Delaware County Transit has record-breaking October, despite sales tax levy failing

DELAWARE — Delaware County Transit (DCT) had its single highest month ever in October in terms of trips, but saw its 0.2% sales and use tax levy fail in the 2026 midterm election.

The transportation agency completed 20,724 trips in October. For reference, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) did about 22,000 microtransit trips in August and 21,000 in July, DCT Executive Director Andy Volenik said.

“Despite negative news about a sales tax for expansion of services, DCT experienced record ridership in October with nearly 21,000 trips served,” Volenik added.

“DCT’s ridership increased significantly within its countywide demand response service, showing a 34% increase in use since July.”

Despite residents using the agency’s service at a record pace, they voted not to pass the sales and use tax levy on Nov. 3.

With 61.20% of voters saying no to the levy, according to unofficial final results from the Delaware County Board of Elections, Volenik said the agency needs to find a reliable funding source to not only maintain the agency’s growth but sustain it before new lines of service are added.

Volenik said the board will ultimately make the decision on what’s next for the agency in terms of funding. However, he previously said the agency will continue to utilize the grants, contracts, fares and partnerships that it already has in place.

“While Delaware County Transit evaluates next steps for the agency’s long term funding, DCT anticipates this year will be another record breaking year in ridership, eclipsing 215,000 trips—an approximate 8% increase from last year,” Volenik said.

“For the last five years, DCT has set yearly records in ridership and system use, displaying a need and desire for this service when it’s provided.”

“How DCT will provide that service for another five years is a challenging and important question for the Delaware County Regional Transit Authority, the agency’s governing board, to consider,” he added.

For now, Volenik remains optimistic about what’s next and shared that DCT is “not far off from servicing a portion of the population like COTA is.”

“Since DCT launched its flex microtransit service at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency has provided over 850,000 trips throughout the county,” he said.

“Nearly 50% of those trips occurred in the past two years.”