COTA Mainstream/Paratransit

Accessible Transportation That Picks You Up

COTA Mainstream offers origin-to-destination rides for people whose functional limitations prevent them from riding COTA’s fixed-route vehicles. Eligible riders can choose from two Mainstream options:

• Mainstream service – Reserve your shared-ride trip through the COTA Reservations Department phone line, fax line, or via the web.
• Mainstream on-demand service (powered by UZURV) – Call the UZURV Call Center (614-344-4488) to reserve private, accessible, same-day, non-stop, door-to-door service.

COTA Mainstream Service

• To use COTA Mainstream, you must:
  • Complete an application
  • Attend an interview assessment
  • Meet eligibility criteria for the service
• Fare for COTA Mainstream is:
  • ADA trips – $3.50 per one way
  • Non-ADA trips – Total fare depends on trip mileage. Cost will not be less than $5.
  • * Mainstream customers ride fixed-route service free of charge
• Acceptable payments for COTA ADA Mainstream trips include:
  • Cash (exact change)
  • COTA Mainstream ticket (valued at $3.50 per ticket)
  • COTA Mainstream Monthly Pass ($105.00 per month)
• Tickets and Monthly Passes for COTA Mainstream may be purchased at COTA’s Mobility Services Facility located at 1330 Fields Ave. or by calling (614) 308-4355.
• Trips may be scheduled by:
  • Calling the Reservations Department at 614-272-3033. Reservation hours are Monday – Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
  • Faxing trip reservations at 614-272-3018
  • Using Mainstream Web Booking. Be sure to check out the Web Booking Guide and Web Booking FAQ under the Related Links section.
  • Please note: If you are scheduling a trip for next day service, faxed trip reservations must be received ½ hour prior to the Reservations Department closing time.

Mainstream On-Demand (Powered by UZURV)

• With UZURV, you can:
  • Reserve Non-ADA trips up to 30 days in advance
  • Request your favorite Operator
  • Bring guests (space permitting), a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) or a service animal
• Fare for Mainstream On-Demand
  • The total fare depends on trip mileage, which is calculated at the time of booking. It will not be less than $5. You may pay only with credit or debit cards. Download Fare Details.
• Trips may be scheduled:
  • At least one hour or more in advance in advance by calling the UZURV Call Center at 614-344-4488. You will need your Mainstream ADA I.D. client number to make a reservation and while riding the service.
• Service Hours (7 days a week)
  • Monday – Friday: 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m
  • Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Call Center Hours of Operations
  • Monday – Friday: 5:30 a.m.–8 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Applying

Eligibility for Mainstream cannot be based on financial hardship. A person must be over eight (8) years of age to qualify for eligibility. To apply, download and complete the Mobility Services Application (Solicitud de Mainstream) or call Mobility Services at (614) 275-5833 to request the application be mailed, faxed or emailed.

Once you receive the application you must complete part 1 of your application. You must also have a specialist that oversees your current functional limitation(s) that prevent you from using fixed-route service and complete part 2 of the application. All applicants must submit their completed application to COTA’s Mobility Coordinator in one of the following ways:

• Email: pullinstl@COTA.com
• Fax: (614) 272-3018
• Mail: 1330 Fields Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43201

After the completed application is received, the Mobility Coordinator will contact you to schedule a time to complete an interview/functional assessment.

All assessments are conducted at the COTA Mobility Services Facility located at 1330 Fields Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43201.

It is important to note when re-certifying, an applicant may experience a lapse in service if they do not keep their assessment appointment or fail to complete the entire process by their expiration date.

Once you complete the process, the ADA Federal Law gives COTA twenty-one (21) days to render a decision. You will receive a status notification via U.S. mail.

Service

The ADA considers fixed-route vehicle service to be “the primary mode of public transportation for everyone, including people with disabilities.” Under the ADA, COTA Mainstream serves as a “safety net” for only those persons whose functional capacity imposed by their disability prevents them from riding the regular COTA vehicle. Disability alone does not qualify a person to use COTA Mainstream under the ADA.

COTA Mainstream ADA service area is defined as being within ¾ mile distance of a fixed-route service line. Hours of operation for both the origin and destination locations are the same as the hours of operation for fixed-route service.

Any origin or destination location more than ¾ of a mile from a fixed-route service line or trips made outside of the fixed-route hours of operation in any area is considered to be non-ADA.

Non-ADA service is provided upon space availability and is not a required service mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law in July 1990. Its goal was to remove the physical barriers that have kept people with disabilities from fully participating in society.

Additional Details

For more information about COTA Mainstream, call COTA Mobility Services Department at 614-275-5828 or email paratransit@COTA.com.

All qualified COTA Mainstream customers may also download the Accessible Services Guide for Paratransit Users to learn more about the rules and guidelines for using the service.

Getting Mainstream Visitor Status

Columbus metropolitan area visitors who are unable to use the local COTA fixed-route service because of their disabilities can get Mainstream Visitor Status for 21 days in a rolling 365-day period. To apply for visitor status, please have your current paratransit provider mail, fax, or email verification to our office.

1330 Fields Ave.
Columbus, OH 43201
Phone: 614-275-5833
Fax: 614-272-3018
Email: pullinstl@COTA.com

To help us process the request, please provide the applicant’s:

1. Full name
2. Full address and phone number
3. Paratransit ID number and expiration date
4. Type of mobility aide used, if applicable
5. Personal Care Attendant authorization status
6. Service animal status

If the visitor does not have paratransit in their home area and the individual’s disability is not apparent, a certification of the disability by their healthcare provider is needed. We will also require the applicant to provide items 1, 2, 5, 6 above. Once we receive the information, we will contact the applicant within one business day.