COTA riders can leave their wallets in their pocket when they board the new Downtown circulator. The new bus line that the agency has dubbed "Cbus" will be free to ride during a demonstration period that runs from its launch on May 5 until the end of the year. If it's successful, additional circulator routes could be added, officials said yesterday.

COTA riders can leave their wallets in their pocket when they board the new Downtown circulator.

The new bus line that the agency has dubbed �Cbus� will be free to ride during a demonstration period that runs from its launch on May 5 until the end of the year.

If it�s successful, additional circulator routes could be added, officials said yesterday.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority is trying to find a long-term revenue source to help pay for the route, which will run from the German Village area to the Short North.

COTA CEO Curtis Stitt said the agency will continue looking for a revenue source and determine by the end of the year whether it can sustain free fares.

If additional funding cannot be secured, the fare could become 50 cents. COTA trustees approved the free fares at a monthly board meeting yesterday.

�This enhances the simplicity of use, which has to be a component of this, especially for people from out of town,� said Craig Treneff, a COTA board member.

The circulator will run seven days a week along High and Front streets between Sycamore Street and 3rd Avenue. Buses will arrive at each stop every 10 minutes during the day from Monday through Friday, and every 15 minutes at night and on weekends.

There are 28 stops along the 5.4-mile route.

In August, COTA ordered six 30-foot buses for the circulator; five will run during peak times. The buses are shorter than other COTA buses, which are 35 feet to 40 feet, said Mike Bradley, vice president for planning.

The buses will be sky blue and gray with circulator logos, including a Cbus decal above its side windows, he said. They will be powered by compressed natural gas.

COTA officials say they hope this circulator is more successful than a predecessor that was cut in 2004. Buses that were fashioned to resemble trolley cars carried passengers between the Short North and the former City Center Mall during mid-day for 25 cents.

Operating the new service is estimated to cost $1.3 million a year. Stitt said at least 10 percent of the cost needs to be subsidized to keep the free fares.

�If we can make the first line successful, that presents the opportunity for additional circulators,� he said.

Stitt said a similar line in Baltimore is funded through parking revenue. COTA is considering whether it could raise money through a special-improvement district that is paid for by area property owners.

Board member Cleve Ricksecker said the hospitality industry supports the idea of the circulator and that COTA might need to look at alignment changes once it determines its ridership.

He said he expects commuters, Downtown workers and visitors to use the circulator.

�It�s going to be important to make sure the service is aligned with the people who are using it,� said Ricksecker, director of the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District.

rrouan@dispatch.com

@RickRouan

@Crawlumbus