Educational Pass Program

Move Your Way to School, Work & Play

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    COTA’s Educational Pass Program gives eligible students access to unlimited rides at no cost to students or their families. With your Student Success Card, school-issued COTA Smartcard, BuckID or university ID card you can move how and when you want to.

    Schools participating in the 2024-2025 school year include:

    • Academy of Urban Scholars
    • Capital University
    • Capital High School
    • Columbus College of Art & Design
    • Central High School (South Columbus Drop Back In)
    • City Year Columbus
    • Columbus City Schools
    • Early College Academy
    • Focus Academy
    • Franklinton High School
    • Mason Run High School
    • Ohio Construction Academy
    • The Columbus Promise
    • The Ohio State University

    STUDENTS CAN USE COTA TO GET TO:

    Class

    After-school activities

    Part-time jobs

    Internships

    Night and weekend events

    And more!

    There is no cost to students!

    IT’S EASY FOR STUDENTS TO RIDE WITH US

    How to Plan a Trip with the Transit app

    How to Not Get Passed at a COTA Stop

    How to Exit a COTA Vehicle

    RULES OF THE ROAD

    Students are required to follow COTA’s Code of Conduct. Some of those rules include:

    • Be considerate. We’re all on this ride together, so don’t run, yell or throw objects.
    • Don’t distract your Operator. Your Operator is a trained professional, so please let them work.
    • Turn down the volume. Speak in low tones and wear head phones to not disrupt your fellow customers.
    • Keep it clean. Please don’t put your feet on the seat or leave trash behind.
    • No smoking, eating or drinking. Any food or drink brought on board must be completely covered — no spills please!
    • No drugs or alcohol. It’s Ohio law. Period.

    Click here for a complete list of our Code of Conduct policies.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    WHY IS COTA PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS AROUND CENTRAL OHIO?

    While students will still have access to school buses, COTA will provide additional capacity to supplement the student transportation services. It is an important role in helping the community move forward.

    HOW DO I KNOW IF MY SCHOOL OR MY CHILD’S SCHOOL IS PARTICIPATING?

    All Columbus City Schools students grades 9-12 are eligible for a Student Success Card and will receive one at the beginning of the school year.

    Similarly, Ohio State University students can ride with their BuckIDs.

    Other students may contact their school’s administration to find out if their school is participating in the COTA Educational Pass Program.

    WILL STUDENTS BE TAKEN TO THE SCHOOL ENTRANCE LIKE A REGULAR SCHOOL BUS?
    No. Students will be picked up and dropped off at existing COTA transit stops. COTA does not deliver students on school property.
    DO THE PASSES ONLY WORK DURING THE HOURS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL?

    Eligible students will have access to COTA by using their Student Success Card, Smartcard, BuckID at any time of the day we are in service. These passes are valid through the calendar school year but also on weekends, holidays, winter and spring breaks, while the Student Summer Pass is valid May 15 through Sept. 15. We encourage students to use COTA for afterschool activities, part-time jobs, internships, job shadowing and more. This program creates more access to opportunity.

    HOW CAN STUDENTS FIND OUT WHEN THE NEXT TRANSIT VEHICLE IS ARRIVING?

    The best way to track when the next transit vehicle is arriving is by using the Transit app. It is free to download onto a smartphone and allows customers to track vehicles on all COTA transit lines in real time. Customers can also use the Transit app to plan their trip.

    The Transit app is available for iPhone and Android phones and is free in Apple and Google Play stores.

    Note: Customers can also use the Transit app to pay for their trips; however, students must use their Student Success Cards, Smartcards or BuckIDs to board at no charge.

    MY STUDENT RECEIVED THEIR STUDENT SUCCESS CARD/COTA SMARTCARD. DO THEY NEED TO DO ANYTHING TO ACTIVATE THEIR COTA ACCESS?

    No! Cards are already activated with COTA access and students can use them on COTA beginning the day they receive their cards.

    WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT DOESN’T HAVE A STUDENT SUCCESS CARD OR SMARTCARD OR BUCKID?

    Students must have their card to use COTA at no charge to them. If a student forgets their card, they will need to pay $2 to board. Cash is accepted on board. If a student at a participating school has not received a card, they need to visit their school administrator immediately.

    WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT HAS THEIR CARD BUT IT DOESN’T WORK ON THE VALIDATOR?

    Operators will allow them to ride to and from school but remind the student they need to check with their administrative office about getting the card fixed. This is only during school hours. We cannot allow students to board at no fare during non-school hours without their Student Success Cards, Smartcards or BuckIDs.

    HOW LONG ARE THE CARDS VALID ON COTA TRANSIT VEHICLES?

    The cards are valid from the first day of school through the last day of the school year.

    HOW DO WE ADDRESS ISSUES WITH STUDENTS?

    Our Operators are trained in de-escalation and can often mitigate issues. If an Operator has any concerns with a student customer, they will call COTA’s Radio Central immediately as they would with any other customer.

    Chronic issues with a student could result in the student’s card being deactivated by their school and COTA, prohibiting them from using transit.

    All students will be given COTA’s Code of Conduct, which provides clear dos and don’ts while on board.

    If students need help navigating the system, they can always call COTA Customer Care at 614-228-1776. They can also download the Transit app to help them track the next transit vehicle.

    Also, we encourage parents to ride with their student to help ease any concerns. A regular fare is only $2 and will help them better understand our system. Students will be able to ride at no fare during school AND non-school hours.

    MORE QUESTIONS?

    Contact Aslyne Rodriguez, Senior Director of Regional Strategic Partnerships at RodriguezAC@cota.com.

    SERVICE CHANGES

    COTA makes adjustments to our service three times a year, on the first Mondays of January, May and September. This includes schedule adjustments to improve travel times, modify service, as well as construction-related route changes.

    When students return to class in August, they will use the May transit schedules. However, when students return to school after Labor Day, COTA will operate on September schedules. It is important to check the timetables to learn of any changes in frequency. Visit COTA.com/servicechanges to learn more, or view current Maps & Schedules.