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==Infrastructure== ===Transportation=== ====Mass transit==== {{Main|The Comet (transit)}} [[File:A COMET transit bus in Columbia, SC.jpg|thumb|A COMET transit bus in downtown Columbia]] [[File:Rental bicycles in Columbia, SC.jpg|thumb|Bicycles available for rental in downtown Columbia]] [[The Comet (transit)|The Comet]], officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority, is the agency responsible for operating mass transit in the greater Columbia area including [[Cayce, South Carolina|Cayce]], [[West Columbia, South Carolina|West Columbia]], [[Forest Acres]], [[Arcadia Lakes]], [[Springdale, Lexington County, South Carolina|Springdale]], [[Lexington, South Carolina|Lexington]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lex-co.sc.gov/Pages/CMRTA.aspx |title=CMRTA |access-date=September 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914134450/http://www.lex-co.sc.gov/Pages/CMRTA.aspx |archive-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> and the St. Andrews area. COMET operates express shuttles, as well as bus service in Columbia and its immediate suburbs. The authority was established in October 2002 after SCANA released ownership of public transportation back to the city of Columbia. Since 2003, COMET has provided transportation for more than 2 million passengers, has expanded route services, and introduced 43 new ADA accessible buses offering a safer, more comfortable means of transportation. CMRTA has also added 10 natural gas powered buses to the fleet. Comet went under a name change and rebranding project in 2013. Before then, the system was called the Columbia Metropolitan Rapid Transit Association or "CMRTA".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://catchthecomet.org/about-us|title=About Us โ The Comet |website=catchthecomet.org|access-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507231339/http://catchthecomet.org/about-us/|archive-date=May 7, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, COMET offers Dial-a-ride transit (DART), which provides personalized service passengers with disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |date=n.d. |title=The Comet Routes |url=http://catchthecometsc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/COMET_SysMap-May2019-Web.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://catchthecometsc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/COMET_SysMap-May2019-Web.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=28 June 2020 |publisher=The Central Midlands Transit Authority}}</ref> The [[University of South Carolina|University of South Carolina's]] transit system, which is maintained by COMET, services an additional 1,000,000 passengers annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Comet, University of South Carolina announce new contract |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/management/press-release/21144319/central-midlands-regional-transit-authority-cmrta-the-comet-the-comet-university-of-south-carolina-announce-new-contract |access-date=7 June 2023 |website=masstransitmag.com}}</ref> [[Blue Cross Blue Shield]] provides rental bicycles in downtown Columbia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bluebikesc.com/|title=Blue Bike SC|publisher=Blue Cross Blue Shield|access-date=28 June 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702012041/https://bluebikesc.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ====Roads and highways==== [[File:The Lincoln Street Tunnel in Columbia, SC.jpg|thumb|The Lincoln Street Tunnel - A pedestrian and bicycle-only tunnel converted from a former railroad tunnel, which crosses under Lincoln, Washington, and Hampton Streets]] Columbia's central location between the population centers of South Carolina has made it a transportation focal point with nine State Highways: [[South Carolina Highway 12|SC 12]], [[South Carolina Highway 16|SC 16]], [[South Carolina Highway 48|SC 48]], [[South Carolina Highway 215|SC 215]], [[South Carolina Highway 262|SC 262]], [[South Carolina Highway 277|SC 277]], [[South Carolina Highway 555|SC 555]], [[South Carolina Highway 760|SC 760]], and [[South Carolina Highway 768|SC 768]]; seven [[United States Numbered Highway System|U.S. Highways]]: [[U.S. Route 1 in South Carolina|US 1]], [[U.S. Route 21#South Carolina|US 21]], [[U.S. Route 76 in South Carolina|US 76]], and [[U.S. Route 176|US 176]], [[U.S. Route 321#South Carolina|US 321]], [[U.S. Route 378#South Carolina|US 378]], and [[U.S. Route 601#South Carolina|US 601]]; and four [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate Highways]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richland County Economic Development Office > Community Data > Transportation > Interstates |url=http://richlandcountysc.com/Community-Data/Transportation/Interstates |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=richlandcountysc.com}}</ref> * [[Interstate 20 in South Carolina|Interstate 20]] travels from west to east and connects Columbia to Atlanta and Augusta in the west and Florence in the east. It serves the nearby towns and suburbs of Pelion, Lexington, West Columbia, the Sandhill region, Pontiac, Elgin, Lugoff, and Camden. Interstate 20 is also used by travelers heading to Myrtle Beach, although the interstate's eastern terminus is in Florence. * [[Interstate 26 in South Carolina|Interstate 26]] travels from northwest to southeast and connects Columbia to the other two major population centers of South Carolina: the Greenville-Spartanburg area in the northwestern part of the state and [[North Charleston, South Carolina|North Charleston]] โ Charleston area in the southeastern part of the state. It also serves the nearby towns and suburbs of Irmo, Harbison, Gaston, and Swansea. * [[Interstate 77 in South Carolina|Interstate 77]] (William Earle Berne Beltway) begins at a junction with Interstate 26 south of Columbia and travels north to Rock Hill and Charlotte. This interstate also provides direct access to Fort Jackson, the U.S. Army's largest training base and one of Columbia's largest employers. It serves the nearby towns and suburbs of Forest Acres, Gadsden, and Blythewood. * [[Interstate 126]] begins downtown at Elmwood Avenue and travels west towards Interstate 26 and Interstate 20. It provides access to Riverbanks Zoo. ====Air==== The city and its surroundings are served by [[Columbia Metropolitan Airport]], which has passenger