The COMET

What The COMET does

The COMET, officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA), is a regional government public transit authority formed on April 24, 2000, by intergovernmental agreement among Richland County, the City of Columbia, the City of Forest Acres, and Lexington County in South Carolina. The authority operates 47 fixed routes serving approximately 2.4 million passenger trips annually on a fleet of more than 90 buses, vans, and trolleys across Richland and Lexington counties, complemented by DART paratransit for ADA-certified passengers, ReFlex on-demand service, the Soda Cap Connector downtown circulator, USC Transit, and Gamecock Express gameday shuttles. Operations are contracted primarily to RATP Dev USA, Inc., with DART contracted to Transport Care Services.

The business model is funded predominantly through non-farebox public sources: one-third of Richland County's 1% Transportation Penny Tax (voter-approved in 2012), recurring Federal Transit Administration grants (notably $15.75M in December 2025 and $2.9M in April 2025 for zero-emission and hybrid fleet replacement), and passenger fares structured in tiered unit pricing ($2.00 full fare / $1.00 discount / $4.00 commuter express). Fares are distributed via COMET Central, partner town halls, the Transit App, Token Transit, and US mail. Sub-brands include Corporate Pass Program partners (Lexington Medical Center, Prisma Health, MUSC, McEntire Produce, VA), free-ride Student Programs across multiple school districts and colleges, Vanpool with a $500/month subsidy via Commute with Enterprise, and COMET on the Go! rideshare subsidies through Lyft and Uber. There are no shares, no parent company, and no private equity sponsorship; governance rests with a board representing the founding municipalities and counties, led by Board Chair Allison Terracio and CEO Maurice Pearl (appointed November 2023).

Name

The COMET

Legal name

Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority

Website

https://catchthecometsc.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The COMET (Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority) is a regional government public transit authority operating 47 fixed routes and paratransit services across Richland and Lexington counties in South Carolina, serving 2.4 million annual passenger trips and funded primarily by the Richland County Penny Tax and federal FTA grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Urban Transit Systems (48511), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485), Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (48599)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit) (BPAIALAB)

Keywords

• Public transit services
• Fixed-route bus service
• Paratransit transportation
• Regional transit authority
• Mobility programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Fares: Revenue from fixed-route bus fares ($2.00 full fare, $1.00 discounted fare), passes (7-day, 31-day), and DART paratransit fares ($4.00 one-way).
2. Richland County Penny Tax: Receives one-third of Richland County's 1% transportation penny tax approved by voters in 2012, which has funded significant service expansion since.
3. Federal Transit Administration Grants: Federal grants for fleet modernization including $15.75 million for diesel-electric hybrid buses and $2.9 million for zero-emission buses.
4. Advertising Revenue: Revenue from advertising on bus exteriors, interiors, bus shelters and benches through Gateway Outdoor partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The COMET operates a regional public transit system providing fixed-route bus service across 47 routes in Richland and Lexington counties, South Carolina, carrying approximately 2.4 million passenger trips annually on a fleet of 90+ buses, vans, and trolleys. The authority supplements fixed-route service with ADA paratransit (DART), downtown circulator (Soda Cap Connector), campus transit (USC Transit), gameday shuttles, vanpool programs, on-demand ReFlex service, and rideshare subsidy programs through partnerships with Lyft and Uber.

Product overview

The COMET (Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority) operates as a regional public transit system providing multiple interconnected transportation services across Richland and Lexington counties in South Carolina. The core offering is a fixed-route bus service on 47 routes serving 2.4 million annual passenger trips. Supporting the fixed routes are specialized services including DART paratransit for ADA-eligible passengers, the Soda Cap Connector downtown circulator ($1 fare), USC Transit campus service (free for students/faculty), and the Gamecock Express gameday shuttle. Additional mobility options include Vanpool commuter programs, ReFlex OnDemand service, and COMET on the Go! rideshare subsidies through Lyft. The system also offers Corporate Pass and Student Programs providing free transit to employees and students of partner organizations. All COMET buses feature free WiFi, charging stations, and are wheelchair accessible.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soda Cap Connector: A downtown shuttle service connecting major Columbia destinations including the SC State Museum, Vista, Main Street District, State House, Five Points, Historic District, and universities for $1 per ride.
• Gamecock Express
• USC Transit
• ReFlex OnDemand
• Vanpool
• U-Pass Program
• The COMET on the Go!
• COMET Academy

