Central Ohio LinkUS Issues September 2026 Progress Report Unveiling 90% BRT Designs and 10 Miles of Trails Alongside Intel Growth

LinkUS September 2026 Progress Report Highlights Rapid Expansion

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Navigating historic regional expansion, the Central Ohio LinkUS mobility coalition—partnering the City of Columbus, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC)—released its comprehensive September 2026 Progress Report. The report details significant milestones in establishing high-capacity rapid transit lines and complete street networks designed to serve a metropolitan population projected to exceed three million residents over coming decades.

Key programmatic highlights include the official service launch of COTA's enhanced 'Line 30' transit corridor and the ceremonial groundbreaking of LinkUS's first dedicated capital infrastructure packages, encompassing nearly 10 miles of protected pedestrian bikeways, multi-use recreational trails, and modern ADA sidewalks across central and suburban neighborhoods.

Final Design Packages Advance for West Broad and East Main BRT

The engineering progress report confirmed that detailed civil blueprints for the flagship West Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor have officially attained 90 percent design completion. Municipal planners are submitting final submittals to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to finalize Small Starts capital grant allocations, setting the stage for utility conversions and dedicated center-lane platform construction.

Concurrently, the East Main Street BRT line is advancing rapidly toward its 90 percent design milestone, while early environmental assessment documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) progresses for the Northwest BRT corridor linking downtown with Bridge Park in Dublin. These electrified transit corridors will feature level-boarding stations, off-board ticketing kiosks, and transit signal priority.

Integrating Transit Corridors with the Silicon Heartland

The LinkUS rollout complements massive high-tech capital investments across Greater Columbus, where construction on Intel's multi-billion-dollar 'Ohio One' semiconductor mega-campus in New Albany continues steady foundational work toward 2030 commercial operations. Regional road widening and smart-traffic corridors coordinated by MORPC ensure freight access and employee transit keep pace with industrial growth.

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and COTA leaders emphasized that delivering world-class rapid transit provides the necessary foundation to connect local residents with high-wage advanced manufacturing jobs while preserving neighborhood vibrancy across Central Ohio.