COTA CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler Leads $8 Billion Transit Transformation in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio – From her modest beginnings in East Dallas to becoming the dynamic President/CEO of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), Monica Téllez-Fowler is leading one of the most ambitious public transit transformations in Ohio history.
Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, Téllez-Fowler’s life shifted after a mentor encouraged her to join a magnet school—igniting her path to education and leadership. She became the first in her family to graduate college and eventually earned an MBA from Texas A&M Central Texas.
Her early career in accounting and treasury roles eventually led her to public transportation, where she held executive positions with agencies in Texas and Washington. At each stop, she delivered large-scale infrastructure projects, including TEXRail and the I-5 bridge replacement project.
In March 2023, Téllez-Fowler joined COTA as Chief Operating Officer and quickly rose to Deputy CEO before being named President/CEO in May 2024. Her arrival came as COTA was preparing to launch the LinkUS initiative—an $8 billion plan to transform transportation across Central Ohio through Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), enhanced sidewalks, bike paths, and more.
Following voter approval in November 2024 for a sales tax increase to help fund LinkUS, COTA aims to boost service by 45%, expand into 24-hour service, and complete three BRT corridors, beginning with groundbreaking on West Broad Street in 2026.
Téllez-Fowler’s leadership also sparked a resurgence in ridership, improved labor relations with a historic collective bargaining agreement, and introduced modern tools like Smartcards and the Transit app.
Her community-driven leadership has earned praise from stakeholders, board members, and colleagues who see her as a visionary capable of uniting Columbus’ transit future with opportunity and access.
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