Downtown property owners recognized that the ‘parking crunch’ — a lack of affordable, convenient parking for employees — was slowing downtown development. Without a feasible or effective parking solution, the owners turned to public transit to help ease their employees’ parking challenges. A 2015 study revealed that transit ridership among eligible workers nearly doubled when they were given access to a free bus pass.
Property owners and community partners launched the Downtown C-pass program in 2018 to help bring more jobs downtown, stabilize low-wage positions and shift attitudes and behaviors toward commuting in Columbus. Because of its success and impact, the program was renewed for an additional five years beginning in 2021.
Thanks to the partnership between the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), the Downtown C-pass program is available to all qualifying businesses at no cost to the employer or rider.
