Columbus Downtown C-pass
Downtown Columbus, OH
Faced with a severe parking shortage that contributed to rising office vacancies, declining rents, and high staff turnover, an innovative approach was taken to address downtown Columbus’ parking crunch. A program was launched to boost downtown employment, reduce turnover, and improve job access by offering free, unlimited public transit access to employees working in Special Improvement District buildings.
After a successful pilot program, property owners voted to support funding a broader transit initiative across the entire district. The result was the Downtown C-pass, a groundbreaking partnership between the property owners of the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). The program provides eligible employees and residents with unlimited access to the entire COTA bus system.
2015 - 2025
Project completed by current Neighborhood Strategies staff during their leadership of the SID Public Services Association.
SERVICES
Community Engagement
Community Activation Programming Development
Research
Public-Private Partnerships
Fundraising & Grant Writing
Community Outreach & Education
Communications, Marketing, & Promotions
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
International & national award-winning transit program
Increased transit ridership by 10-14%
Improved economic activity, company recruitment, and employee morale and retention
Positively influenced attitudes about transit as a viable commuting option
>>> Award-Winning Transit Program Presents a Solution to Parking Challenges
Parking shortages and limited job access were undermining the vitality of the downtown office market, prompting property owners to seek solutions. After extensive research into a range of parking and car-based options—all deemed too costly or impractical—staff proposed testing a new approach: incentivizing transit use. Although property owners were initially skeptical, a grant-funded pilot program provided proof of concept. Partnering with four representative downtown employers, the pilot program offered employees free transit passes, and within just three months, ridership more than doubled. The pilot’s success transformed perceptions, giving property owners the confidence to expand the initiative districtwide and invest in it through a special assessment on their properties.
In recognition for its approach to addressing parking constraints with a transit incentive, the Downtown C-pass was awarded the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s Community Collaboration Achievement Award.
>>> Program Success Inspires Broad Community Support & Earns International Acclaim
The C-pass program significantly increased downtown transit use, delivering broad economic and environmental benefits. Within a year, ridership among participants doubled—from about 5% to between 10% and 14%. Most new riders credited C-pass as the primary reason they began using COTA, citing cost savings and convenience as key motivators.
New riders represent a diverse cross-section of downtown workers—balanced by gender and age, and spanning all income levels—with most having access to a personal vehicle. The program has also supported stronger business outcomes: more than half of surveyed companies report higher employee morale, while one-third say C-pass aids in recruitment and retention. Additionally, 17 companies indicated that C-pass influenced their decision to renew or sign a downtown lease.
Environmentally, the shift from driving to transit saves more than 350,000 gallons of fuel and prevents 6.8 million pounds of CO₂ emissions each year. Because of these measurable results, property owners renewed the program for another five years and doubled their special assessment rate.
For the program’s innovative approach and funding structure, it received the International Downtown Association (IDA) Pinnacle Award.
