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Reynoldsburg business owner urges city study of COTA BRT’s Main Street impacts
Summary
A Main Street restaurant owner told Reynoldsburg City Council on Oct. 13 that COTA has not done — and has no plans to do — an economic impact study for the proposed BRT line and urged the city to commission its own assessment; Mayor Beggeny said he will begin that process and seek funding.
Dino Zulus, owner of Jolly Pirate Donuts at 6689 East Main Street, told Reynoldsburg City Council on Oct. 13 that area small businesses need an economic impact study before construction of the proposed COTA bus rapid transit (BRT) line proceeds.
“Some weeks back, I received an email from COTA, and they informed me that they were not only had not done a study, but they had no plans of doing one,” Zulus said during the community comment period, citing an Indianapolis example he said led to a roughly 30% revenue decline for one restaurant after construction.
The request drew agreement from several council members, who said a study would give business owners data to plan for construction impacts or mitigation. Mayor Beggeny told the council he would begin the process to respond to the request: “We'll go ahead and begin that process. Depending on the quick turnaround between now and the next meeting, we'll try and get something on the next agenda. If not, it'll be the first meeting in November with a proposal and a cost estimate and the scope and everything,” he said. The mayor also said he would reach out to Main Street business owners before the matter returns to council and would contact COTA’s public relations staff to discuss support for a study, adding “I'll ask them for money.”
Why it matters: Main Street is home to long-established small businesses that say construction or design choices for transit projects can meaningfully alter customer access and sales; local officials often help secure or coordinate studies and mitigation funding during large transportation projects.
What comes next: Mayor Beggeny indicated he will present a proposal and estimated cost to council at the next meeting or the first November meeting and will contact business owners and COTA in advance. Council did not take a vote on the matter during the Oct. 13 meeting.
Provenance: Topic introduced in public comment and discussed in council response, SEG 061–SEG 186.
