers a variety of transit passes to fit your needs. Passes can be
purchased at the
COTA Connection Customer Service
Center, 60 E. Broad St., at
designated pass outlets or by mail. When purchasing by mail, send check or
money order to COTA Connection, 60 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Requests
must be received by the 20th of the month in order for you to receive your pass
by the first of the following month.
- DayPass ($3.50) – Enjoy
unlimited travel and free transfers on all local and crosstown routes for the
entire day. If you get on an express bus with a $3.50 DayPass, an additional 50˘
is required. DayPasses can be purchased on the bus (adult only), at the COTA
Connection Customer Service Center, 60 E. Broad St. or designated outlets.*
- 7-Day Pass ($18.00) –
Enjoy unlimited travel and free transfers on all local and crosstown routes for
any 7 consecutive days. If you get on an express bus with a 7-Day Pass, an
additional 50˘ is required. These passes can be purchased individually or in
bulk and at a discount for large groups or organizations. They may also be
requested by mail.*
- Monthly
Local Pass
($45.00) – Pass that is valid all month for unlimited travel on all local and
crosstown routes, including COTA LINKs. If you get on an express bus with a
Monthly Local Pass, an additional 50˘ is required.*
- Monthly Express Pass
($62.00) – Pass that is valid all month for unlimited travel on all routes,
including local, crosstown, express routes and COTA LINKs.*
- Monthly Project Mainstream/ADA Monthly
Pass ($70.00) – Pass that is valid all month for unlimited
travel on Project Mainstream paratransit service and all fixed-route service.
Project Mainstream Monthly Passes can be purchased by mail or at the COTA
Connection Customer Service Center, 60 E. Broad St. NOTE: There is a $0.75 up-charge
for non-ADA trips.*
- Senior ID Card – An ID that allows you to ride COTA’s fixed-route service
for just 75˘ each way. To receive your discount ID, bring proof that you are 65
or older (driver’s license, state ID or birth certificate) to the COTA
Connection Customer Service Center, 60 E. Broad St., downtown, Monday-Friday, 9
a.m.-4 p.m.*
- Key Card – Eligible
persons with a disability can ride COTA’s fixed-route service for 75˘ each way.
The Key Card is a photo identification card with an expiration date, and must be
renewed regularly. To qualify, you must provide COTA with your Social Security
Card and one of the following:
- A COTA
certification form with a licensed medical professional’s
signature and Ohio license number
- A Social
Security/Veteran Disability Award letter and picture ID
- To get a Key Card you must:
- Pick up a
certification form at the COTA Connection
Customer Service Center, 60 E. Broad St. or call (614) 228-1776.
- Bring the
completed certification form, Social Security/Veteran
Disability Award letter and picture ID to the COTA
Connection Customer Service Center, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4
p.m.
- ADA
Card –
An ADA Card is required to ride Project Mainstream, COTA’s
paratransit service. ID cards are issued to eligible customers
who meet strict federal criteria. For eligibility information,
contact (614)
275-5828
or (614)
228-1776.
Just getting from one place to the other can be confusing,
but COTA has a variety of routes available from express to
local, all with different routes and times. Click on one of the links shown below to
view the current locations of the buses along a route. *NOTE:
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*NOTE: These times and
locations are according to the COTA website. They
may change at anytime. If your bus is showing
"Delayed" please feel free to call COTA Connection
at (614) 228-1776 for more information. |
[by air]
Port Columbus International Airport (PCIA) is home to
13 major airlines with flights that reach all major destinations
around the world. Below are a list of the airlines that fly in
and out of PCIA regularly. Visit the individual airlines for
further information including reservations, delayed luggage,
last minute deals, and even special shipping information, I mean
it's their company and they should know it the best.
There are some rules that have
become flat out common knowledge since 9-11, like don't
bring a knife to the airport or don't say particular words
or have illegal drugs in your possession, but there are some
more general rules/guidelines that you may want to follow to
have your flying experience a pleasant one. Listed below are
a few things that will help you out when planning a flight.
-
As a general rule, passengers should
arrive at the airport approximately 90 minutes before
their flight (allow more time during peak travel times).
For a more detailed estimate, travelers should contact
their airline directly.
-
A government-issued photo ID (federal,
state or local) will be required at the ticket counter
upon check-in. Please keep this ID available. It will be
required throughout the airport, such as security
checkpoints and boarding gates.
-
Ticketed passengers only will be
permitted beyond the security checkpoints. However,
arrangements can be made with airlines for non-travelers
accompanying children, elderly travelers and others
needing special assistance to the gate area.
-
To ease the screening process, please
remove all metal objects such as keys and change from
your pockets prior to passing through the
metal-detectors. All electronic items such as laptops
and cell phones are subject to additional screening
procedures.
-
Each traveler will be limited to one
carry-on bag and one personal item such as a purse or
briefcase.
-
For more detailed security information,
visit the Transportation Security Administration's
website at
www.TSATravelTips.US.
[by taxi cab]
Traveling by plane might be quicker but parallel
parking a plane might be a bit difficult, let alone flying the
darn thing. With a plethora of taxis and rental cars throughout
Columbus, you can get from point A to point B with ease. Taxis
line up at the airport, in front of hotels, and are waiting
around the night scene to get you home safe as well as others.
Many taxi companies offer payment through credit cards. They
call your information in to the company dispatch office and your
card is charged.
Acme Taxi
(614) 299-9990Yellow Cab Co
(614) 444-4444
Yellow Cab Co
(614) 444-4444
Bobcat Taxi
(614) 481-0388
Arlington-Grandview Cabs
(614) 486-2432 |
Shamrock Taxi
(614) 785-8888Central Ohio German Village Taxi
(614) 224-8888
Central Ohio German Village Taxi & Shuttle
(614) 443-3663
Airport Taxi
(614) 868-8888 |
[by rental car]
Rental cars are also available to those
 who need to drive
themselves around. With a variety of locations rental car
companies offer cars, vans, and trucks as well as moving trucks
and trailers. Some of the companies will pick you up as part of
their services. Listed below are a sample of the rental
companies in urban Columbus.
Hertz Car & Truck Licensee: Downtown Columbus
(614) 221-3000Budget Car Rental: Local Rental Locations
(614) 228-1058 |
Avis Rent a Car: Local Rental Locations
(614) 463-9131Enterprise Rent-A-Car:
Downtown/Livingston
(614) 621-8899 |
[by pedals]
No matter where you want to go in Columbus,
there's always the power of the pedals. With numerous bike paths
throughout the city getting around Columbus is easy. It's even
easier with streets to ride along. Many residents will ride to
work rather than take their car because of the increase in gas
prices as well as a bicycles low emission rating (0). The
bicycle is an easy way to do your part for the environment as
well as get a nice workout. For more information about bicycling
in the city, please see the article
city cycling on [think-urban.com].
[by chauffeur]
While taking a taxi cab, a rental car, or even a
bike around the city can be exciting, there are unique services
for those unique
events. A chauffeur might be the right move to get you to a from
places in style without personally dealing with the sometimes
stressful road.
Prestige
Corporate Car of Columbus is a professional luxury chauffer
services in Columbus, Ohio and surrounding areas. Paying
specific attention to the corporate world and professional
individuals, Prestige Corporate Car understands professional,
prompt, and luxury transportation service is a must when you or
your client needs to arrive on time to that important meeting,
dinner party, or to and from the airport. They offer luxury
sedans, SUVs, and executive minibuses to meet your various
needs. For more information about Prestige Corporate Car please
call (614)564-1700 or visit their website
here.
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