The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has recently earned a Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation for the transit agency's cleaning and sanitation protocols in public transit vehicles and facilities.
To earn this accreditation, COTA says organizations must have a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks associated with infectious agents such as COVID-19; the proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious disease; and highly informed cleaning professionals who are trained for an outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response.
COTA was recently evaluated and earned accreditation for all seven COTA facilities and its transit services, including fixed-route buses, paratransit, and on-demand services. Since March 2020, COTA has implemented extensive cleaning and sanitization of transit vehicles, shelters, and facilities.
“We are incredibly proud to be one of the first transit agencies in the country to earn this prestigious certification,” COTA President/CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton said in a statement. “As Columbus works to safely recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COTA and other organizations are ensuring that our residents and visitors have confidence in public transportation, hotels, convention, and sporting and concert venues."
In May 2020, Experience Columbus announced a citywide effort to help the organization’s industry sectors—event venues, transportation, lodging, and attractions—achieve GBAC STAR accreditation. Through the initiative, COTA became the first public transit system in the nation to apply and the second to be awarded.
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SOURCE: Central Ohio Transit Authority
