News
Beginning June 15, Riders Must Wear Masks or Face Coverings on The COMET
(June 11, 2020) Columbia, SC – The COMET announced today that beginning Monday, June 15, it will be requiring masks or face coverings for all persons riding any of The COMET buses or entering any COMET facility. According to John Andoh, Executive Director/CEO of The COMET, the organization will offer ...
The COMET Awards New Service Contract For Fixed Route And Paratransit Programs
(June 1, 2020) Columbia, SC – The COMET announced today that The COMET Board has voted to award the Fixed Route and Paratransit Program Contract to RATP Dev effective July 1, 2020. The present five-year contract, currently held by Transdev Services, Inc of Lombard, Illinois, will expire on June 30, ...
The COMET Changes Schedule to Enhanced Saturday Level of Service Beginning May 20
(UPDATED 05/18/20 at 6:14 p.m.) (May 18, 2020) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced schedule changes from an enhanced Sunday level of service to a Saturday level of service with added routes and increased frequency to accommodate peak demand times. There will also be ...
The COMET Earns High Marks On Financial Audits, Receives Award For Excellence
(May 11, 2020) Columbia, SC – For two consecutive years, The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) has received commendation on its financial audits. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Central Midlands ...
AT THE COMET, COMMUNICATING TAKES CENTER STAGE DURING PANDEMIC
(May 8, 2020) Columbia, SC – It has not been business as usual at Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET). Pamela Bynoe-Reed reflected to last fall when she joined as Manager of Marketing and Public Information. No one could have predicted the current state of business due to the ...
The COMET Launches Fresh Food Pilot Partnership with Rare Variety Farms
(May 7, 2020) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced a new pilot partnership with Rare Variety Farms. The partnership was developed to help overcome food deserts in underserved areas. Beginning __________, the pilot will serve residents of The Colony Apartments and Northepoint Apartments with ...
The COMET Partners with Senior Resources, Others, to Deliver Meals to Elderly
(April 29, 2020) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) is partnering with Senior Resources to get much needed nutrition to the elderly in Richland County during the current pandemic. The COMET will deliver meals to approximately 100 seniors per week. The first deliveries were made ...
The COMET Announces Schedule Changes to Enhanced Sunday Level of Service
(April 15, 2020) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced further schedule changes from a Saturday level of service to a Sunday level of service with added on-demand service for areas not served on the Sunday routes. The changes will go into effect on Monday, ...
The COMET Receives Funding To Aid Public Transportation amid COVID-19
(April 9, 2020) Columbia, SC – The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has allocated $15.3 million to the Columbia metropolitan region to help the area’s public transportation system, The COMET, respond to COVID-19. The FTA allocated a total of $25 billion to public transportation systems across the country. The funding was ...
The COMET Restores Limited Soda Cap Connector Service
(April 8, 2020) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced today that it is restoring limited service of the Soda Cap Connector, effective Wednesday, April 8. Soda Cap Connector #1, which travels the loop from downtown Columbia to Cayce/West Columbia via Gervais Street, will run ...
The COMET Implements More Safety Measures in Fight Against COVID-19
(March 31, 2020) Columbia, SC – In monitoring COVID-19, The COMET is striving to exhaust all measures to keep passengers safe. Understanding the potential challenges that the community may face in the coming weeks, we continue to encourage all riders to limit travel to only that which is essential. As ...
The COMET: Why We Are Running
(March 24, 2020) Columbia, SC – The COMET is a vital tool for transportation in the Midlands that is committed to connecting citizens to the places they need to go safely and reliably. During this time, we have been asked “Why are buses still on the road?”. To understand the ...

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