COTA//Plus service will be provided for the Rotary Club of Westerville’s 2021 Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 3, the City of Westerville announced.
COTA//Plus uses the green and blue minibuses you likely have seen around Westerville, which hold 6-10 passengers. The service operates similar to Uber or Lyft but costs just $3 for a one-way trip or $6 for a day pass, which covers unlimited rides.
On-demand pickup from your home
COTA//Plus is an on-demand service that offers point-to-point shared rides within all of Westerville, plus a neighboring portion of Columbus and connections to the CMAX Line, and COTA Line 102 to the Polaris Fashion Place mall.
Residents can schedule a ride by downloading the COTA//PLUS app on Google Play or the App Store, or by calling in a request to 614-308-4400. Callers will be asked for their pick-up and drop-off addresses.
When you schedule your ride on the app, you will receive a text message with the vehicle license plate and estimated arrival time. Actual wait times vary, but in most cases the vehicle will arrive in 6-15 minutes after your request, COTA says. (Allow 20 minutes for an ADA wheelchair accessible vehicle, which is available upon request.)
The service launched in Westerville in August 2020 and normally operates from 5:30 am-8 pm. Monday–Friday.
But the Westerville service will be extended to Saturday for the July 3rd Independence Day activities, all centered on the Westerville Sports Complex, 325 N. Cleveland Ave., said City of Westerville Traffic Engineer Jennifer Alford.
Hours that day will be 7 a.m. to midnight, covering an hour before the Rotary 5K starts at 8 a.m. and an hour after the end of Rotary Westerville Fireworks show that starts at 10 p.m.
Get a ride to and from the 5K, Concert/Food Truck Festival and Fireworks!
Have the COTA Plus pick you up at your house for a ride to the Sports Complex – and a ride back home afterward – for the Rotary Independence Day 5K at 8 a.m., our Concert Series and Food Truck Festival starting at 5 p.m., and stick around to watch Fireworks show starting at 10 p.m.! The Sports Complex will be a great place to catch the fireworks this year, as they are launched for the first time from Heritage Park.
Find more information about this innovative service at www.cota.com/cotaplus, or just download the COTA Plus app on your smartphone to request a ride. For more information on the Rotary Club of Westerville’s 2021 Independence Day Celebration, see www.westervillerotary.com/independence-day/,