WRTA Launches New Rider-Focused Website
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA), the Mahoning Valley’s public transit system for more than 50 years, launched its completely redesigned website.
The website’s new rider-focused platform makes it easier than ever for residents to plan trips, track buses in real time, and discover how free rides support both individual riders and the broader Valley economy.
“Our new website and ‘Going Your Way’ theme are reflections of our commitment to the Valley and its future,” said Dean Harris, RTA Chief Executive Officer. “By removing barriers to transportation and investing heavily in workforce mobility, we are ensuring that our residents have reliable, modern access to jobs, healthcare, and local businesses.”
The new website highlights rider information first. Key features include:
• Direct connection to live bus tracking
• An online trip planner
• Clear route information and popular destinations
• The latest WRTA news and future plans
• Spotlights on the Best of the Valley nonprofits and small businesses
“Our new website and ‘Going Your Way’ theme are reflections of our commitment to the Valley and its future,” — Dean Harris, CEO
WRTA provides more than 2 million rides annually—over 7,000 each day—across fixed routes, paratransit, and community services. Riding remains completely free under the Zero Fare policy first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and retained ever since.
For a daily rider, that policy puts nearly $750 back in their pocket each year. Combined with avoided car payments, insurance, and maintenance costs, free transit generates an estimated $10 million in annual consumer savings that stays in the local economy and supports Valley businesses.
“WRTA’s mission has always been about connecting people to opportunity,” said Dean Harris, WRTA Chief Executive Officer. “Whether it’s getting someone to a job interview, a medical appointment, or a local business, we are focused on strengthening the Valley. We aren’t just moving people; we are driving the local economy forward.”
WRTA continues to invest heavily in the region’s future. The agency is transitioning its diesel and gasoline fleet to all-electric vehicles within the next few years, is testing autonomous vehicle technology, and is constructing new offices, a bus garage and a solar canopy. The design for new transit center is in the works also.
About Western Reserve Transit Authority
WRTA has served the Mahoning Valley for more than 50 years, providing safe, reliable, and completely free public transportation. With more than 2 million rides annually, WRTA connects residents to jobs, education, healthcare, and community destinations while investing in modern facilities, an all-electric fleet, and innovative mobility solutions.