Licking County Transit’s fourth bus route connects Heath, Newark, key retail locations

HEATH – The fourth Licking County Transit bus route begins Monday, connecting Newark and Heath and stopping at key retail outlets along the way.

The Earthworks Circulator route will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at no charge to passengers. The route includes 22 stops on West Main, 30th, Church and 21st streets, Parkview Drive, Hebron Road and Central Parkway.

The bus stops include Licking Memorial Hospital and the YMCA in Newark, Southgate Plaza, Best Buy, Staples, Walmart, Aldi and Kroger in Heath.

Matt Allison, executive director of Licking County Transit, announced the new route in a Friday ceremony in Heath City Council chambers, joined by Heath Mayor Mark Johns, Newark Mayor Jeff Hall, the Licking County Commissioners, transportation officials and key donors.

“We are truly thrilled to kick off the new year by introducing our fourth deviated fixed route, the Earthworks Circulator,” Allison said. “This new route bridges Newark and Heath, providing access to essential services, such as education, shopping and health care.

“By integrating this route into our existing network, we are addressing transportation gaps and creating opportunities for all residents.”

Licking County Transit began the deviated fixed-route bus service in July 2023, with the Main Street route in Newark. Three months later, the North 21st Street route began. In March, buses began running to Granville.

A $100,000 donation from the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities helped make the new route possible. The board applied for and received American Rescue Plan money from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. The money was designated for the support of fixed transit routes.

Jason Umstot, the superintendent of the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities, said transportation is No. 1 in ensuring independence for people.

“Transit has been able to serve many of the people we support,” Umstot said. “We have a lot of people that live in Heath. We serve over 2,600 people, and they live all over the county. The more this expands, the more it’ll benefit the people we’re supporting.”

The city of Heath will contribute $105,175 annually for at least two years. The federal government contributes 50% of the cost.

“This will help bring people to businesses and services they might not be able to get to,” Johns said. “It benefits those people, but is also a benefit for those businesses. It’s a very broad benefit and we feel it should be funded broadly as well.”

Johns said Casto Development, owner of CrossCreek Shopping Center, has pledged $10,000, or $5,000 in each of the two years, and Park National Bank pledged $2,500. The mayor said he will seek additional private donations to keep the service going.

“The more local financial support, the greater the federal financial support we’ll be able to receive,” Johns said.

Hall, who begins his 14th year as Newark mayor, said transit has been one of his priorities since he was first elected to the position.

“I couldn’t be happier about where this has come to today,” Hall said, noting not everyone can afford a car — or needs one. “Why have more cars on the road when they can just jump on a bus?”

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb said although bus riders do not pay for the service, it isn’t free.

“There’s a cost to transit,” Bubb said. “This deviated fixed route is a huge expansion of what we do. There are always possibilities, but only if we can fund them. The community, at some point, may have to step up with additional funding.”

Bubb did not say what types of funding may be sought in the future but added that Franklin County residents approved a transit levy in November.

“I’m a resident of Heath, and this means a lot to me,” Bubb said. “A lot of senior citizens and the city of Heath deserve transportation.”

Allison said Licking County Transit provided 108,000 rides last year, compared to 74,000 in 2023 and 62,000 in 2022, before the deviated routes began.

He said the goal is to have a fifth route by the end of the year, from Newark and Heath into Hebron and Buckeye Lake. After that, it’s possible there could be routes to Pataskala and New Albany.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-973-4539

Twitter: @kmallett1958

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: New Licking County Transit bus route connects Heath, Newark, retailers

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