 Public transportation is provided by the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority , known as PARTA , which is headquartered just outside the city limits in Franklin Township . PARTA serves Kent through a dial @-@ a @-@ ride service , the Suburban and Kent Circulator routes completely within the city limits , the seasonal Black Squirrel route along SR 59 during Kent State University 's Fall and Spring semesters , and the Interurban connecting with Stow and Ravenna . There are also two express routes , one to Akron connecting with METRO Regional Transit Authority via Brimfield , and a Cleveland Express route connecting with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority via Streetsboro , <unk> , and Maple Heights . PARTA also includes Campus Bus Service , which provides three fixed routes on the campus of Kent State University . An intermodal transit facility , known as the Kent Central Gateway , opened in 2013 in the downtown area to provide better integration of the existing bus system , hike @-@ and @-@ bike trails , and parking . The building was financed mainly from a $ 20 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery ( TIGER ) grant received in February 2010 and construction began in April 2011 . 
