C-pass doubles transit ridership in downtown Columbus

According to survey results, Columbus, Ohio’s Downtown C-pass had doubled transit ridership for downtown employees who are eligible for the free transit program after a one-year period.

Surveys of commuters and employers were conducted in May and June of 2019. The commuter survey shows transit ridership among the survey group increasing from 5 percent prior to June 1, 2018 to a range of 10 percent to 14 percent as of June 2019.

Launched on June 1, 2018, Downtown C-pass is a collaboration between Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District (CCSID), Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) that allows eligible companies in downtown Columbus to offer unlimited transit access for employees. There is no direct cost to employers or employees. All eligible employees have access to COTA’s bus service any day, any time for any type of trip.

The program, initiated and underwritten by downtown property owners, seeks to boost office leasing without additional parking and reduce employee turnover, especially for hourly positions.

Other key findings from the survey respondents:

· Commuter responses also show that 68 percent attributed C-pass for the reason they started using COTA’s bus service.

· People switching are most motivated by saving money (83 percent agree strongly), followed by convenience (50 percent agree strongly).

· Fifty-two percent of surveyed companies report knowing that employees had relinquished parking because they now take COTA bus service.

· New riders skew younger with approximately 35 percent of the respondents who switched being 32 years old or younger, and 83 percent are under 55.

· New rider income levels are diverse: 20 percent make less than $49,999, 26 percent make $50,000 to $74,999, 19 percent make $75,000 to $99,999 and 19 percent make $100,000 a year or more.

· C-pass saw the greatest adoption among people working downtown for less than a year (31 percent) and more than five years (28 percent).

· Of new transit riders, 93 percent have access to a private vehicle.

· C-pass has boosted employee morale, according to 52 percent of surveyed companies.

· Seventeen companies report C-pass impacting a decision to renew or sign a lease in a C-pass eligible building.

· Twenty-seven percent of companies offer free parking, a practice that discourages switching commuting modes from driving to riding transit.

 Other Downtown C-pass Stats:

· Number of eligible downtown companies enrolled: 430 as of 8/12/19.

· The 50 largest eligible employers are enrolled.

· More than 14,800 employees are registered for Downtown C-pass as of 8/12/2019.

· Currently, C-pass users account for more than 25,000 weekly rides.

· Between January to June 2019, total ridership on rush hour routes has increased 24 percent when compared to the same period in 2018.

· Over the course of a year, the people switching from driving to COTA will collectively save more than 350,000 gallons in fuel and prevent the emissions of approximately 6.8 million pounds of CO2.

CJI Research conducted a commuter survey and employer survey in May and June of 2019. Employer surveys were completed at 129 participating companies. A total of 2,655 employees completed commuter surveys. Surveys were sent to each company enrolled in C-pass and asked to send an online survey link to all employees, not just those enrolled in C-pass.