Latest news with #JeffPullin
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
COTA board approves study regarding making bus system free
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Central Ohio Transit Authority has commissioned a study to examine making the bus system free to use. The COTA Board of Trustees voted at an April 14 meeting to approve a contract with the California-based consulting company Four Nines Technologies to conduct a 'No Fare Feasibility Study' for a cost not exceeding $319,946. York Steak House in Columbus hailed as having the nation's best steaks The study will examine the potential impacts of making the transit system completely free to use, or making rides free for certain groups, according to a resolution passed by the board. A standard bus ride costs $2, but fares may be cheaper or free for certain riders, such as children and students. 'COTA continues to receive questions from the community about the feasibility of moving from a transit system that charges customers fares to a system that charges zero fares or creates zero fare opportunities for identified groups,' the resolution reads. 'To provide meaningful, well-researched data to support answers to community questions, COTA must perform a deeper analysis of the long-term sustainability of a substantial change to the fare system.' Fares make up about 17% of COTA's operating funds, according to the agency's 2023-2027 Short Range Transit Plan. The study will begin on May 1 and conclude on Dec. 31. It will be paid for through the External Relations Division's operating budget for 2025, specifically with local funds, which includes income from sales tax revenue and fares. Fast food chain Culver's plans new location in central Ohio The study will analyze six specific areas, including the financial implications of transitioning to a no-fare or partial-fare system, potential needed changes to current operations, how underserved communities would be impacted, what technology would be needed for the transition, feedback from key stakeholders, and laws that may impact the change. The completion of the study will not guarantee COTA will go fare free. The transit system has considered the idea before, when it commissioned a similar study from the law firm IceMiller in 2020. That study was conducted amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and before voters approved LinkUs, a plan to modernize and expand COTA's current system through rapid transit lines, extended walkways and more. The 2020 analysis noted other cities that switched to a fare-free system – including Denver and Olympia, Washington — saw increased ridership. Jeff Pullin, COTA's director of public and media relations, said he does not have any further information about the study to share at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Presidents Day a federal holiday? Are the stock market, banks, post office open? What we know
We had Groundhog Day (not a federal holiday) at the beginning of February. Less than two weeks later, love was in the air on Valentine's Day (also not a federal holiday). Today is Presidents Day; is that a federal holiday? Will the mail come? Is the stock market open? Do you get a day off work? Here's what to know. The holiday is always celebrated on the third Monday of February to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, the first President of the United States, according to Almanac. Federal are closed today, and federal workers have a paid day off, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets are closed for Presidents Day, writes Investor's Business Daily. No, banks and their branches will be closed, as banks follow the federal holiday schedule as well. Bank ATMs and digital banking features will still be in service. The post office follows the federal schedule and will not be open today, so you will not receive your regular mail or packages on Presidents Day, according to the U.S. Postal Service. USPS priority mail is the only service in operation. Other delivery services, such as FedEx and UPS, are operating on Presidents Day, though in different capacities. UPS will be open for business as usual, while FedEx has modified service with early on-call pickups and drop box pickups in some areas only. According to Jeff Pullin, COTA's director of public relations, COTA's transit service schedules in Columbus will remain in operation on Presidents Day. However, COTA's administrative offices will be closed. If 2025 is anything like 2024, Cincinnati's public ground transportation will operate on a normal weekday schedule. Will garbage trucks be running on Presidents Day 2025? There's a chance you won't have a service delay for the holiday. The City of Akron government website doesn't list Presidents Day as a holiday. Nearby Canton will also operate on a normal waste removal schedule. Conversely, the trash pickup calendars for both Cincinnati and Columbus show Presidents Day 2025 as a holiday. Have last-minute groceries to grab? According to the Kroger website, most Kroger locations will have normal hours on Presidents Day. Giant Eagle will be open on Presidents Day, according to Hours Guide. The next holiday that most U.S. workers will have a day off is Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 26. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Is Presidents Day a federal holiday? Is the stock market open? What to know
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's open and closed on Presidents Day 2025? More on stock market, Ohio trash pickup, mail
