A message from PARTA
Public transportation is an essential service. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, public-transit has proved to be indispensable. Every day, hundreds of Portage County residents rely on PARTA buses as their primary source of transportation. We transport essential workers to jobs, as well as provide a means for others to access vital services, such as healthcare, pharmacies, grocery stores and more.
Our commitment
During the novel coronavirus pandemic, our core, guiding principle is protecting the health and safety of our employees and community members while balancing the critical need to provide essential transit services in Portage County.
PARTA is offering all regularly scheduled fixed-route, paratransit, and Dial-a-Ride services except for our Cleveland Express route.
What we are doing to keep you safe
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All passengers are required to wear a facial covering to board and ride PARTA buses
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All vehicles are sanitized daily, and commonly touched surfaces, such as door handles and rails, are sanitized mid-day or as possible given vehicle location
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Hand sanitizer stations are available on every bus
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No-touch waste receptacles are available on every bus
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Social distancing indicators have been affixed to the floors of buses and signs indicating seat closures to promote social distancing have been added
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All vehicles are equipped with a disinfectant atomizer for drivers’ use at the conclusion of a route, during layovers and slack time, and between passengers while on route as needed
What we are doing to keep our employees safe
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Employees are required to self-assess their health before coming to work
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Proper hand sanitization by every employee is required
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Personal protective equipment has been provided to employees, including facial coverings, vinyl gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray atomizers
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Plexiglass shields have been installed in all buses to create a barrier between drivers and passengers
How you can help
We encourage all our riders and employees to follow the recommendations of health experts. Frequent hand washing, social distancing, wearing a face covering, and following the guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control are encouraged. Please be mindful of the following:
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Social distancing: Practice social distancing by keeping space between you and other people, including our drivers and employees. Please stay behind the yellow line behind the driver's seat while onboard to give our drivers space.
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Be fare-ready: You can help limit contact with the driver and others by being fare-ready. Have exact change, when possible, and have it ready in your hand before the bus doors open. Quickly put the money into the fare box and move to an empty seat. Use a bus pass for quicker boarding.
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Use contactless payment: The EzFare app is free to download and allows riders to purchase fare anytime, anywhere. Tickets can be stored on your smartphone and activated up to 30 minutes before boarding. After you board the bus, just scan the bar code on the EzFare validator.
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Cover your cough or sneeze: Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw that tissue in the trash. There are no-touch, disposable trash receptacles on every bus. If you don’t have a tissue, use your elbow and not your hands.
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Wash your hands: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. No access to soap and water? No problem, every PARTA bus is equipped with a hand sanitizer station.
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Don’t touch your face: Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Latest updates and news related to COVID-19
May 29, 2020
Beginning June 1, PARTA is launching several safety initiatives as it restores transit service on local fixed routes and countywide Dial-A-Ride (DART) services to preCovid-19 levels. These safety measures are rooted in protecting the safety and health of drivers and passengers while riding public transit buses.
May 21, 2020
Fare collection will resume on Monday, June 1 for PARTA Fixed route and Dial-A-Ride service. Regular fixed route fare is $1 per trip or $2 for an all-day pass on local routes. Dial-A-Ride fare is $6 per trip. Express service to Akron and Cleveland remains suspended until further notice.
May 7, 2020
Beginning the week of May ll the PARTA will start ramping up service on some routes following temporary reductions due to COVID-19. The transit system plans to return to approximately two-thirds of its normal capacity as it gradually restores fixed route service. Express buses to Akron and Cleveland remain suspended.
May 6, 2020
Today the Federal Transit Administration announced a $4.1 million grant award to PARTA as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The grant will allow PARTA to continue to provide transit service and pay for wages and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 9, 2020
PARTA has provided its drivers with face masks and is encouraging riders to wear them too. Recently Governor Mike DeWine began urging Ohioans to use facial coverings as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The suggestion concerning facial coverings is just one of the moves PARTA is endorsing.
March 30, 2020
PARTA is making significant changes to its operating schedule. Service modifications will take effect Wednesday, April 1 and will remain in effect until further notice. A sharp decline in ridership and the necessity to implement rotation staff schedules precipitated the adjustments in an effort to comply with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's 'Stay at Home' order issued to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
March 24, 2020
The lobby of the Kent Central Gateway (KCG) parking deck and transit facility will be closed to the public from Tuesday, March 24 until further notice. Transit riders will no longer have access to the KCG lobby or its bathroom facilities.
March 20, 2020
Effective Monday, March 23, PARTA will close its administrative office to the public. The facility located at 2000 summit Road in Kent will remain closed until Monday, April 6. Administrators will re-evaluate the need to keep the building closed to the public at that time. PARTA employees will continue to report to work.
March 17, 2020
Effective March 18, PARTA will discontinue collecting fare from passengers to facilitate social distancing for its drivers and transit passengers. until further notices, passengers riding PARTA's fixed route, demand response or ADA service will not be charged fare while COVID-19 prevention measures are in full effect.
March 11, 2020
PARTA is actively engaged in efforts to ensure the health and safety of its passengers and employees during the novel (new) coronavirus outbreak that has impacted many parts of the country. While the risk of contracting the disease is low, PARTA acknowledges that people may be feeling anxiety and concern about the safety of public transit.