COLUMBUS OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)— In a significant step towards enhancing mobility options for rural communities, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has partnered with the Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Program (HAPCAP) to announce a major expansion of the GoBus intercity transit network. This development will significantly strengthen statewide connectivity and improve access to essential services for thousands of Ohioans.
The expansion includes funding for four new intercity bus routes, extending GoBus service into regions that have previously been underserved. This move aims to connect more residents to crucial services, higher education, and employment opportunities across the state.
Governor Mike DeWine emphasized the importance of transportation in providing opportunities, stating, “Transportation should never be a barrier to opportunity. This expansion provides those in rural and underserved communities reliable and affordable transportation options to access essential services.”
The new routes will double GoBus’s service footprint, reaching areas in Western and Northern Ohio, including cities such as Bowling Green, Fremont, Marion, Middletown, Oxford, Upper Sandusky, and Yellow Springs.
ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn noted, “By expanding GoBus routes into more communities, we’re helping Ohioans connect to jobs, healthcare, and education—no matter where they live.”
The GoBus service operates with deluxe 56-passenger motor coaches equipped with free wireless internet, seat outlets, ample legroom, on-board restrooms, and safety features such as seat belts at every seat.
GoBus, Ohio’s Rural Intercity Bus Program, was created to link rural and underserved areas to metropolitan centers that serve as hubs for essential services and further transit options. Funded through the federal Intercity Bus Program, the initiative is managed by ODOT in cooperation with HAPCAP.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, GoBus has experienced remarkable growth, increasing from just 10,000 annual riders in 2010 to over 129,000 in 2024. Currently, the service connects 36 cities, making 64% of Ohio’s population within 10 miles of a stop and 93% within 25 miles of any intercity bus stop, including major services like Greyhound and FlixBus.
“This expansion represents a transformative step for rural mobility in Ohio,” said Kelly Hatas, Executive Director of HAPCAP. “We’re proud to work with ODOT to connect more communities and make intercity travel accessible to all.”
With this expansion, the cumulative impact of GoBus will include a total of nine routes, 27 local transit connections, 32 university connections, 47 counties with GoBus stops, and an estimated annual ridership of 153,000.