Press Release4/4/2024

Take COTA to See Solar Eclipse on Monday

Interactive Map Provides the Best Viewing Locations Accessible by Transit

Central Ohioans will be looking to the skies on Monday to catch a rare solar eclipse in the region and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is working to help customers view the event directly in the path of totality.

COTA will have additional transit operators and transit services supervisors on duty to help manage the system in expected heavy traffic during the afternoon hours of April 8. COTA is also helping our customers find the best places to view the eclipse, providing an interactive map that shows public viewing spots accessible by COTA and COTA//Plus. That map is available at COTA.com/Eclipse and includes the following locations:

  • Carriage Place Park – Lines 1, 21, and 33
  • Columbus Metropolitan Library, Dublin Branch – Line 33
  • Dublin Bridge Street District – Line 33
  • Lazelle Woods Park – Line 102
  • Old Worthington Library – Line 102
  • Roger Reynolds Municipal Park & Hilliard Community Center – Lines 21 and 32
  • Sharon Woods Metro Park – CMAX and COTA//Plus
  • Westerville Community Center – CMAX and COTA//Plus
  • Westerville Sports Park – CMAX and COTA//Plus

COTA Fixed-Route Bus service is only $2 for adults and $1 for children under 5. Customers using COTA//Plus in Westerville can ride for $3 per trip and no charge if they use the service to connect to or from a COTA Transit stop.

COTA is also advising all customers to plan ahead and allow plenty of extra time to reach their viewing destinations early in the day and well in advance of the start of the eclipse. Due to this rare occasion, heavy traffic is expected throughout the day, as tens of thousands of people are planning to travel to the region.

Customers can track their bus and view real-time bus information at COTA.com, on the Transit App, or by calling Customer Care at 614-228-1776.