Nominate Non-Profits for WRTA’s Holiday Lights Campaign

This holiday season, Western Reserve Transit Authority is once again putting the spotlight on organizations that Light Up the Valley all year long with the 2023 WRTA Holiday Lights Campaign! 

Nominations are being accepted now through 5 p.m. on October 20, 2023. Twelve Mahoning County organizations chosen from the nominees will be honored at a special event on Wednesday, November 15th. The event will be streamed on Facebook Live this year. The honored organizations will be featured on WRTA TV and social media as well as signs on WRTA buses and the giant digital sign above Federal Station. One organization, chosen by drawing at the event, will also receive a year-long social media campaign.

HOW TO NOMINATE YOUR ORGANIZATION OR OTHERS

Leaders of Mahoning County non-profits who believe the work they have done has been exceptional and beneficial to the Valley can nominate their organizations. Just complete the short form below before 5 p.m. on October 20, 2023. Nominate your favorite just once, more nominations do not help the chances of selection.

WHAT TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONS QUALIFY?

Three categories of organizations within Mahoning County can nominate themselves

1. Non-profit organizations
2. Public agencies (e.g. The Public Library) 
3. Private companies that include charitable giving, volunteering, and other good works as part of their culture.

TIMELINE

• Nominations accepted until 5 pm on October 20, 2023.
• Award Winners announced and contacted on October 27, 2023.
• Kickoff and award presentation Wednesday, November 15, 2023 

Fill out the form below to nominate your organization

Last year, 12 Organizations were honored, including:

1. Youngstown Blue Coats 
2. Yellow Brick Place 
3. Glenwood Grounds
4. The Bummer Fund
5. National Alliance on Mental Illness of Mahoning Valley (NAMI) 
6. Cadence Care Network
7. Gateways to Better Living
8. Jewish Family and Community Services
9. Alta Care Group
10. Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.
11. YoFresh Foods
12. Boys + Girls Club of Youngstown

Our Website Has Been Updated!

WRTA has been in the process of making updates to the website to better serve our riders and the community. We are excited to announce that the improved website has now been taken live!

When visiting the website, you will see adjustments to the overall design, a few new pages added, and existing pages updated. Be sure to check out our new sections on the home page as well — Zero-Emissions Future, Autonomous Vehicles Project, and Community Connections!

In addition, we also added a new feature to simplify and streamline the process of becoming ADA-accessible and compliant using AI, machine learning, and computer vision.

Go check out our updated website now!

 

 

Happy Labor Day!

Please be advised that WRTA will be closed and there will be no bus service on Monday, September 4th in celebration of the holiday.

Effective Sept. 8, Warren Service Will Be Discontinued

Schedule Your Late Night Rides with WRTA’s On Demand App

How to Register & Book a Trip:

Step 1:

Visit the App Store or Google Play Store and download the WRTA On Demand app

Step 2:

Create an account by entering your phone number, first/last name, and email address

Step 3:

Choose your pickup location, destination, and how many passengers will be on the trip

Step 4:

Decide if you want to book your trip now or schedule it for later

Step 5:

Get picked up at your location and track your ride in real time!

For questions, please call Customer Service — 330.744.8431 Option 3

Canfield Fair Bus Schedule

WRTA will once again be offering bus service to and from the Canfield Fair this year! Remember, riding WRTA is FREE!

Click to view a larger image

WRTA Announces Winners of “Art on the Move” Campaign

90 individuals registered to be selected for one of just nine slots in the Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) Art On The Move Campaign. Now the names of the nine winners are being revealed for the first time.

2023 WRTA ART ON THE MOVE CAMPAIGN WINNERS

• Gary Balog
• Nicholas Begnaud
• Kendra Blake
• Michael Flood
• Daniel Madeline
• Laura Marciella
• Ron Moore
• Gabriel Pagan
• Leah Sydney

The artwork of the nine will be featured on a giant mural on the side of a WRTA bus, like a mobile gallery displaying the talent of local artists.

KICK-OFF EVENT/ARTWORK BUS REVEAL

The artwork on the side of the WRTA bus will be unveiled and the nine winning artists will be recognized at a special outdoor event at DeBartolo Commons at the Southern Park Mall.

The winning artists receive a $100 Visa gift card, and their individual artwork will also be highlighted in TV spots, social media, and on the giant digital display at Federal Station in downtown Youngstown.

Entrants were asked to illustrate the “positive impact of public transportation,” but other than that were free to use whatever medium and whatever subject they chose.

“There are so many talented artists in the Valley,” says Dean Harris, WRTA Executive Director “We wanted to highlight their skill, as well as their unique perspective.”