Products and services

• Fixed Route Service Main bus transit service operating on 47 fixed routes throughout Richland and Lexington counties, providing approximately 2.4 million passenger trips annually on a fleet of more than 90 buses, vans, and trolleys.
• DART (Dial-A-Ride Transit) ADA-compliant paratransit service for persons with disabilities unable to board fixed-route buses or access transit stops. Provides wheelchair-accessible, origin-to-destination transportation with no trip purpose restrictions.
• Soda Cap Connector Downtown Columbia circulator service featuring four routes (Routes 1-4 and The Orbit) connecting major attractions including SC State Museum, Vista, Main Street District, State House, Five Points, and USC. Fare is $1.00 per ride.
• USC Transit Campus-wide transit service for University of South Carolina students, faculty, and staff powered by The COMET. Free transportation for USC community members with valid Carolina Card across 30+ campus locations.
• Gamecock Express Gameday shuttle service transporting fans to Williams-Brice Stadium from Lincoln/Devine Streets and USC Russell House. Free return trips included with service running two hours before kickoff until one hour after games.
• Vanpool Commuter vanpool program through Commute with Enterprise, providing $500 monthly subsidy per vanpool group. Groups of 4-15 coworkers share rides in recent-model vehicles with WiFi, bike racks, and ADA accessibility options.
• ReFlex OnDemand On-demand transit service custom-fit to passenger schedules and neighborhoods. Provides transportation within ReFlex service areas and connections to fixed-route transfers at nearby SuperStops.
• COMET on the Go! Rideshare subsidy programs including COMET at Night (up to $8 off Lyft rides 8 p.m.-6 a.m. for 31-day pass holders) and COMET to the Market (grocery trip subsidies for food desert residents).
• Mobility Programs (V-TRIP and PUP) Transportation assistance programs for seniors 65+ and persons with disabilities: V-TRIP reimburses volunteers for gas money (150 miles/month allowance), while PUP provides $100 monthly debit card for taxi or rideshare use.
• Corporate Pass Program Employer partnership program providing free fixed-route transit for employees of participating organizations including hospitals, universities, and businesses. Partners include Lexington Medical Center, Prisma Health, MUSC, and local colleges.
• Student Programs Free fixed-route transit for students at partner schools (Allen University, Benedict College, Columbia College, Midlands Technical College, Richland 1, Richland 2, Lexington-Richland 5) with valid school ID. Also includes U-Pass program for students at non-partner colleges.
• Blue Bike Free bicycle sharing program available to transit riders. Code for free Blue Bike rides available from bus operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• For every dollar invested in public transit, approximately $4 in economic returns are generated
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RATP Dev USA, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2000Transit operations management contractor providing fixed-route bus operations, dispatch, supervision, and maintenance services for The COMET fleet. RATP Dev employs bus drivers and operations staff under contract with The COMET.
• LyftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRideshare partnership for COMET @ Night late-night subsidy program ($8 off rides 8 p.m.-6 a.m.) and COMET to the Market food desert grocery access program. Also provides wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) service for mobility program participants.
• UbercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRideshare partnership for COMET to the Market food desert grocery access program with $8 subsidy on Lyft/Uber rides to designated grocery stores.
• Enterprise HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommute with Enterprise vanpool partnership providing $500/month COMET subsidy for vanpool groups of 4-15 coworkers commuting to work.
• Transport Care ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract operator for DART (Dial-A-Ride Transit) paratransit services, providing drivers for ADA-accessible transportation for qualifying persons with disabilities.
• University of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSC Transit partnership providing free campus transportation for USC students, faculty, and staff with valid Carolina Card. COMET also operates campus routes 13-25 for the university.
• Lexington Medical CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Pass Program partner - employees ride COMET fixed routes free with work ID.
• Prisma HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Pass Program partner - employees ride COMET fixed routes free with work ID.
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Pass Program partner - employees ride COMET fixed routes free with work ID.
• Gateway OutdoorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvertising sales partner for bus exteriors, interiors, bus shelters and benches. Columbia Metropolitan Airport utilized bus wrap advertising creating mobile billboard.
• Richland School District OnecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school district - students ride free with valid student ID on all COMET fixed routes.
• Richland School District TwocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school district - students ride free with valid student ID on all COMET fixed routes.
• Benedict CollegecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner institution - students and faculty ride free with valid school ID.
• Midlands Technical CollegecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner institution - students and faculty ride free with valid school ID.
• Transit AppcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial partner app for real-time bus tracking, route planning, and mobile pass purchases.
• MoovitcoreTechnology or IntegrationReal-time arrival tracking, alerts, and trip planning integration for COMET routes.
• Token TransitcoreTechnology or IntegrationMobile ticketing app for purchasing COMET passes directly from phone.
• Able South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDART certification application partner - processes ADA paratransit eligibility applications and manages eligibility determination.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA): Public transit authority serving the Charleston, SC metro with fixed-route buses, paratransit, and downtown shuttles. Closely comparable as another South Carolina municipal transit authority funded through dedicated local sources and federal grants.
• Greenville Transit Authority (Greenlink): Public fixed-route bus and paratransit operator serving Greenville, SC. Comparable as a South Carolina urban transit system with similar funding mix (federal grants, local match, fares) and shared oversight through the SCDOT.
• Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority (SWRTA): Regional transit authority in eastern South Carolina referenced in The COMET's inter-agency transfer program. Comparable as a regional RTA providing fixed-route bus and paratransit service across multiple counties with similar FTA reporting requirements.
• Spartanburg Transit (SPARTAN): Public transit provider in Spartanburg, SC offering fixed-route and ADA paratransit services in a similar mid-sized metro context. Directly comparable as a South Carolina urban transit system of similar scale.

Regional players

• Coast RTA (Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority): Regional transit authority serving the Myrtle Beach/Waccamaw area in coastal South Carolina. Comparable as a peer regional transit authority operating fixed routes and paratransit, but geographically distinct from the Midlands service area.
• Palmetto Breeze Transit: Public transit service operating in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina around Beaufort. Comparable as another South Carolina rural/interurban transit provider, though serving a different geography from The COMET.
• TriCounty Link (formerly Lowcountry RTA): Regional transit authority in the Lowcountry of South Carolina providing demand-response and fixed-route service. Comparable as a small-to-mid-scale South Carolina transit authority with similar service offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Transdev North America: Large private transit contractor operating fixed-route, paratransit, and shuttle services for transit agencies across the US. Relevant as a broad incumbent alternative operating model that competes with RATP Dev for transit authority contracts.

Others

• RATP Dev USA: The contracted operations provider for The COMET and one of the largest private transit contractors in North America. Relevant as the partner actually delivering service and as a comparable private transit-management entity operating across many US agencies.
• Lyft (Bikes and Scooters): Rideshare and micromobility partner integrated with The COMET for first/last-mile service (COMET at Night, COMET to the Market). Relevant as a complementary and competitive mobility provider in the Columbia market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CatchTheCOMET
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyfHi9VvJHhrwKcZWN73S7w/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/CatchTheCOMET
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecomet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-midlands-regional-transit-authority-thecomet

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The COMET