Comet Logo 11057822

Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA) (The Comet)

3613 Lucius Road
Columbia, SC 29201
803.255.7085

More Info on Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA) (The Comet)

The Comet
Comet Logo 11057822

The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and provides countywide public transit services on 34 fixed routes, five ReFlex services, with a vanpool service, subsidy programs with Lyft and Uber, 10 bikeshare stations in Columbia and DART ADA complementary paratransit service throughout Richland and western Lexington Counties. The COMET transports more than 2.8 million passengers annually on a fleet of more than 80 buses, vans and trolleys. Transit services are provided under contract with RATP Dev USA Inc.,  of Fort Worth, Texas.

Catch The COMET‚ we will take you there!

Press Releases

The COMET
The COMET bus.
The new vehicles, funded by a $2.9 million FTA grant, are now in pilot service and will be fully integrated into daily routes starting in May 2025.
April 23, 2025
The Comet
Maurice Pearl.
Pearl brings more than 20 years of public transit experience, with a strong operational background highlighting safety and labor relations.
Nov. 30, 2023
The COMET
The COMET has partnered with the local CBS affiliate to air vignettes during WLTX News 19 every Thursday during the 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts, beginning July 6
The 30-second COMET Chats, feature the authority’s new “pawsitivity” specialist, Ming-Ming, and are designed to educate those unfamiliar with The COMET discover how they can travel...
July 6, 2023
The COMET
Jackie Bowers (left) and Pamela Bynoe-Reed (right).
With Jackie Bowers, director of operations, and Pamela Bynoe-Reed, director of marketing and community affairs, completing the program, all of The COMET’s executive staff have...
Jan. 6, 2023
The COMET
Jackie Bowers The Comet07072022by Michael Dantzler 2
Bowers will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the prime contractor to ensure service is being delivered every day and she will continue to direct the ...
Aug. 3, 2022
The decision was made by the organization’s board of directors due to low ridership on the route.
June 27, 2022
The COMET
F Rxw Ir1 Xmair Va I The Comet
The COMET is implementing new technology to achieve increased efficiency and deliver enhanced service to its customers.
May 6, 2022
The COMET
The Comet
Huggins, who has served on The COMET's Board of Directors for more than 10 years, brings more than 30 years of experience in transportation to the position.
Nov. 2, 2021
A limited budget will be available to non-profit organizations that aid low-income residents upon filling out a request for donation form through the recently adopted pass donation...
Oct. 25, 2021
The COMET
Pam Bynoe Reedby Michael Dantzler (2)
She will oversee several responsibilities, including the strategic direction and execution of marketing, outreach and public relations.
March 9, 2021

Articles

The COMET
Derrick Huggins, interim CEO and executive director of The COMET.
Huggins was a long-time board member of The COMET before being appointed as interim CEO; COO LeRoy DesChamps will assume oversight of the authority until the board makes a plan...
Oct. 11, 2022
Michael Dantzler/The COMET
COMET bus riders receive free 45-minute passes for Blue Bike.
By strategically incorporating various mobility services, The COMET seamlessly addresses unmet needs of the community by providing specialized services for niche groups previously...
April 21, 2021
The Comet
Central Midlands Transit Executive Director Robert Schneider.
Central Midlands Transit Executive Director Robert Schneider.
Sept. 13, 2013

Additional content from Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA) (The Comet)

The COMET
The Comet
The Midlands Transit Organization is working to inform and transport people to vaccine locations.
Feb. 5, 2021
The COMET
Comet
The Volunteer Transportation Reimbursement Program and Taxi Voucher Pick Up Program were developed through a partnership with Able SC.
Jan. 20, 2021
The COMET
The Comet
SC DHEC has set up a testing kiosk at COMET Central, the transit hub located on the corner of Sumter and Laurel streets.
Dec. 21, 2020
The COMET
The COMET and community partners will analyze the current bus network and recommend changes to the system.
The Reimagine The COMET invites public input to create a more efficient bus network.
Nov. 13, 2020
The Comet
Comet Twitter
Bus stops, shelters and buses will be maintained and sheltered by The COMET as part of the contract, giving the university access to bus system management and expertise while ...
June 30, 2020
The Comet
The upgraded hub was renamed to Comet Central.
The reopening on June 16 also included upgrades to the Columbia Place Mall SuperStop off of Two Notch Road.
June 17, 2020
The COMET
Comet
Current employees will be actively engaged in transition training and will be able to bid for positions with the new company.
June 2, 2020
The COMET will offer bus passes at a rate of 50 percent off the Basic, Discount or Express prices on a 31-day pass.
Feb. 25, 2020
The agency has named a new COO, CFO and director of regulatory compliance and civil rights officer.
Feb. 7, 2020
The service will provide three tips to West Columbia and two trips to Batesburg-Leesville.
Jan. 17, 2020
The COMET
Safe Place Graphic
NSPN’s Safe Place transit model allows youth in need to reach out to the transit agency who will then connect the youth with resources or organizations to help.
Jan. 10, 2020
Transit
Transit
Riders can access trip planning, navigation, real-time bus arrivals and more.
Jan. 6, 2020
The initial fiver-year contract between Comet and Transdev expires June 30, 2020.
Aug. 23, 2019
The Central Midlands Transit (Comet) will start implementing service enhancements to improve on-time performance by rescheduling routes in a new pulse system which will be created...
Aug. 14, 2019
The Comet now uses a B5 biodiesel blend in 39 large transit buses as part of an initiative to help improve air quality in Richland and Lexington Counties, and reduce its carbon...
Aug. 5, 2019
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority is hosting a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Public Participation meeting to solicit input in the establishment of the ...
April 19, 2019
Columbia’s bike share system, Blue Bike SC, will grow by 8 fully functional, docked stations this year as part of the program’s expansion funded by a $250,000 Federal Transit ...
Feb. 15, 2019
Effective January 1, 2019, The COMET subsidized up to $5.00 for ridesharing trips that start and end in The COMET fixed-route service area on Lyft.
Jan. 14, 2019
Beginning January 1, 2019, The COMET began subsidizing up to $5.00 for ridesharing trips that start and end in The COMET fixed-route service area on Uber.
Jan. 8, 2019
The Comet
Ron Anderson, the vice president of administration of Collier International is the new chairman of the Comet board.
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors voted in new officers. Ron Anderson, the vice president of administration of Collier International is the new...
Oct. 19, 2018
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority welcomed Jackie Boulware to the Board of Directors in May.
July 3, 2018
Comet
The Comet has announced and welcomed John Andoh as the new executive director of the Central Midlands Transit Authority.
The Comet has announced and welcomed John Andoh as the new executive director of the Central Midlands Transit Authority.
May 5, 2018
Comet
Comet Soda Cap Connector.
The Comet has launched two new routes in September to connect customers to major Columbia, South Carolina destinations.
Sept. 19, 2017
The Midlands transit system (The Comet) is winning accolades for improvements in its service since implementation of the penny sales tax passed in 2012.On May 14, The Comet won...
June 18, 2015
The Comet
Virginia Goodson was hired by The Comet as project coordinator
The Comet announced it has hired several new employees.
Jan. 30, 2014
The Comet
The Comet announced Bob Schneider will be the agency's as new executive director.
The Comet announced July 24 that Bob Schneider will leave his position as general manager for Veolia Transportation to work directly for the transit authority as its executive...
July 24, 2013
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