The Comet (transit)

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The talk page may contain suggestions. (September 2020) This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. Please help by spinning off or relocating any relevant information, and removing excessive detail that may be against Wikipedia's inclusion policy. (September 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Some of this article's listed sources may not be reliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed. (September 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The COMET

Founded	2002
Headquarters	3613 Lucius Road
Locale	Columbia, South Carolina
Service area	Richland and Lexington Counties, South Carolina
Service type	Bus, paratransit and other public transportation services
Routes	39
Fleet	66
Annual ridership	2.8 million
Fuel type	Diesel, bio-diesel, propane
Operator	RATP Dev
Chief executive	Maurice Pearl
Website	catchthecomet.org

The COMET, officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA), is a regional transportation authority formed by Richland County, City of Columbia, and Lexington County on April 24, 2000, by the Central Midlands Council of Governments.^[1] The COMET consists of an intergovernmental agreement signed by Richland County, the City of Columbia, the City of Forest Acres, and Lexington County to fund, operate and maintain public transit services and mass transportation in Richland and Lexington counties in the Columbia metropolitan area of South Carolina.^[1]

The agency has standard fixed-route services, ReFlex services, and dial-a-ride paratransit within the county. The COMET transports more than 2.8 million passengers annually on a fleet of more than 80 buses, vans, and trolleys.^[2] The COMET supports and provides opportunities for additional mobility through partnerships with attractions, neighborhoods, events, Uber, Lyft, and Blue Bike of S.C.^[2] All services are operated by RATP Dev USA Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas.^[3]