SARTA Is Finalizing New Hartville/Lake Township Service — Here’s What We Know

SARTA's latest board materials reference new transportation service being developed for the Hartville and Lake Township area, including a new Hartville route and connections that could give local residents greater access to transportation throughout Stark County.

While SARTA has not yet released all of the details publicly, here's what we know so far — and why the new service could matter for Hartville and Lake Township residents.

What is SARTA planning for Hartville?

In its September 2026 board materials, SARTA says its Operations Department is working with Planning to “finalize the new Hartville route.”

The planning information also describes service involving the Hartville/Lake Township area, including local transportation and connections into North Canton and SARTA's existing transit network.

That last part is significant.

Rather than simply providing transportation within Hartville, connecting the area to SARTA's larger network could give residents access to additional destinations throughout Stark County.

What is Destination-to-Destination service?

Another piece of the story is SARTA's Destination-to-Destination, or D2D, service.

Earlier in 2026, SARTA launched a D2D pilot program in Canal Fulton. The model provides registered riders with shared, curb-to-curb transportation that is scheduled in advance rather than requiring riders to rely exclusively on a traditional fixed bus route.

When SARTA launched the Canal Fulton pilot, the agency said it planned to evaluate the program throughout 2026 and explore introducing this type of service in other areas of Stark County as resources allowed.

That could be particularly useful in communities such as Hartville and Lake Township, where homes, businesses, medical offices and other destinations are more spread out than they are in a dense urban area.

How could expanded SARTA service benefit Hartville and Lake Township?

For many residents, having a car is simply part of getting around our area. But that's not an option for everyone.

Additional transportation could provide another option for residents who don't drive, don't have consistent access to a vehicle or need help reaching destinations outside the immediate Hartville area.

Depending on the final service design, that could mean improved access to things like employment, medical appointments, shopping and other everyday needs.

The proposed connection into North Canton and SARTA's larger transit system could be especially important because it may allow a local trip to become the starting point for travel farther into Stark County.

What don't we know yet?

There are still several important details SARTA has not publicly finalized.

We are waiting to learn the exact route or service area, stops or pickup locations, operating days and hours, rider eligibility, fares and official launch date.

It's also important to note that details from SARTA's existing Canal Fulton D2D program shouldn't automatically be assumed to apply to Hartville. The final Hartville/Lake Township service could operate differently.

Is this SARTA's “BIG NEWS” for Hartville?

SARTA hasn't publicly connected every dot yet.

However, the agency recently went directly into a Hartville community group teasing “BIG NEWS COMING SOON,” while its own board materials show that it is actively finalizing new Hartville service.

So there is clearly something significant happening with public transportation in the Hartville/Lake Township area.

I'll continue following SARTA's announcements and update this article when the agency releases the final route, pricing, schedule and launch information.

What do you think? Would you or someone you know use expanded public transportation in Hartville or Lake Township?

I'm Jenn McKeever, a Northeast Ohio Realtor sharing real estate information, community news and local development updates from Hartville, Lake Township and the surrounding communities.