JUDGES/CO-CHAIRPERSONS

The co-chairpersons of the campaign also served as judges to select the winning nine entries. The co-chairs of the 2023 campaign are:

• Joyce Mistovich, Director of Education, The Butler Institute of American Art
• Kevin Willis, Principal Architect, Strollo Architects
• Patrick McGlone, Mural Artist/Owner, The Overall Paint Co.

 

Thank you to everyone who submitted their artwork!

$8.5 Million in Grants Keep WRTA and the Valley Moving Forward

Thanks to the bipartisan support of United States Senator Sherrod Brown and Rep. Bill Johnson and local community leaders, Western Reserve Transit Authority will receive three federal grants, totaling nearly $8.5 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  

The three grants include a $4,313,552 Buses and Bus Facilities grant is to construct and improve the WRTA bus maintenance and operations facility — commonly called a “bus barn.” The grant “will provide funding for the replacement of one of our bus barns that hasn’t been updated since the 1970s and when the update is complete, the new bus barn will be ready for the future with the ability to charge battery electric buses and make our operation more efficient,” said Dean Harris, WRTA executive director.

A second award of $2,940,480 comes from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with the Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Transportation Discretionary Grant fund. It is to complete engineering and final design of the reconstruction of the Federal Street station.

The money also would be used to turn it into a mixed-use, transit-oriented facility that includes a new sheltered passenger terminal, parking garage, electric vehicle charging stations and other amenities.

It’s important to note the support of the community in securing the RAISE grant.  Community organizations, government officials and leaders sent letters of support of this project. 

The third grant is $1,208,632 for WRTA to replace older buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. WRTA will use much of the money to replace its gas-powered fleet of 47 large buses and about 25 smaller ones with low-emission and no-emission buses. WRTA has a goal of going all electric by 2040 and will begin converting its bus fleet to electric in 2026.

WRTA provides more than transportation… it supplies a direct route to jobs, personal freedom and the Valley’s economic future. That’s why WRTA is always moving forward, providing efficient service, supporting employers and workers, partnering with the community and preparing for a zero-emission future. 

“These grants will play a key role in keeping WRTA and the Valley moving forward.” said Harris. 

4th of July

Please be advised that WRTA will be closed and there will be no bus service on Tuesday, July 4th in celebration of the holiday.

WRTA Kicks Off New Art On The Move Campaign

The Mahoning Valley is home to art that inspires and moves us — that’s why WRTA is recognizing local artists with the Art on the Move Campaign.

Local creators are asked to submit their artwork illustrating public transportation in the Valley. Nine entries will be chosen to be displayed on the special “Mobile Art Gallery” that will be on the side of a large WRTA bus (see below). The nine winners will also receive a $100 VISA gift card, recognition at the Art On The Move kick-off event, and featured on WRTA’s social media, TV commercials, and digital sign at Federal Station.

Registration ended on Friday, June 30 and is now closed. 

Artwork submissions are due by Friday, July 7. Only artwork from creators who registered will be accepted.

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Artwork Guidelines

Your original artwork must be square and created in one of the following mediums:

• Hand drawn/painted
• Or computer generated original artwork (Exclusions include: stock art or clip art.)

Your artwork should illustrate positive images of people using or benefitting from public transportation (WRTA) in Mahoning Valley.

Here are a few examples of what the artwork can show:

• People getting on a WRTA bus
• People getting off of a WRTA bus
• People riding a WRTA bus
• WRTA riders arriving at work or a shopping center
• WRTA ADA accessible vehicle with a wheelchair user
• Rider using the myStop Mobile App 
• Rider utilizing the bike rack on a WRTA bus
• Riders waiting at a WRTA bus stop 
• Riders waiting at a WRTA bus shelter
• Clean environment (a WRTA bus with clouds, greenery, less cars on the road, etc.)
• Federal Station

Sample Artwork:

Inspiration for Artwork:

You can use these photos or videos below as inspiration for your artwork

Submission Process 

Minimal size, square 10”x10”. Physical submissions are preferred (either original piece or a print). If artwork is being submitted digitally, either as digitally-created art or a photo of a physical art, it must be a high resolution, 300 dpi JPG/PNG file (3,000×3,000 pixels). Artwork submissions are due by Friday, July 7.

PHYSICAL ENTRIES

Drop off at Farris Marketing M-F, from 9AM – 5PM— 4845 Market Street, Suite 3, Youngstown, OH 44512

DIGITAL ENTRIES

Send to Makenna @ Mozenghar@farrismarketing.com 

*Please include your first and last name on or with your artwork submission and a description of what your artwork portrays.

Questions? Call 330-770-9627.

Registrations for the WRTA Art On The Move Campaign are now closed! If you registered please submit your artwork, physically or digitally, by Friday, July 7.