Students at Ohio State may have held their breaths as they read the list of cancelled COTA bus routes, a precious mode of convenient transportation around campus, as the mass-transit provider recently announced that it would cancel several routes and increase its fares.

The Jan. 2 announcement came with a sigh of relief from the students and faculty who depend on the Central Ohio Transit Authority to get them to and from school. The changes will not affect campus service, or anything relatively near the university, as only four routes have been discontinued.

The McKinley Fields, Easton Link, Busch Boulevard and Georgesville Phillipi routes have been struck from the line up in an effort to reduce a budget deficit projected to be $3.7 million for 2005, according to COTA. The deficit is mainly because of a rise in the costs of both diesel fuel and natural gas, as well as a decline in sales tax revenue.

In addition, 21 express routes have begun to run fewer trips, reducing service by 75,000 hours, or about 11 percent.

Students might have to wait an extra few minutes; however, for the North High Street route.

Belinda Taylor, spokeswoman for COTA, stressed that one change that could slightly affect the campus area is a decrease in the frequency of buses, but she said it would not cause severe delays.

“I doubt that there’s any effect on Ohio State students,” she said.

Taylor also said that university-area service, including the Neil Avenue, Kenny Road and OSU-Arlington-Grandview routes, which pass through campus, have not changed.

A stop has been eliminated on the Worthington Express route during the morning hours, but Ed Gayger, director of marketing for COTA, and a member of the COTA-OSU partnership PAC, does not think it will be a problem.

“Probably behind the No. 31 (Worthington Express) are more No. 2 (North High Street),” he said.

For COTA riders without a BuckID, fares have increased from $1.25 to $1.50 for per-trip rides. OSU students pay a $9 COTA fee every quarter, guaranteeing unlimited rides, not just with the Campus Area Bus Service, but any COTA bus.

The COTA deficit is not expected to affect the OSU-COTA partnership, which began in 1999 and gave students unlimited access to the bus service.

COTA made more changes this month, which included the layoff of 52 bus drivers. COTA eliminated another 35 driver positions through attrition, while 30 maintenance jobs were also eliminated.

There have not been any problems for OSU students so far, said Sarah Blouch, director of Transportation and Parking Services at OSU.

“I have not heard anything from students. I have not had any complaints,” she said, but added that it might be too early to come to any definite conclusions.

For more detailed information about changes in COTA services and route maps, visit cota.com.