Central Ohio Transit Authority

Central Ohio Transit Authority, also known as COTA, provides public transportation services throughout the Central Ohio region. Its core offering includes fixed‑route bus service that operates on scheduled routes and timetables. In addition to regular bus service, COTA operates a paratransit program called Mainstream that provides curb‑to‑curb transportation for customers with disabilities. The agency offers a mobile application, COTA//Plus, which allows users to book trips, schedule rides and access service information. When its IT systems are online, COTA also supplies real‑time transit tracking for passengers to monitor vehicle locations.

In December 2022, COTA experienced a cybersecurity incident that led the organization to take its IT systems offline as a precautionary measure to protect employee and customer data. Despite the shutdown, fixed‑route bus service continued to run on its regular schedule, although the real‑time tracking feature was unavailable. During the outage, customers could still book trips through the COTA//Plus mobile app or by phone for Mainstream paratransit service. The agency highlighted its focus on safeguarding safety and information throughout the incident response. This episode illustrates COTA’s approach to maintaining essential transportation functions while addressing cybersecurity risks.