COLUMBUS, OHIO — All Aboard Ohio (AAO) is bringing together the Cleveland RTA and Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) to present updates on the development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in their cities and the benefits it can bring to Columbus and Cleveland.

The following guest speakers will join AAO at its statewide chapter meeting on November 9 from 10 to 11 AM on Zoom:

• Joe Shaffer Director of Engineering and Project Management, Greater Cleveland RTA

• Kimberly Sharp, Senior Director of Development, COTA

BRT is a form of transportation that gives priority signaling and dedicated lanes to buses, making it function similarly to a light rail system. BRT typically includes:

• Right way through dedicated lanes.

• Established corridors to bypass congested traffic.

• Offboard fare collection to speed up boarding.

• Platform level boarding to improve accessibility and ease of boarding.

Due to the high cost of building rail systems in U.S. cities, AAO considers BRT  to be a first step in introducing better public transit systems within the state of Ohio. Events like this are a way for community members, business owners, and civic organizations to learn more about BRT and get involved in the planning process. 

“We are excited to see the continued development of Bus Rapid Transit in Ohio. BRT service includes many of the best features of light rail at a fraction of the cost, allowing cities to build more routes and miles of transit service. Successful BRT routes can lead to light rail development as population density increases,” says John Esterly, Executive Director at All Aboard Ohio. 

To register for the statewide meeting and BRT presentation, please click here.

Media Contact:

Lenny Zaleski

lenny@allaboardohio.org

773-613-9798