As major infrastructure upgrades begin to take shape, the Central Ohio Transit Authority hopes its first Bus Rapid Transit lines change the way Columbus travels.

Why it matters: Planned BRT lines are one of the focal points of COTA's voter-approved $8 billion LinkUS mobility plan.

• BRT lines are designed to streamline service and accommodate our growing population.

The big picture: COTA is committed to building three BRT corridors on West Broad Street, East Main Street and a route connecting downtown with Dublin. Two other potential corridors are being studied.

• In addition to BRT work, LinkUS funding enables COTA to add hundreds of miles of new paths, trails and bus lines, plus expand transit operating hours.

How it works: BRT lines function differently from standard bus routes.

• They feature dedicated lanes, larger buses, increased frequency, fewer stops and buses that communicate with traffic signals — all to increase speed and reliability.
• Improved stations allow riders to pay before riding, offer protection from the elements and add bus-level platforms for easier boarding.

Between the lines: The BRT experience aims to imitate the experience of a subway or train.

• "We call it light rail on wheels," COTA spokesperson Jeff Pullin tells Axios, "because it has the same amenities, including arriving every eight to 10 minutes."

Case in point: The first planned BRT line, on West Broad Street, will break ground this year and should drastically reduce west side commute times.

• LinkUS transit program manager Zach Sunderland tells Axios that COTA's current West Broad corridor takes an estimated 45 minutes to get from the end of the line to downtown, not counting delays from traffic, weather or construction.
• The BRT line should cut that time to about 30 minutes and avoid external elements.

The big picture: COTA's plans were developed after looking at similar systems in cities like Seattle, Denver, Indianapolis and Minneapolis, which saw BRT ridership skyrocket last year.

What they're saying: Sunderland says COTA hopes to double ridership from 3% of the population to 6%.

• "As we grow as a region, traffic is not going to get any easier and parking prices will go up. We hope this improvement will make transit more attractive and easier to use."

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Columbus may be lacking in public transportation, but Central Ohioans have a much easier time than most drivers in major cities.

Why it matters: Without a subway or light rail, and with Bus Rapid Transit years away from operation, most people here rely on their cars to get around.

What they found: It takes an average of just 11 minutes to drive 6 miles in Columbus, according to TomTom's annual Traffic Index.

Context: Our driving is nearly twice as quick as large cities like Philadelphia and Chicago.

• Of 93 measured American cities, Columbus ranks low on congestion level (No. 69) and time lost per year at rush hour (65).
• Despite our size, our rankings are comparable to much smaller cities like Albany, New York, and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Go deeper: These 5 cities have America's slowest driving

More details have emerged in the days following the KDC/ONE shooting in New Albany last week, including:

• The suspect, 28-year-old Bruce Reginald Foster III, is being held at the Licking County Jail on a $20 million bond. His next court hearing is Thursday. (WOSU)
• The two victims who died are Shekhar Chapagai, 30, and Kyle Vaver, 38. (WBNS-TV, Dispatch)
• These are the first homicides in the suburb's history. (Dispatch)
• A 43-page report from New Albany police says coworkers wrestled a gun away from the shooter. (WCMH-TV)

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👋 Alissa here. Multiple readers suggested Brazilian Grill & Bakery for our Eating Around the World Series, so I stopped by for dinner.

The vibe: This shopping plaza storefront packs a lot under its roof.

• There's a grocery store, a bar, a sit-down dining area, a buffet with a meat-carving station, racks full of baked goods and a fridge of fresh desserts.
• I let my friendly server guide me — he wasn't just willing to explain all the must-try dishes, he was excited.

What I ate: An all-you-can-eat buffet plate ($26) full of "a little bit of everything," as he suggested, with a fruity Guaraná Antarctica soda, a Brazilian staple.

• Our Brazilian reader Kessia C. recommended the linguica (pork sausages) and the tender, juicy barbecued picanha (top sirloin).
• Honestly, they could have charged $26 just for the meat. It was a highlight.

Rookie mistake: I didn't find the dessert display until I was full.

• I took a slice of strawberry and chocolate cake ($8) to go, plus a cup of traditional mousse ($4.50) flavored with cupuacu, a rainforest fruit.
• The cake, layered with frosting full of strawberry pieces, was amazing.

Pro tip: Many folks left carrying bags of fresh bread, so I'm guessing that's delicious, too.

💭 My thought bubble: After seeing the restaurant website in Portuguese, I was worried I wouldn't know what to order. But thanks to my server, it was a non-issue.

• I enjoyed the welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, and I'll be back again to order off the menu.

Stop by: 7am-9pm Monday-Thursday, 7am-11pm Friday, 8am-10pm Saturday and 8am-6pm Sunday. 5818 Columbus Square.

More photos, plus our interactive map of other countries' local cuisines

Brutus is a Buckeye of few words, but if he could talk, we suspect he'd have a lot to say this year.

• Help him out and caption this photo.

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