We had Groundhog Day and learned that there are six more weeks of winter. And today, love is in the air for Valentine's Day. That means Presidents Day, also known as George Washington's birthday, is right around the corner. So, what's open and closed on Presidents Day 2025? Who gets a day off on Presidents Day? Is the stock market open? Here's what to know. The holiday is always celebrated on the third Monday of February to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, the first President of the United States, according to Almanac. This year, it occurs on Monday, Feb. 17. Federal offices will be closed, and federal workers will have a paid day off, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets will close for Presidents Day, according to Investor's Business Daily. According to the U.S. Postal Service, post offices will be closed on Presidents Day, so you will not receive your regular mail or packages. USPS priority mail will be the only service in operation. Other delivery services, such as FedEx and UPS, will operate on Presidents Day, though in different capacities. UPS will be open for business as usual, while FedEx has modified service with early on-call pickups and drop box pickups in some areas only. No, banks and their branches will be closed, as banks follow the federal holiday schedule as well. Bank ATMs and digital banking features will still be in service. According to Jeff Pullin, COTA's director of public relations, COTA's transit service schedules in Columbus will remain in operation on Presidents Day. However, COTA's administrative offices will be closed. If 2025 is anything like 2024, Cincinnati's public ground transportation will operate on a normal weekday schedule. Will garbage trucks be running on Presidents Day 2025? There's a chance you won't have a service delay for the holiday. The City of Akron government website doesn't list Presidents Day as a holiday. Nearby Canton will also operate on a normal waste removal schedule. Conversely, the trash pickup calendars for both Cincinnati and Columbus show Presidents Day 2025 as a holiday. Have last-minute groceries to grab? According to the Kroger website, most Kroger locations will have normal hours on Presidents Day. Giant Eagle will be open on Presidents Day, according to Hours Guide. According to Walgreens and CVS locations should be open on Presidents Day. Check with your local location to be sure. Schools and colleges are likely to be closed on Presidents Day. School closings vary by state and school district. Check your local school district's website for school closures. Most businesses and retailers may remain open or have modified hours, so contact your local store to check its hours. The next holiday that most U.S. workers will have a day off is Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 26. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What's open, closed on Presidents Day? More on stock market, Ohio trash pickup, mail
Axios
10-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
Bus Rapid Transit aims to change Columbus travel
As major infrastructure upgrades begin to take shape, the Central Ohio Transit Authority hopes its first Bus Rapid Transit lines change the way Columbus travels. Why it matters: Planned BRT lines are one of the focal points of COTA's voter-approved $8 billion LinkUS mobility plan. BRT lines are designed to streamline service and accommodate our growing population. The big picture: COTA is committed to building three BRT corridors on West Broad Street, East Main Street and a route connecting downtown with Dublin. Two other potential corridors are being studied. In addition to BRT work, LinkUS funding enables COTA to add hundreds of miles of new paths, trails and bus lines, plus expand transit operating hours. How it works: BRT lines function differently from standard bus routes. They feature dedicated lanes, larger buses, increased frequency, fewer stops and buses that communicate with traffic signals — all to increase speed and reliability. Improved stations allow riders to pay before riding, offer protection from the elements and add bus-level platforms for easier boarding. Between the lines: The BRT experience aims to imitate the experience of a subway or train. "We call it light rail on wheels," COTA spokesperson Jeff Pullin tells Axios, "because it has the same amenities, including arriving every eight to 10 minutes." Case in point: The first planned BRT line, on West Broad Street, will break ground this year and should drastically reduce west side commute times. LinkUS transit program manager Zach Sunderland tells Axios that COTA's current West Broad corridor takes an estimated 45 minutes to get from the end of the line to downtown, not counting delays from traffic, weather or construction. The BRT line should cut that time to about 30 minutes and avoid external elements. The big picture: COTA's plans were developed after looking at similar systems in cities like Seattle, Denver, Indianapolis and Minneapolis, which saw BRT ridership skyrocket last year. Friction point: If this is "light rail on wheels," why not just build a light rail system instead? The biggest factor: Columbus doesn't have the population density required to qualify for federal light rail funding, COTA officials say. Even if the city did qualify, a single light rail line would cost as much as the $8 billion funding LinkUS for 25 years. Columbus would also have to acquire huge quantities of land for construction, leveling homes and businesses under eminent domain. What they're saying: Sunderland says COTA hopes to double ridership from 3% of the population to 6%. "As we grow as a region, traffic is not going to get any easier and parking prices will go up. We hope this improvement will make transit more attractive and easier to use."
