COTA and LinkUS Partners Finalize 90% Design on West Broad BRT as Engineering Firm GFT Mobilizes for Northwest Corridor

West Broad Street BRT Reaches 90% Engineering Design and Passes FTA Risk Review

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Delivering substantial forward momentum on Central Ohio's multibillion-dollar mobility transformation, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), the City of Columbus, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) announced in early October 2026 that civil design for the West Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor has officially achieved 90 percent completion. The flagship 9.3-mile rapid transit project also cleared the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) rigorous Capital Investment Grant Risk Assessment, fulfilling a critical prerequisite for securing federal construction grant allocations.

The West Broad BRT line will introduce dedicated center-running transit lanes, level-boarding passenger stations with ticket vending machines, transit signal prioritization, and high-frequency electric bus operations connecting downtown Columbus to Prairie Township, slashing transit commute times by up to 20 minutes across the western metropolitan sector.

Engineering Firm GFT Mobilizes for Northwest BRT Corridor Design and Oversight

Simultaneously, LinkUS leadership confirmed that nationally recognized architecture and civil engineering firm GFT commenced comprehensive design and construction management operations in October 2026 for the Northwest BRT Corridor. Operating from an established 30 percent preliminary engineering baseline, GFT will finalize engineering specifications for the high-capacity corridor connecting downtown Columbus along Olentangy River Road to the Ohio State University medical complex and the City of Dublin.

In East Columbus, design work for the companion East Main Street BRT corridor also approached 90 percent engineering maturity, setting the stage for synchronized multi-corridor federal grant submissions heading into 2027.

Hoover Road Bridge and Transit-Supportive Infrastructure Program

Demonstrating active construction across the region, crews advanced structural deck work on the Hoover Road Pedestrian Bridge in Grove City—the first LinkUS-funded capital project—on track for grand opening by late 2026. The bridge provides safe, grade-separated pedestrian and cycling connections to high-capacity transit stops. Furthermore, MORPC and local governments advanced 75 high-priority sidewalk and trail projects under the approved 2027–2031 Capital Improvement Program.

Civic and business leaders praised LinkUS for successfully transitioning from ambitious planning to tangible civil execution, ensuring Columbus possesses the modern rapid transit network required to support sustained economic growth.