News

SARTA Recognizes Community Partners During 25th Anniversary

May 18, 2023

SARTA and its community partners have collaborated to keep Stark County residents on the move over the past quarter century.
Canton, Ohio (May 18, 2023) – The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) today announced that — as part of its 25th anniversary celebration — it launched a campaign to recognize the numerous community organizations that partner with SARTA and whose constituents rely on the transit authority for affordable, reliable transportation.  

Hundreds of Stark County businesses, medical facilities, schools, community service organizations, and more rely on SARTA each day. And so do their clients, customers, patients, students, members, and supporters. These partner organizations understand that SARTA has provided reliable, safe, and affordable transportation to Stark County residents since the transit authority was founded in 1997.  

“It’s important for us to acknowledge and value the dedication and contribution of SARTA’s community partners over the past 25 years,” said Kirt Conrad, SARTA executive director. “Thousands of Stark County residents depend on SARTA for consistent and reliable transportation. I’m proud to say our community partners have teamed up with us over the years to make sure we deliver on our promise to our community.”  

The transit authority is running a series of ads highlighting the efforts of its community partners, including AultCare Health Plans, ICAN Housing, JRC Learning Centers, Lifecare Family Health & Dental Center, Stark County Economic Development Board, and Stark State College.  

Mike Gallina, AultCare’s vice president of organizational development and community engagement, says clients and members often rely on SARTA.  

“SARTA and AultCare are side by side, both providing a great service to our local community,” he said. “Where the two connect best is where SARTA is able to get our clients and members to their prescriptions, their healthcare, and all the needs they have that otherwise they may let go. So, the community’s health wraps right around AultCare’s and SARTA’s health.  

Stark Economic Development Board CEO Ray Hexamer says SARTA offers a competitive advantage when trying to attract new businesses.  

“SARTA is a big help to Stark Economic Development and what we do in trying to attract new business to come here,” he said. “Telling someone that we have a transportation system that can bring workforce to their front door is a competitive advantage that a lot of communities don’t have.”  

Stark State College President Dr. Para Jones says many students also depend on SARTA.  

“SARTA is incredibly important to our community and especially important to Stark State College,” she said. “Our students, faculty, and staff rely on SARTA to come to and from college. I just talked to a student who without SARTA would not be graduating this May. Thank you, SARTA!”  

Thanks to its dedicated employees, SARTA can:
– Provide more than 2.5 million rides annually
– Provide more than 160,000 Proline rides to disabled residents each year
– Provide approximately 5,000 rides to work each day
– Provide nearly 10,000 free rides to veterans to the Cleveland VA Clinic yearly
– Operate 34 fixed routes daily
– Employ more than 200 people  

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) was established in 1997 to meet the public transportation needs of Stark County, Ohio residents. SARTA provides more than 2.5 million rides annually to commuters, seniors, individuals with disabilities, students and veterans through the system’s fixed routes, Proline, MedLine, veterans and campus bus services.  

Along with providing safe, reliable, affordable transportation to destinations in Stark and beyond, SARTA is a nationally recognized leader in the use of transit technology. It has received numerous awards for its clean energy initiatives which include the acquisition and deployment of one of the world’s largest fleets of hydrogen fuel-powered buses. To learn more, please visit sartaonline.com or contact Latrice Virola by phone at 330-477-2782 x511 or via email at [email protected].