SARTA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SARTA logo, white background

SARTA logo, black ground

SARTA, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority, is the transit agency servicing Stark County, Ohio, a county in Ohio containing Canton, Alliance, and Massillon. SARTA runs one bus route (with multiple times) between Canton and downtown Akron, connecting to Akron's METRO RTA bus system. There is also a SARTA express route, the 115, that runs between downtown Canton and the Akron-Canton Regional Airport (stopping once in the Belden Village shopping area). SARTA's website has route and schedule information at http://www.sartaonline.com.

Since late 1998, SARTA passengers can travel round-trip to Cleveland via Akron Metro Transfers for $7.00 (less than the Lakefront Lines fare).

The main SARTA hub/transfer point in Canton was also the station for Greyhound buses. Greyhound stopped serving Canton in late 2005. Lakefont Lines currently operates within SARTA's Cornerstone station in Canton.

1 Routes
2 Accomplishments
3 Advertising on Buses
4 History
5 External links

[edit] Routes

SARTA operates 39 fixed routes as of April 2008. SARTA operates 365 days per year. On holidays, buses run a Sunday schedule.

Most inquiries are for:

Route 81 (aka x81) Akron/Canton Express via I-77 (transfers to Akron METRO) Route 102 Canton, West Tuscarawas / Massillon, Lincoln Way Routes 101, 103 Serving the Northeast area of Canton Route 105 North Canton (Belden Village) via Cleveland Ave Route 112 Belden Village / North Canton / Hartville / Uniontown / Greentown Route 113 Serves the Southwest area of Canton Route 114 South Cleveland Ave (with service to the Village of East Sparta on the Odd hour) Route 115 Express via I-77 services the Akron-Canton Regional Airport & Belden Village. (transfers to the Akron METRO route 110 Green/Springfield) Route 130, 131, 135, 136 Exclusive to Alliance Route 139 Canton / Louisville / Alliance (replaces the former 109) Routes 151, 152, 153 These late-night, 1 1/2-hour loops are the only buses operating from 9:45pm to 1:45am, Monday through Saturday.

Sunday and Holiday routes are more limited than regular routes (see SARTA website for details).

[edit] Accomplishments

SARTA won the American Public Transportation Association's 2006 "Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award" for bus companies serving 1 million to 4 million riders a year.

SARTA provides extensive shuttle service for the Pro Football Hall of Fame activities.

[edit] Advertising on Buses

"On-bus" and "in-bus" advertising is sub-contracted to ER Advertising, LLC. Contact Ed Reynolds at 330-418-7777 for pricing and any other questions about "on-bus" and "in-bus" advertising in Stark County on SARTA buses.

[edit] History

On December 1, 1997 the Canton Regional Transit Authority became the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) and service to all of Stark County was established.

SARTA is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees with the Executive Director/CEO serving as Secretary/Treasurer. The members are appointed to a three-year consecutive term. Appointments are made by the Stark County Council of Government, Stark County Commissioners, and the cities of Canton, Massillon and Alliance. Mr. Charles Odimgbe has served as SARTAs Executive Director/CEO since August 2000.

SARTA employs over 200 individuals. The position breakdown is approximately 62% Coach Operators, 10% Mechanics and Service Personnel (who service a fleet of 82 or more revenue buses and 13 non- revenue service vehicles), 26% Administrative Staff and a couple Part-time Employees and/or Interns.

Growth since 1997 -- As SARTA grew, satellite offices were added to better serve the county's public transportation needs. SARTA established three transfer stations and customer service offices. The Alliance Transfer Center was created to serve Northeast Stark County. The Massillon Transfer Center was created to serve the Southwest part of the county. The downtown Canton Transfer Center was created to serve the heart of Stark County.

The Alliance Transfer Center is currently located at 1 Main Street, but a new building one block from the existing station is set to be completed in 2007.

The Canton Transfer Center relocated from a trailer on Market Avenue South to 112 Cherry Avenue SE at the corner of Cherry Avenue and East Tuscarawas Street. Operation began on August 6, 2003. The new Canton Transfer Center was named Cornerstone. Approximately 200 guests attended the grand opening and ribbon-cutting program for the intermodal facility, located in downtown Canton.

The new transit center includes both an indoor customer service center and an outdoor bus-boarding plaza that accommodates 16 SARTA buses per hour. The 3,163-square-foot (293.9 m²) facility also provides interior and exterior amenities for Lakefront (previously Greyhound) through an occupancy agreement with SARTA.

The Massillon Transfer Center opened November 24, 2001 and is located at 41 S. Erie St. near the intersection of Lincoln Way East in downtown Massillon.