The Downtown C-pass program, an innovative transit pass program for the Downtown Columbus workforce, has been officially renewed through December 31, 2025.

The C-pass program is a partnership of the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District (CCSID), the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). Launched in June 2018 by downtown property owners, the program provides unlimited COTA transit access to enrolled workers and residents at no cost to them. The program is funded by participating property owners in the CCSID and MORPC.

“Downtown C-pass has proven to be a successful program that reduces car trips into downtown and eases the scarcity of parking,” said Marc Conte, acting executive director for CCSID. “This supports our property owners’ efforts to lease more space while providing employers with a valuable recruitment and retention tool.”

Since its launch, more than 450 downtown organizations have enrolled over 15,000 employees and residents. C-pass contributed to COTA’s 31-year ridership high in 2019 and has more than doubled the ridership of the downtown workforce.

“Renewing the C-pass program ensures thousands of downtown employees will have equitable access to transportation to work for years to come,” said COTA President/CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton. “This valuable program and partnership serve as a model for other communities to consider; equitable access to mobility solutions will always be a crucial part of economic and workforce development.”

“As Central Ohio remains on track to reach 3 million people, research tells us that residents want more transportation options, including transit,” said MORPC Executive Director William Murdock. “C-pass went from a groundbreaking idea to a real-life tool that is transforming the way people commute, and MORPC is proud to continue partnering on it.”

Currently, COTA fares are temporarily suspended and when fares are reinstated, C-pass will automatically be reactivated for all enrolled members.

COTA has implemented an extensive safety protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was one of the first organizations in Central Ohio to make masks a requirement for all customers and operators. COTA has extensive cleaning and sanitization protocols, including sanitizing all transit vehicles from three to five times a day, treating all surfaces with an antimicrobial solution, and doubling the sanitization of 118 transit shelters.

For more information, visit DowntownCpass.com.