SARTA Massillon Transit Center

An accessible replacement for an existing transit stop

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) wished to replace an existing, outdated passenger waiting area in downtown Massillon, Ohio with a new 5,000 SF Transit Center Facility on a recently purchased 1.6-acre site in the heart of a thriving retail area. This new facility is contemporary in design, with a passenger waiting area enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass walls, allowing for unobstructed views of the incoming buses. The facility is organized around two masonry cubes, with the public function of the station moving between the forms. There are passenger access points on all four sides, allowing buses to engage the station at four points, creating the ability for easy and intuitive movement in and around the station.

The faceted roof canopies extends beyond the building masses, locking the brick boxes into place, creating cover over the access points into the station. The transparent nature of the public spaces creates an amazing openness, reinforcing the four-sided nature of the operation of the station. The new center will have passenger restrooms, as well as a secured office and break area for SARTA employees and drivers. The site will allow for 6 buses to be parked around the building at one time, and a small parking lot for employees and passengers. This new facility started construction in 2022 and will be open for business in April 2024.