Find the best eclipse viewing spots with COTA
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has announced its plan to help customers view the total solar eclipse directly in the path of totality.
The agency has created an interactive map to help riders find the best public viewing places accessible by COTA and COTA//Plus to watch the event.
The following locations are included on the map:
• Carriage Place Park – Lines 1, 21, and 33
• Columbus Metropolitan Library, Dublin Branch – Line 33
• Dublin Bridge Street District – Line 33
• Lazelle Woods Park – Line 102
• Old Worthington Library – Line 102
• Roger Reynolds Municipal Park & Hilliard Community Center – Lines 21 and 32
• Sharon Woods Metro Park – CMAX and COTA//Plus
• Westerville Community Center – CMAX and COTA//Plus
• Westerville Sports Park – CMAX and COTA//Plus
When and where traffic could be the worst on solar eclipse day
Fixed-route bus service is $2 for adults and $1 for children under 5. Customers using COTA//Plus in Westerville can ride for $3 per trip and at no charge if they use the service to connect to or from a COTA Transit stop.
Riders are asked to plan their trip to allow more time to reach their viewing destination before the eclipse begins around 2 p.m. on April 8.
COTA’s website COTA.com and its Transit App allows people to track their bus and view real-time bus information. A customer care line is also available at 614-228-1776.
Additionally, COTA said more transit operators and transit services supervisors have been scheduled to “manage the system” with heavy traffic expected during the afternoon due to the number of travelers to the region.
According to Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert, their biggest concern is the influx of traffic. Since this is a rare event, they’re asking everyone that makes the trip to central Ohio to come early and stay late.
“Normally we look at an event like the Ohio State football game or Red, White and Boom, where we know there’s a central location where a lot of traffic is coming in,” Gilbert said. “This is going to be a little bit different because it’s going to be predicated on where people potentially think they can see the eclipse better.”
The one thing they do not want to see happen is people pulling over on the side of the road to try and view the eclipse.
“We don’t want anybody stopping on the roadways if you’re pulling off somewhere,” Gilbert said. “Be mindful that you just can’t pull off to the side of the road. That may also be a concern related to obstructing the roadway.”
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