Columbus, Ohio – The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is taking steps to address a significant number of missed bus trips that have affected riders across the city this year. From January to August, COTA buses missed an average of 130 trips daily, totaling over 32,000 cancellations. This represents more than 6% of nearly half a million scheduled trips during that period.

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Several routes have been particularly impacted, including the #6 bus line, which serves the Columbus Hilltop neighborhood along Sullivant Avenue. The #7 bus line, connecting downtown Columbus to Easton with stops at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, also experienced heavy disruptions.

COTA CEO Monica Tellez-Fowler acknowledged the issues, stating that the agency is working daily to enhance reliability. She attributed a portion of the unreliability to the 50 electric buses in COTA’s fleet, noting that these vehicles become less dependable in winter due to cold temperatures reducing battery life. Tellez-Fowler explained that when these 50 buses are not operational, it places additional strain on the rest of the fleet.

Other factors contributing to missed trips include adverse weather conditions, routine maintenance requirements for the entire fleet, and bus driver call-offs. Despite these challenges, Tellez-Fowler affirmed that the ambitious goals funded by the 2024 LinkUs sales tax, such as introducing bus rapid transit routes and providing 24-hour service, remain achievable.

“There’s a lot going on, and the team is just acclimating, but I can guarantee you, there’s a plan in place. What you will see is complete transparency with regard to our reliability,” Tellez-Fowler stated. She emphasized COTA’s commitment to accountability and expressed hope that the public would recognize their efforts and improvements. “My hope is that people will trust that as we’re sharing that and they see the improvement, they will give us a shot.”

Source: WOSU — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

COTA oo wax ka qabanaysa in ka badan 32,000 oo safar bas oo baaqday sanadkan

Hay’adda Gaadiidka ee Bartamaha Ohio (COTA) ayaa si joogto ah uga shaqaynaysa sidii ay wax uga qaban lahayd safarrada basaska ee baaqday, kuwaas oo saameeyay kumanaan rakaab ah magaalada Columbus. Xogta ay bixisay COTA ayaa muujinaysa in intii u dhaxaysay Janaayo iyo Agoosto ee sanadkan, basasku ay baajiyeen celcelis ahaan 130 safar maalintii, taasoo wadarta guud ka dhigaysa in ka badan 32,000 oo safar.

Warbixin ay soo saartay Matter News ayaa tilmaamtay in in ka badan 6% safarrada, oo ku dhow nus milyan safar, ay baaqdeen muddadaas. Arrinkan ayaa keenay cabashooyin badan oo ka yimid rakaabka, kuwaas oo ku adkaysanaya in xal degdeg ah loo helo dhibaatada.

Khadyadka basaska ee ugu saamaynta badnaa waxaa ka mid ah khadka #6 ee ka baxa xaafadda Hilltop ee Columbus, gaar ahaan Sullivant Avenue. Sidoo kale, khadka #7 ee isku xira bartamaha Columbus iyo Easton, oo ay ku jiraan joogsiyada Garoonka Caalamiga ah ee John Glenn Columbus, ayaa si weyn u saameeyay baaqashada safarrada.

Monica Tellez-Fowler, oo ah Madaxa COTA, ayaa sheegtay in hay’addu ay maalin kasta ka shaqaynayso sidii loo hagaajin lahaa kalsoonida adeegga. Waxay si gaar ah dhibaatada ugu sababaysay 50 bas oo koronto ku shaqeeya oo ay COTA leedahay. Basaskan ayaa noqda kuwo aan lagu kalsoonaan karin xilliga jiilaalka, sababtoo ah heerkulka qabow ayaa yareeya nolosha batteriga.

Tellez-Fowler waxay intaa ku dartay in marka 50-kaas bas aysan shaqaynayn, ay cadaadis dheeraad ah saarto basaska kale ee shaqeeya. Waxyaabaha kale ee gacan ka geysta baaqashada safarrada waxaa ka mid ah cimilada, dayactirka joogtada ah ee basaska, iyo darawallada basaska oo shaqada ka maqnaada.

Inkastoo caqabadahan jiraan, Tellez-Fowler waxay xaqiijisay in yoolalka waaweyn ee lagu maalgeliyay canshuurta iibka ee LinkUs 2024, sida ku darista waddooyinka basaska ee xawaaraha dheereeya iyo bixinta adeeg 24-saac ah, ay weli yihiin kuwo la gaari karo.

“Wax badan ayaa socda, kooxduna way la qabsanaysaa, laakiin waxaan idiin xaqiijin karaa in qorshe jiro. Waxa aad arki doontaan waa daahfurnaan buuxda oo ku saabsan kalsoonida adeegyadeena,” ayay tiri Tellez-Fowler. Waxay intaa ku dartay in COTA ay isku xisaabinayso, waxayna rajaynaysaa in dadku ay arki doonaan dadaalkooda. “Rajadaydu waa in dadku ay aaminaan in marka aan la wadaagno xogta oo ay arkaan horumarka, ay na siin doonaan fursad.”

Xigasho: WOSU