News

(November 6, 2024) Columbia, SC – With the future of public transportation on the ballot in Richland County yesterday, the voice of the voters was heard. The COMET issues the following statement of gratitude to the residents of Richland County. “On behalf of The COMET staff, drivers, and the countless ...

(October 31, 2024) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) wants to help riders exercise their right to vote. The COMET fixed route buses and DART services will be free for those going to vote in the Tuesday, November 5 elections. “We realize how important it ...

(October 16, 2024) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) has added dates to its series of community meetings with their new Executive Director/CEO, Maurice Pearl in partnership with the Richland Library. Updates on the Richland Penny will also be featured. The remaining dates and times ...

The COMET will hold additional Meet and Greet events with its executive director with updated times as follows: Thursday, August 29              5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.          Richland Library Eastover Thursday, September 5         6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.          Richland Library Sandhills Thursday, September 12        6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.         Richland Library ...

(August 5, 2024) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) will host a series of community meetings with their new Executive Director/CEO, Maurice Pearl in partnership with the Richland Library during the months of August and September. The following dates and times are scheduled: Tuesday, August ...

A public hearing of the Penny Tax will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at Richland County Administration Building at 2020 Hampton Street. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The public is invited to attend. The COMET is expected to receive 22% of the Penny ...

(May 21, 2024) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) received two awards at the Live United Awards hosted by United Way of the Midlands at Central Energy recently. The COMET’s United Way Campaign efforts were led by Angela Jacobs, who in her first year serving ...

(November 29, 2023) Columbia, SC –The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) Board of Directors announces that it has appointed Maurice Pearl as its new Executive Director/CEO after conducting a nationwide search. “I am excited to be welcomed into The COMET family and am eager to serve the Midlands ...

Honor commends organization’s excellence in handling and reporting all funding, including the Richland County Penny (November 1, 2023) Columbia, SC – Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The ...

(August 29, 2023) Columbia, SC – More transit service will soon be available to residents in the Lower Richland community. The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced that Route 47 will change from a Reflex route to offering Fixed route service beginning Monday, September 25. Per policy, The ...

(August 17, 2023) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) and its prime contractor RATP Dev are helping the riding public cope with the Midlands’ famously hot summer by providing bottled water at its COMET Central hub every Friday in August. “In the spirit of serving ...

(August 8, 2023) Columbia, SC – Bus Operators of The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) scored big at the Lowcountry Regional Operator Roadeo recently held in North Charleston, SC.Philip Patterson, an accomplished veteran COMET bus operator of 45 years, won First Place in the Fixed Route 35-foot Bus ...