Rapid transit plan will go before voters this November in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- COTA will place a transit sales tax on the November ballot that would help fund a $2 billion project for central Ohio's first rapid transit bus corridors.

The LinkUS Mobility Initiative is a plan that includes fast and reliable public transportation, safe and expanded bike and pedestrian paths, and walkable communities with more affordable access to work, home and entertainment.

Multiple rapid transit corridors are expected under the plan, including a $314 million West Broad Street corridor that was recently approved for $41.9 million. Other corridors would be along East Main Street and Olentangy River Road, Mayor Andrew Ginther said.

On Wednesday morning, the Central Ohio Transit Authority board is expected to approve placing a transit sales tax levy for LinkUS on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

"What voters now will see is a campaign, as we go from education on LinkUS that talked about the big bold plans, to a campaign to really put before voters a choice," City Council President Shannon Hardin said.

The levy would increase the COTA sales tax in all areas that it services from 0.5% to 1%. On a $100 purchase, that would mean an extra 50 cents in sales tax.

Currently, Franklin County has a 7.5% sales tax rate and Delaware County is at 7%. In Cuyahoga County, home of Cleveland, it's 8% -- the highest in the state-- and in Hamilton County, it's 7.8%.

"What is important about that is it really just takes us into line with Cuyahoga County, that is half the size of Columbus, and Cincinnati, which is a third of the size of Columbus," Hardin said.

During his State of the City address on Tuesday, Ginther advocated for the plan by saying Columbus needs to move away from its car-centric infrastructure.

"For nearly 100 years, the growth of our city has been centered around the automobile -- which paved the way for a car-centric transportation system," Ginther said. "This just isn't going to cut it any longer -- especially with 1 million residents slated to arrive in our region over the next 25 years. Does anyone want to see a million more cars on the road?"

Bus rapid transit offers an experience that feels and moves like light rail, Ginther said, but can be up to seven times less expensive to build.

"We're also building 500 miles of bikeways, sidewalks and trails in communities across Central Ohio -- all within COTA's service area -- to cultivate a network of neighborhoods that are more bikable and walkable," Ginther said.

Over the next decade, the first three LinkUS corridors would create access to more than 380,000 jobs at workplaces, Ginther said.

"This is the time where we as a community get to choose our future," Hardin said. "Do we support inclusive growth in a way that will be good for us? Or do we choose to do nothing and fall way behind?"