Columbia officials say they have money to keep GoCOMO fare free for another year

go como tiger line hearnes loop bus at tiger avenue and hospital drive roundabout aug. 21 2024 (002)

A bill to suspend transportation fares for riders of Columbia’s GoCOMO public transit system has been first-read by the city council.

go como tiger line hearnes loop bus at tiger avenue and hospital drive roundabout aug. 21 2024 (002)
A GoCOMO bus operates near Columbia’s Tiger Avenue and Hospital drive roundabout in August 2024 (photo courtesy of Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan)

GoCOMO has been operating fare free since the COVID pandemic began in March 2020. The city used federal CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to keep it fare free for a few years, and those funds have been spent.

City manager De’Carlon Seewood and GoCOMO officials say they have the money to keep the bus system fare free for another year: the city council packet says they’ll use current transportation sales tax funding, a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) operating grant and a state operating grant. GoCOMO says ridership for their fixed route during fiscal year 2023 was about 524,000, while ridership for paratransit in fiscal year 2023 was about 56,000.

The council is expected to vote on bill in two weeks.