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SARTA offering free transportation to SNAP recipients

November 6, 2025

Canton Repository

Nov. 6, 2025, 12:39 p.m. ET

CANTON ‒ The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority is offering free rides to people struggling with the loss of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

The free rides — available on all SARTA fixed routes except routes 4 and 81 — began Nov. 6 and will continue through Nov. 29. People can present their Ohio Direction card when they board the bus.

“The SARTA family is honored to have the opportunity to help those who participate in the SNAP program during this time,” SARTA CEO Ralph Lee said in a prepared statement. “We feel everyone should have the opportunity to be able to get to their food sources and places they need to take care of their families.”

SARTA said it’s part of the agency’s effort to help residents reach grocery stores, health care appointments, workplaces, and community resources.

Riders board a Stark Area Regional Transit Authority bus at the Cornerstone Transit Center in Canton in this file photo.

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The Akron-based Metro Regional Transit Authority and Laketran in Lake County also have waived fares for SNAP recipients.

“Metro recognizes that the loss of food benefits will create a financial burden for many of our transit-loyal riders,” Metro CEO Dawn Distler said in a prepared statement at the time. “If we can help alleviate some of the financial strain for our community members, we are pleased to do so.”

SNAP benefits were set to be cut off Nov. 1 for nearly 1.4 million Ohioans — including about 50,000 people in Stark County — because of the federal government shutdown.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture was ordered by two federal judges Oct. 31 to use its contingency fund to provide some SNAP funding. SNAP recipients will receive at most 65% of benefits in November, rather than 50%, the agency announced in a guidance to states on Nov. 5.

A family of four will receive at most $646 for the month, according to the new guidance. A single person would receive $193 in November, according to the new guidance.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

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