Federal Public Policy Agenda 2018

Advocacy to propel the Columbus Region into the next era of public transit 2050 is coming - Let’s Go At the heart of COTA’s federal policy agenda is the recognition that Central and the Columbus Region are in a period of great change — demographics are shifting, new technologies are on the horizon, and the physical landscape is being remade as communities evolve.

Public transportation is at the intersection of these dynamics. With the right policies in place, we can move Central Ohio into the future.

GOAL 1: TRANSIT FUNDING Pursue federal appropriations, programs and policies that support increased federal investment in public transportation.

GOAL 2: TECHNOLOGY Advance new transportation technologies and initiatives that encourage transit and position Central Ohio as a leader in transportation innovation.

GOAL 3: SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Advocate for federal programs, policies and funding that spur economic development and create sustainable growth that will serve the region’s projected growth of up to one million people and 300,000 new jobs by 2050.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority Federal Policy Agenda was crafted in partnership with the region’s transportation stakeholders and COTA’s Board of Trustees, who are appointed by constituent municipalities in the Columbus Region. • Maintain funding for the Federal Transit public transportation and economic GOAL 1 Administration (FTA) at the authorized growth, including funding of the Pursue federal levels of the Fixing America’s Surface Columbus Region’s first bus rapid appropriations, Transportation (FAST) Act. transit line, known as CMAX. programs and policies that support increased • Seek increased funding for the Bus and • Support an increase in federal federal investment in Bus Facilities Formula Program and the transportation dollars returned to public transportation. Bus and Bus Facilities Competitive Grant localities and metropolitan planning Program. organizations such as MORPC. • Maintain FAST Act levels of funding for • Support continued funding of the TIGER the Capital Investment Grant program, and FASTLANE programs for transit and which supports critical investments in multimodal connectivity.

• Ensure ongoing engagement by USDOT • Pursue autonomous vehicle policies GOAL 2 and USDOE in the Smart City program and regulations that support the success Advance new in collaboration with Smart Columbus of transit. technologies and and its partners. Oppose any efforts to initiatives that • Support the designation of the recapture previously obligated budget encourage transit and Transportation Research Center as an dollars. Ensure that future year funding is position the Columbus official site for the USDOT Automated maintained. Region as a leader Vehicle Proving Grounds Pilot. in transportation • Promote policies, programs and funding innovation. to create first mile/last mile opportunities for COTA and our communities.

• Support policies and incentives that • Seeking federal support and funding GOAL 3 encourage transit-oriented development for innovative employer transit pass Advocate for federal and reinvestment in Central Ohio’s programs, such as the Cpass program programs, policies neighborhoods and commercial districts. in downtown Columbus. and funding that spur economic development • Advocate for federal funding and grant • Maintain support for commuter and create sustainable programs to support alternative fuel tax benefits. buses and low-to-no emissions buses, growth that will serve the • Collaborate with regional community and region’s projected growth such as compressed natural gas and business partners to enhance the global of up to one million electric buses. competitiveness of Central Ohio through people and 300,000 multimodal transportation efforts. new jobs by 2050. We Are Moving

COTA serves municipalities in the Columbus metro area Bexley Hilliard Columbus New Albany Dublin Reynoldsburg COTA’s high-frequency, Gahanna Upper Arlington limited-stop service Grandview Westerville connects communities on Heights Whitehall Columbus’ northeast side Grove City Worthington

Union Delaware with jobs, education and

Licking health care. CMAX was Franklin 18.7 supported by $37 million Fairfield from the FTA through the MILLION PASSENGER TRIPS IN 2017 CIG program. 562 SQUARE-MILE SERVICE AREA

We Are Smart

SMART COLUMBUS COTA is investing in next-century connectivity, communications and Autonomous transit solutions in conjunction with Multi- Wi-Fi vehicles the city’s federally funded Smart Mobile modal trip ticketing Columbus initiatives. planning

We Are Sustainable We Are Collaborative

45,000 downtown Columbus workers will receive COTA bus access under a partnership We are committed COTA’s fleet will be 100% with property owners and the Mid-Ohio to building LEED- fueled by compressed Regional Planning Commission. Cpass joins certified facilities natural gas by 2025. partnerships with rated LEED Silver and other entities. or better.