flights from [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]], [[Delta Air Lines|Delta Connection]], and [[United Airlines|United Express]] airlines. The city is also served by the much smaller [[Jim HamiltonโL.B. Owens Airport]], located in the Rosewood neighborhood. It serves as the county airport for Richland County and primarily centers around [[general aviation]]. ====Intercity rail==== The city is served daily by [[Columbia station (South Carolina)|Amtrak station]], with the [[Silver Service|Silver Star]] trains connecting Columbia with New York City, Washington, DC, [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Tampa]], and Miami. The station is located at 850 Pulaski St. Until 1959 the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]]'s ''[[Skyland Special]]'' ([[Asheville, North Carolina]] - [[Jacksonville, Florida]]) made a stop in Columbia's [[Union Station (Columbia, South Carolina)|Union Station]]. Until 1966 the Southern Railway's ''[[Augusta Special]]'' went north from Columbia Union Station to New York City via [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] and went west to [[Augusta, Georgia]]'s [[Augusta Union Station|Union Station]], where passengers could make connections to [[Georgia Railroad]] trains to [[Atlanta, Georgia]]. The [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]] branch of the Southern's ''[[Carolina Special]]'' made a stop in Columbia.<ref>''Official Guide to the Railways,'' December 1966, Southern Railway section, Table 4</ref><ref>''Official Guide to the Railways,'' December 1966, Georgia Railroad section</ref> Until 1954 a regional [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] train went to [[Florence, South Carolina|Florence]] and [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]]. ====Intercity bus==== [[Greyhound Lines]] formerly operated a station on Gervais Street, in the eastern part of downtown, providing Columbia with intercity bus transportation. The station relocated to 710 Buckner Road in February 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Greyhound Moving Away from Gervais Street|url=http://legacy.wltx.com/story/news/local/2015/02/20/greyhound-columbia-moving-buckner-road/23751037/ |work=WLTX News|access-date=April 8, 2016}}{{dead link|date=September 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[Megabus (North America)|MegaBus]] began operations in Columbia in 2015. Their routes include stops in [[Atlanta]], [[Fayetteville, North Carolina]], [[Richmond, Virginia]], [[Washington, DC]], and [[New York City, New York]]. The station is located on Sumter Street. ===Health care=== [[File:PalmettoHealthBaptistHospital.jpg|thumb|[[Prisma Health]] Baptist Hospital]] The Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine Health System, a non-profit organization licensed for 304 beds which operates four hospitals, including Providence Hospital in downtown Columbia founded in 1938, Providence Heart Institute, Providence Hospital Northeast, and Providence Orthopaedic and NeuroSpine Institute.<ref>{{citation |title=Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/2753613Z:US |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|access-date=2022-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Heart Institute |url=https://www.providence.org/locations/or/heart-institute |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.providence.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brain and Spine Institute |url=https://www.providence.org/locations/or/brain-and-spine-institute |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.providence.org |language=en}}</ref> [[Prisma Health]] is a private nonprofit health company and the largest healthcare organization in South Carolina that was formed by the joining of Palmetto Health and Greenville Health System in 2019. The company has 29,500 team members, 18 acute and specialty hospitals, 2,947 beds, 300 outpatient sites, and more than 5,100 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Prisma Health serves almost 1.5 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina. Prisma Health hospitals in Columbia include the Midlands' only Level 1 trauma center and academic medical center, Richland Hospital, as well as Children's Hospital and the Heart Hospital also on the Richland Campus, Baptist Hospital and Baptist Parkridge Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prisma Health |url=https://www.prismahealth.org/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.prismahealth.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Prisma Health โ Locations |url=https://prismahealth.org/locations?searchType=location |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=prismahealth.org}}</ref> Lexington Medical Center, opened in 1971, is a network of hospitals and urgent care centers located throughout [[Lexington County, South Carolina|Lexington County]], with one location in Columbia. The Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center is a 216-bed facility, encompassing acute medical, surgical, psychiatric, and long-term care.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center|url=http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=33&divisionId=ALL&map=1|publisher=US Dept. of Veterans' Affairs|access-date=February 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222032919/http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=33&divisionId=ALL&map=1|archive-date=February 22, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> === Renewable energy and climate goals === Attaining 100 percent clean and [[renewable energy]] by 2036 is incorporated into the city's 67 climate goals. Projects include a [[solar farm]] to provide power for the [[wastewater treatment plant]], an updated [[Water metering|water metering system]], reduction of [[Non-revenue water|water leaks]], and replacement of polluting, city-owned vehicles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/environment/article239527278.html|title=As heat rises, SC watches quietly. Will state suffer from lack of climate action?|last=Fretwell|first=Sammy|date=January 26, 2020|website=[[The State (newspaper)|The State]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309060038/https://www.thestate.com/news/local/environment/article239527278.html |archive-date=2020-03-09|access-date=2020-02-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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