ColumBUS

{{Short description|Provider of mass transportation in Bartholomew County, Indiana}}

{{Infobox Bus transit

| name = ColumBUS

| logo =

| logo_size =

| image =

| image_caption =

| company_slogan =

| parent =

| founded =

| headquarters = 850 Lindsey Street

| locale = Columbus, Indiana

| service_area = Bartholomew County, Indiana

| service_type = Bus service, paratransit

| alliance =

| routes = 5

| destinations =

| stops =

| hubs =

| stations = Mill Race Station

| lounge =

| fleet =

| annual ridership= 228,818 (2019)

| website = [https://www.columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/ ColumBUS]

}}

ColumBUS is the primary provider of mass transportation in Columbus, Indiana with five routes serving the region. As of 2019, the system provided 228,818 rides over 30,234 annual vehicle revenue hours with 5 buses and 5 paratransit vehicles.{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2019/50177.pdf|title= ColumBUS Agency Profile|access-date=August 29, 2023}}

History

Public transit in Columbus began with mulecars in 1892, with the John S. Crump Street Railway. By 1901, the mulecars were replaced with streetcars, which in turn were replaced by buses in 1932.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagorailfan.com/aatin2.html|title=Transit Systems in Indiana|access-date=August 29, 2023}} In 2020, fares were proposed to be increased for the first time in 40 years, from 25 to 50 cents.{{cite news|url=https://www.therepublic.com/2020/02/19/columbus-considering-increases-in-city-bus-fares/|title=ColumBUS considering increases in city bus fares|date=February 19, 2020|newspaper=The Republic|author=Andy East|access-date=August 29, 2023}} However, as of 2023, fares are indefinitely suspended.{{cite web|url=https://www.columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/01/2023-Route-1-Revisions-4-Panel-Guide-46817-20.pdf|title=Riders Guide|access-date=August 29, 2023}}

In 2022, ColumBUS trialed a new Route 1, with dedicated stops, compared to the flag-down system in place.{{cite news|url=https://www.therepublic.com/2022/09/02/columbus-transit-trying-out-new-version-of-route-1-beginning-tuesday/|title=ColumBus Transit trying out new version of Route 1 beginning Tuesday|date=September 2, 2022|newspaper=The Republic|access-date=August 29, 2023}}

Service

ColumBUS operates 5 regular weekday bus routes on a pulse system with all routes departing Mill Race Station at 5 after the hour. Buses operate on a flag-down system with posted bus stops interspersed throughout the routes.{{cite web|url=https://www.columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/01/2023-Route-1-Revisions-4-Panel-Guide-46817-20.pdf|title=Riders Guide|access-date=August 29, 2023}}

Hours of operation for the system are Monday through Friday from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. and on Saturdays from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. There is no service on Sundays. The service is fare free.{{cite web|url=https://www.columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/fixed-route-service/|title=Fixed Route Service|access-date=August 29, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/faqs/|title=FAQs|access-date=August 29, 2023}}

Mill Race Station

Mill Race Station, located at 850 Lindsey St, is the primary transfer point for ColumBUS. The transfer point features an indoor waiting area, restrooms, and five bus bays.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/149056197/|title=New terminal near Mill Race Center to open this month|date=March 7, 2011|newspaper=The Republic|access-date=September 7, 2023}} The facility opened on March 31, 2011, northwest of downtown Columbus.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/149120575/|title=New bus terminal|date=March 26, 2011|newspaper=The Republic|access-date=September 7, 2023}} The location along the railroad line would allow easy transfers to passenger trains if passenger rail service were to return to Columbus.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/148974462/|title=Location of transit center well-thought decision|date=April 27, 2010|newspaper=The Republic|access-date=September 7, 2023}}

Fixed route ridership

The ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response services.{{cite web | title=The National Transit Database (NTD) | url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/transit-agency-profiles/city-columbus | access-date=August 29, 2023}}

{{#invoke:Chart | bar chart

| group 1 = 178182:204225:238009:243291:228968:230183:212070:119051:151368

| units suffix =

| group names = Annual ridership

| x legends =2013:2014:2015:2016:2017:2018:2019:2020:2021

| colors = #{{rcr|Metra|SouthWest}}

}}

References

External links

[https://www.columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/ ColumBUS]

Category:Columbus, Indiana

Category:Bus transportation in Indiana

Category:Transit agencies in Indiana