COTA Reports Nearly 60,000 Rides in FY 2026, Secures $20M for Transit Upgrades

​The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority (COTA) kept the Marianas moving in Fiscal Year 2026, facilitated 59,728 total rides across the region while securing over $20 million in grant funding for future modernization. 

Detailed in its recently released Citizen Centric Report, these milestones cap off a year defined by significant service expansions and a resilient response to fierce natural disasters. Established in 2011, COTA continues to serve as the public transit backbone for Saipan, Rota, and Tinian, driven by a mission to provide dependable, safe, and cost-effective mobility that bolsters economic development throughout the Commonwealth.
​
The Transit CNMI Fixed Route system shouldered the heaviest demand, with the Blue Line 1B alone completing 44,955 rides between October 2025 and September 2026. COTA also expanded its footprint in August 2026 by launching the Green Line, connecting residents from As Matuis to Paseo De Marianas. For those requiring demand-responsive transit, the Call-A-Ride Saipan (CARS) service provided 11,110 vital rides. Mobility even extended through successful pilot programs, delivering 1,415 rides on Rota and 213 rides on Tinian.

COTA’s resilience was truly tested when Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi battered the islands. Activating its Emergency Support Function 1 (ESF-1), the transit authority stepped up to provide shelter, relief, and recovery transportation. Throughout these severe weather events, COTA completed 1,762 emergency rides, underscoring public transit's role as a critical lifeline. During the Sinlaku recovery, they even transported 35 U.S. Forest Service Region IX firefighters and their equipment straight from the airport to the front lines of the recovery operations.
​
Fueling this extensive network requires robust financial management. COTA reported total FY 2026 expenses of $2,518,018.33, with professional services (36.3%) and wages (32%) representing the largest investments. While program revenues contributed $123,753.90, the agency’s future is secured by the massive $20,496,361.00 collected in competitive and formula grants.
​
Armed with this funding, COTA is actively designing a massive infrastructure overhaul. Plans are underway to construct 187 new bus shelters across Saipan, build a $3,000,000 covered parking facility, and develop new bus transfer stations. Further modernization efforts include a $2,000,000 grant for the acquisition of electric vehicles and the completion of a Ferry Feasibility Study to explore a sustainable transit route connecting the Commonwealth and Guam.
​

As Special Assistant for Public Transportation Alfreda Camacho Maratita emphasized, COTA's ultimate responsibility is keeping residents connected to employment, education, and healthcare. With a robust ridership record and millions secured for future upgrades, COTA has proven that its commitment to the Marianas is moving full speed ahead.