Northwest BRT Corridor - LinkUS Columbus

The Northwest Corridor is one of Central Ohio’s critical transportation connections, linking major employment centers, healthcare and entertainment venues to residents, workers and visitors.

Substantial new development has occurred in areas within and surrounding the corridor, creating the need for new ways to get around. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), bikeways and sidewalks will increase access to jobs, healthcare, education and entertainment for the entire Columbus region, including seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, students and working families, making Central Ohio a more affordable community.

It’s part of a multi-corridor vision to link us all together.

Major Destinations:

OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital
The Ohio State University
Wexner Medical Center
Grandview Yard
The Arena District
Downtown Columbus

The Locally Preferred Alternative

From Downtown Columbus to the Ohio University Campus area in Dublin 

A Locally Preferred Alternative, or LPA, is a term used by the Federal Transit Administration. It represents the region’s intention for transit along a proposed corridor.

To be competitive for limited federal funding, an LPA should include key details such as:

Beginning and end points
Mode of travel
Station locations
Service details and potential costs

The Federal Transit Administration asks local communities to select a Locally Preferred Alternative that details the mode, alignment, guideway and stations that best fit the needs and context of the community. This is an important step in pursuing needed federal funds to pay a portion of engineering and/or construction costs.

The LPA for the Northwest Corridor builds on past community engagement, planning and technical analysis. It spans from Downtown Columbus to The Ohio University campus area in Dublin, as shown on the map.

Corridor Snapshot

5 of Columbus’ largest sports and entertainment venues

3 of Central Ohio’s largest employment hubs

30% of all jobs in Franklin County are in this corridor

260k+ jobs served including Downtown Columbus

106+ acres of near-term redevelopment potential

4M+ annual visitors to Central Ohio

The Locally Preferred Alternative

The Northwest Corridor Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) will be completed in three phases. The initial segment extends from Downtown Columbus to COTA’s Bethel Road Park and Ride. This will create new connections to major employers, neighborhoods, retail, healthcare and entertainment — whether you walk, ride or roll.

Phases two and three will extend the Northwest Corridor along Sawmill Road and through Bridge Park to the Ohio University campus area in Dublin. Both phases require further study before preliminary engineering efforts can begin.

LinkUS partners selected the LPA in 2022 to remain competitive for federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The Northwest Corridor, which spans from Downtown Columbus to Dublin, was developed based on all engagement, planning and technical analysis performed to date, including details on the route, station locations, mode of travel and potential costs.

View the Locally Preferred Alternative Report

Project Timeline & History

2021
Earlier LinkUS planning efforts identified the need for improved access to jobs, healthcare, events and housing in the corridor, and developed preliminary approaches to address those needs. Since fall 2021, the Northwest Corridor has moved from the concept and planning phases into the preliminary design process.

2022
Our project team met with hundreds of residents and businesses to learn more about what enhancements to mobility and transit can look like in Central Ohio neighborhoods. Through virtual meetings, community open houses and tabling events, our project team also spread the word about the Northwest BRT Corridor and worked to develop the Locally Preferred Alternative.

2023-2024
The project team prepared to enter the 30% phase of the design process, which includes further refinements to station location and route alignments for the initial segment.

2025 & Beyond
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted the Northwest Corridor entry into Project Development under the Capital Investment Grant Small Starts program. This is an important milestone and signals the FTA will consider the project for federal funding. Project staff continue to plan for business meetings, community events and pop-ups this summer in your community to share the latest project updates.

Additional Planning Documents

The Northwest Corridor Foundations Report showcases the need and vision for the corridor by exhibiting current conditions, trends and other planning efforts relevant to the corridor.

Foundations Report

This report outlines a vision for a new rapid transit line along Olentangy River Road, which would connect downtown through The Ohio State University campus and north to Bethel Road.

Phase 1 Mobility Study

Archived Public Information

LinkUS Northwest Corridor Stakeholder Update January 2021: Part One and Part Two
LinkUS Northwest Corridor Online Open House February 2021
LinkUS Northwest Corridor Stakeholder Update May 2021
LinkUS Northwest Corridor Hybrid Public Meeting and Open House – City of Dublin
LinkUS Northwest Corridor Virtual Public Meeting June 2022

Upcoming Events

Join us at these upcoming community events to learn more about the Northwest BRT line and what it means for your neighborhood.

Date/Time	Location
Sept. 23 \| 11 a.m.–3 p.m.	SmartColumbus Ride & Drive Experience at OhioHealth 3430 OhioHealth Pkwy Columbus, OH 43202
Sept. 23 \| 4–7 p.m.	The Ohio State University’s Bike to Campus Event Buckeye Bike Hub 337 Annie and John Glenn Ave Columbus, OH 43210 More info
Oct. 1 \| 7–9 p.m.	Northwest Area Civic Association Bethel International UMC, Rooms 9 and 10 1220 Bethel Rd Columbus, OH 43220
Oct. 2 \| 7–9 p.m.	Clintonville Area Commission Columbus Metropolitan Library – Whetstone Branch 3909 N High St Columbus, OH 43214
Oct. 10 \| 10 a.m.–2 p.m.	SmartColumbus Ride & Drive Experience at The Ohio State University 650 Ackerman Rd Columbus, OH 43202
Oct. 15 \| 6:30–9 p.m.	University Area Commission Northwood-High Building 2231 N High St Columbus, OH 43201
Oct. 20 \| 12–4 p.m.	Ohio Union 1739 N High St Columbus, OH 43210

We Want to Hear from You!

If your organization would like to have a one-on-one conversation or presentation about the Northwest BRT Corridor, please let us know at
info@LinkUSColumbus.com.

Corridor Acknowledgements

This effort is being led by the City of Columbus in partnership with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and The Ohio State University. Additional funding partners supported the original Mobility Study including Nationwide Realty Investors, Franklin County, OhioHealth, the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and other public and private funders.