Voices from Affected Community Members on Columbus Transport and Traffic Issues

Columbus is the largest U.S. city with no passenger rail service, relying exclusively on buses, biking, scooters, and ride-sharing for public transit.

This setup affects commuters who must plan around limited routes and variable road conditions each day. The absence of rail leaves the entire burden on surface options that serve a growing population spread across multiple corridors.

Bus operations and shared programs in use

The Central Ohio Transit Authority operates 41 bus routes with 440 buses, serving approximately 19 million passengers annually and including a free downtown circulator and one bus rapid transit route. A revised shared mobility program released in Spring 2025 partners with Spin and Veo for electric scooters and micro-transit, while CoGo by Lyft operates the city's bikeshare system. These programs provide alternatives that some residents combine with bus trips to reach work or appointments.

Current traffic concerns include a 4-month closure of the Gantz Road bridge over I-270 due to construction, rising congestion on US-23, and the addition of 25 roundabouts to Delaware County within the next five years. People living near these routes describe added time spent rerouting or waiting during peak hours.

Planning for expanded bus rapid transit

The LinkUS initiative is currently in the planning phase to introduce Columbus's first bus rapid transit system, with three main corridors under design: West Broad with construction starting early 2027, East Side with completion projected 2029, and Northwest with completion projected 2031. Residents along these corridors follow updates on how the lines might change access to jobs and services once built.

Community members note that any improvements will take years to reach full operation. They continue to adjust routines around existing bus schedules and road work while waiting for the new corridors to open.