Columbus transit planners are putting their big LinkUS rapid-transit overhaul in front of the public this week, with two meetings aimed at walking residents through what is about to change on the streets and at their bus stops. COTA and LinkUS staff plan to outline proposed route shifts, station concepts and schedule tweaks as new Bus Rapid Transit corridors move from design toward construction. Neighbors and business owners are invited to ask questions and submit feedback, either in person or online, before crews and detours show up for real.
Public Meetings: Where And When
Public information meetings tied to May 2026 service changes are set for Thursday at 6 p.m. (April 9) and next Tuesday at noon (April 14). Both sessions will be held in person at COTA’s William J. Lhota Building, 33 N. High St., and streamed on Facebook Live via @COTAbus. The timetable and hearing notice were also highlighted in local coverage by WBNS.
What Officials Will Present
COTA and LinkUS staff say they will walk through proposed service adjustments in the agency’s Short-Range Transit Plan and preview how the LinkUS corridors on West Broad, East Main and the Northwest side would reshape stops and frequencies, according to the LinkUS progress page. Voters signed off on the broader program by passing Issue 47 in November 2024, with funding dedicated to rapid-transit lines, expanded service and new sidewalks and bikeways across the region, as reported by WOSU Public Media.
Where Neighbors Are Watching Closely
Some neighborhoods are already zeroed in on the fine print: station placement, parking and school safety. In Bexley, council meetings last year drew residents pressing COTA and city staff over a proposed median station near Pleasant Ridge, with neighbors pointing to playground proximity and parking concerns, according to local meeting coverage from Citizen Portal.
Why It Matters Now
The hearings land just weeks before May service changes take effect and as LinkUS moves from design into preconstruction. The January LinkUS progress report details planned construction milestones, station-area work and public outreach that will ramp up this year. The program also calls for hundreds of sidewalk and bikeway projects and tens of thousands of additional service hours meant to boost frequency and reliability along busy corridors, according to the LinkUS progress report.
How To Weigh In
Residents can attend in person at the William J. Lhota Building (33 N. High St.) or watch the Facebook Live stream. The COTA service-changes page posts the full presentations, line-by-line schedules and a contact form for feedback. Officials say comments gathered during and after the meetings will be used to fine-tune final schedules and station plans before preconstruction moves ahead.
