The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), in collaboration with the Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Program (HAPCAP), has announced an expansion of the GoBus intercity transit network. This initiative aims to enhance mobility for rural communities and improve statewide connectivity.
ODOT will fund four new intercity bus routes, extending GoBus service to previously unserved areas in Western and Northern Ohio. The expansion will include cities such as Bowling Green, Fremont, Marion, Middletown, Oxford, Upper Sandusky, and Yellow Springs. Governor Mike DeWine emphasized the importance of this development by stating, “Transportation should never be a barrier to opportunity.”
GoBus offers deluxe 56-passenger motor coaches equipped with amenities like free wireless internet and outlets at every seat. ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn highlighted the benefits of expanding GoBus routes by saying it helps Ohioans connect to jobs, healthcare, and education regardless of their location.
Created to link rural areas with metropolitan centers for essential services and travel connections, GoBus is funded through the federal Intercity Bus Program and managed by ODOT in partnership with HAPCAP. Since its inception 15 years ago, GoBus has grown from 10,000 annual riders in 2010 to over 129,000 riders in 2024. Currently connecting 36 cities, it places a significant portion of Ohio’s population within proximity to a stop.
Kelly Hatas, Executive Director of HAPCAP, described the expansion as “a transformative step for rural mobility in Ohio.” The cumulative impact includes nine total GoBus routes and an estimated annual ridership of 153K.
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