SARTA to hold public meetings on streetcar proposal

The Repository
·2 min read

CANTON – The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority will hold public meetings Wednesday and Thursday to discuss a proposed streetcar project connecting downtown Canton, Pro Football Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame Village, Belden Village area, and the Akron-Canton Airport.

The meetings are set for:

  • Wednesday, 1 to 3 p.m. at Hall of Fame Village – Center for Excellence, 2014 Blake Ave. NW

  • Wednesday, 5 to 7 p.m. at Stark Library’s Main Branch, 715 Market Ave. N

  • Thursday, 1 to 3 p.m. at Stark Library’s Main Branch, 715 Market Ave. N

  • Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m. at Belden Village Transit Center 4700 Whipple Ave. NW, Jackson Township

More: Canton, SARTA looking into light-rail train between HOF, downtown

Each meeting will include a presentation and displays about the proposed streetcar project and a question-and-answer session with project team members. Details will be provided next week for a second series of meetings in mid-July.

Most of the proposed streetcar’s 9.8-mile route from SARTA’s Cornerstone Transit Center in downtown Canton to Akron Canton Airport would use the former Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad track along West Branch Nimishillen Creek and Interstate 77. The rail line, owned by Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority, supports only two freight trains each week. SARTA’s consultants have determined that streetcars could use the line with minimal improvements.

The line would include several stations in downtown Canton, stations at 12th Street NW to provide access to McKinley National Memorial and a station at Everhard Road that would provide connections to Belden Village Mall and other nearby development.

One mile of new streetcar track would be built to cross downtown Canton, with a second mile of track added to connect from where the rail line crosses Mount Pleasant Road to Akron-Canton Airport.

SARTA’s consultants are analyzing the feasibility of the proposed project, estimating the project costs and the number of riders it would attract. SARTA will hold public meetings in September to announce the study’s results and next steps.

The public can fill out an online survey at surveymonkey.com/r/W8WC6RY. Paper copies of the survey are available at SARTA's Cornerstone Transit Center.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: SARTA holds public meetings on proposed streetcar project