East Main Street Bus Rapid Transit: Connecting and Transforming the City of Columbus
Greater Connectivity
Provided services that will upgrade the East Main Street corridor to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), increasing community access to jobs, education centers, healthcare facilities, and more
Multidisciplinary Services
Performed a variety of services for a BRT design that will serve the needs of Columbus residents, from studies for Transit-Oriented Development to public engagement and stakeholder coordination
Enhanced Amenities
Planned station and roadway design to accommodate zero-emission BRT vehicles that will fit more people, improve transit travel speed and reliability, and enhance passenger station experiences
Located in one of the highest ridership transit corridors in Central Ohio, the East Main Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line will operate in a dedicated guideway, better connecting Columbus residents to key destinations, neighborhoods, and employment opportunities. As part of the region’s comprehensive LinkUS plan and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program that is focused on designing safe roadways for all users, this initiative integrates smart development with safe sidewalks, reliable public transit, protected bike lanes, and expanded trail networks—all designed to seamlessly connect communities and enhance transportation safety.
In partnership with COTA, Kimley-Horn is delivering multidisciplinary design services for the East Main Street BRT project.
Project Recognition
Providing Strategic Transit Design and Services
Our team is guiding the completion of design from 30% all the way to construction documentation, including traffic analyses, station and structural design, roadway design, streetscape design, water resources planning, field surveying, and utility design and coordination. Additional transit services our team is providing include:
- Project management
- Project schedule and cost estimating
- Safety and security consulting
- Value engineering and risk management
- FTA and NEPA coordination
- Public engagement and communications
- Studies for Transit-Oriented Development
- Permitting
- Construction support services
- Property appraisal
- Right of way acquisition assistance
- Public engagement and outreach
- Municipal stakeholder coordination
- Roadway lighting design
- Pedestrian facilities design
Planning for a Vibrant and Connected Columbus
Kimley-Horn is actively working with COTA, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and nearby municipalities to utilize the safe system design approach in project decision-making. Construction on the East Main BRT is projected to commence in 2027, with operational service launching in 2029. The project will deliver 13.6 miles of BRT—operating in dedicated guideway for 8.7 miles and switching to mixed traffic for a total of 4.9 miles—that begins at COTA’s Spring Street Terminal in Downtown Columbus and terminates at the City of Reynoldsburg at Taylor Road. Stations will offer enhanced passenger amenities and will be served by zero-emission BRT vehicles.
The finished route will travel east through the Cities of Bexley and Whitehall, offering additional access to Old Towne East/Near East Side, Mideast/Eastmoor, Far East, and Reynoldsburg. With Kimley-Horn’s instrumental services, East Main BRT will increase resident access to essential community resources and transform the area into a vibrant, accessible corridor—connecting communities and expanding opportunities throughout the Columbus area.
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