The Columbus Dispatch

COTA board doesn’t take into account best interests of riders

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There is a disconnect between the Central Ohio Transit Authority board of directors and its riders.

Many people are upset with the decision to cancel the CBUS, a free, very popular Downtown circulator.

There are constant issues with many routes. Some routes could even benefit from articulate­d buses which could help with overcrowdi­ng and on-time performanc­e on high-volume routes.

One of two things needs to happen: either appointed board members must use COTA to witness first hand problems, or make the board positions electable since nonelected bodies should not have the ability to levy taxes. As a regular passenger, I feel I am quite qualified to help the system. The current board makeup does not represent its riders, and its riders are its customers.

As long as current things stay in place, we’ll never have a legit transit system. That means no light rail, which the riders have been demanding for decades. It’s time to let the passengers run COTA, not aspiring politician­s.

Robert C. Carter III, Columbus

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