COLUMBUS, OHIO—Transit Columbus, Yay Bikes! and All Aboard Ohio are joining forces to educate Central Ohioans about the proposed LinkUS project, which aims to provide better transportation options for Central Ohio and Columbus. 

Columbus is one of the largest cities in North America without any kind of rapid transit. With the population of Central Ohio expected to reach 3.15 million by 2050, there is a need for more fast, frequent, and reliable public transportation in the region. While this growth can provide new opportunities for businesses, communities, and individuals it could also create greater congestion and more frequent fatalities due to traffic accidents. 

The proposed LinkUs plan has numerous benefits, though there has been some resistance to its adoption, including concerns about introducing more bus transportation and the Central Ohio Transportation Authority (COTA) ballot initiative, which will increase the sales tax by half percent. 

To ensure the public knows about the LinkUS initiative and how it can potentially benefit them, Transit Columbus, Yay Bikes! and All Aboard Ohio have joined efforts to host public events, curate original content on social media, and coordinate educational opportunities. 

All three organizations are excited to partner on this project to raise support for a necessary public good that will benefit the millions of Central Ohio residents who took over 11 million trips on COTA transportation in 2023 alone. 

For Transit Columbus, this is not a new fight. Since 2011, the organization has advocated for better public transportation options to reduce congestion, and traffic deaths, and get out the vote around crucial issues for Ohioans. 

“This level of change is long overdue. Not only would this initiative give us more freedom to move around however we choose, but it'll impact our health, our safety, our access to opportunity, and our planet. We're not just talking about incremental improvements - this is our chance to reshape our entire system in a way that benefits everyone,” said Stevie Pasamonte, Board Chair at Transit Columbus. 

Yay Bikes has been a leader in bike advocacy in the Columbus area for years, and sees the benefits of expanded bike paths throughout the city. 

“Yay Bikes! understands that bike safety cannot be separated from the safety of other vulnerable road users. LinkUS is a massive step forward toward creating safe, accessible, comfortable, and equitable transportation options for ALL vulnerable road users in Columbus and Franklin County. This initiative will create a network of world class public transit, protected bike infrastructure, and new walkable developments throughout the region.”

Although All Aboard Ohio has traditionally advocated for passenger rail initiatives, such as spearheading support for the proposed 3C and D state-sponsored Amtrak route, the nonprofit understands that any step forward is a step in the right direction, and is eager to bring better transportation options to Central Ohio.

Media Contact:

Beth Russell

beth@allaboardohio.org

614-562-1086