WRTA, Second Harvest Food Bank Join to Address Food Deserts

WRTA and Second Harvest Food Bank are teaming up to provide Mahoning and Trumbull County residents who live in “food deserts” an easy way to address the problem of limited access to quality food.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines a food desert as an urban area in which at least 500 people (or 33% of the population) live more than one mile from the nearest large grocery store — or a rural area with at least 500 people (or 33% of the population) living more than 10 miles from the nearest large grocery store.

The consequences for those living within food deserts are significant. Since they are unable to easily get to a store that sells fresh meats and produce, the diets of families in these areas are adversely affected because they must rely on convenience stores and fast food for much of what they eat.

According to Mike Iberis, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank, there are many urban and rural areas in Mahoning and Trumbull County that can be identified as food deserts. “But we’re fortunate in our area to have WRTA, a service that covers so much ground and offers so many options to those looking for quality food to feed their families,” said Iberis.

WRTA has several ways to transport those living in food deserts to grocery stores that offer the kind of quality food they can’t otherwise get. “No matter where you live in Mahoning or Trumbull County,” says WRTA Executive Director Dean Harris, “there’s a WRTA bus that can get you to the store.”

Harris outlined several WRTA options:

• In the greater Youngstown area and the City of Warren, many supermarkets are located along routes served by WRTA Fixed Route buses. If the bus that passes through a food desert doesn’t lead directly to a supermarket, riders have the option of taking that bus to either Federal Station in downtown Youngstown or the junction point at High Street and North Park Avenue in downtown Warren and transferring to another bus that does travel to a supermarket.
• Residents who live within the area covered by WRTA’s Fixed Route bus service but are unable to ride a Fixed Route bus due to age or disability can take advantage of WRTA’s ADA All-Access service. These small buses will pick qualifying residents up at their homes and transport them to any location served by WRTA Fixed Route buses. Eligibility requirements apply, and rides both to and from a destination must be scheduled in advance.
• Those who live elsewhere in Mahoning or Trumbull County, beyond areas served by WRTA Fixed Route buses, can use another scheduled service, Countywide. This door-to-door service will also pick up residents at their homes and transport them anywhere within their respective counties. Again, riders must register for this service and schedule trips in advance.

Harris emphasized that rides on all WRTA buses are free through December 31, 2020.

Maps and schedules are available on the WRTA website along with additional information about all WRTA services. The website also offers an Online Trip Planner for those who would like to take a Fixed Route bus to and from a specific destination. Online Trip Planning is also available on the myStop Mobile smartphone app, which is available for iPhone and Android.

More information about all WRTA services is available by calling (330) 744-8431.

“We are working with Second Harvest Food Bank’s 140 partner agencies in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to inform residents about the services offered by WRTA to access full-line grocery stores,” said Iberis.

“While many of our riders are already using WRTA to get to the store and back,” Harris added, “we’re grateful to Second Harvest for helping to get the word out to those who aren’t aware of how WRTA can help them and their families.”

New Year’s Day

Please be advised that WRTA will be closed and there will be no bus service on Friday, January 1st in celebration of the holiday.

New Year’s Eve Service

All Fixed Routes will run their regular schedules. However, there will be no Late Night Service on New Year’s Eve.

Christmas Day

Please be advised that WRTA will be closed and there will be no bus service on Friday, December 25th in celebration of the holiday.

Christmas Eve Service

All Fixed Routes will run their regular schedules. However, there will be no Late Night Service on Christmas Eve.

Thanksgiving Day – November 26

Please be advised that WRTA will be closed and there will be no bus service on Thursday, November 26th in celebration of the holiday.

We here at WRTA sincerely hope that you and your family will have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

Regular bus service will resume on Friday, November 27th.

Holiday Lights Campaign Will Honor Local Non-Profits

The COVID-19 pandemic means the Western Reserve Transit Authority will not be rolling out a Holiday Bus in 2020. But in lieu of that popular feature, WRTA will present the Holiday Lights campaign, co-sponsored by First National Bank and WKBN-TV27.

“All year long, WRTA Gives The Valley a Lift,” said Executive Director Dean Harris. “But there are many other organizations in Trumbull and Mahoning Counties who do the same. For this holiday season, we wanted to turn the spotlight on those organizations that Light Up The Valley 365 days a year with their many efforts to help those in need. The Holiday Lights campaign is our way of honoring them and encouraging everyone to support their efforts.”

Around Thanksgiving, signs highlighting various Valley non-profit organizations will begin appearing on the sides and backs of selected WRTA buses serving Trumbull and Mahoning Counties. They will also be featured on the WRTA website and on social media, with links to the organizations’ Donations pages.

New #80 Lordstown Express Route Debuts Aug. 31

Starting Monday, August 31, WRTA’s new #80 Lordstown Express bus will travel twice daily Monday through Friday to and from PurFoods, located at the corner of Mahoning Avenue and Bailey Road in Lordstown.

The #80 Lordstown Express morning run will leave downtown Youngstown’s Federal Station at 6:10 am Monday through Friday and arrive at PurFoods at 6:45 am. It will depart from PurFoods at 7:05 am and arrive back at Federal Station at 7:40 am.

The afternoon run of #80 Lordstown Express departs Federal Station at 2:10 pm, arriving at PurFoods at 2:45 pm. Employees whose shifts end at 3:00 can then catch the bus at 3:10 pm and return to Federal Station at 3:40 pm.

The evening run of this route leaves Federal Station at 6:10 pm and arrives at PurFoods at 6:45 pm. It then departs PurFoods at 7:05 pm, arriving at Federal Station at 7:40 pm.

The route is expected to be adapted to serve the TJX distribution facility in Lordstown once it begins operations.

A reminder that rides on all WRTA buses are free through June 30, 2021. Riders (except those using wheelchairs, walkers or canes) must board the bus through the rear door. Those with strollers must fold the stroller before boarding. Riders must wear a face covering in order to travel on WRTA buses.

For Early or Election Day Voting, WRTA Can Get You There!

If you’re planning to vote in the 2020 Election, there’s a WRTA bus that can help you do just that. Here are three different ways we can help you cast your vote.

EARLY VOTING 

Now through Monday, November 2, you can beat the crowds on Election Day by Early Voting at the Mahoning County or Trumbull County Board of Elections.

The days and hours Early Voting is available can be seen at this page.

In Mahoning County: The 7-Glenwood bus runs every hour and stops near the Mahoning County Board of Elections.

In Trumbull County: The 28-Warren Express bus also runs every hour and stops at the intersection of Central Parkway Ave. SE and Youngstown Rd. SE (Rte. 422). If you’re coming from the Warren area, cross the street at the light and make the short walk to the Trumbull County Board of Elections. When returning, walk to the Rte. 422 at Central Parkway Ave. SE intersection and wait for the inbound 28-Warren Express bus.

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY (NOV. 3) USING FIXED ROUTE SERVICE

WRTA Fixed Route buses serve many polling places in Mahoning County and the City of Warren. Here’s how you can determine whether a Fixed Route bus can get you to your polling place.

If you don’t already know the location of your polling place, you can find out by entering your address at this link for Mahoning County, or this link for Trumbull County.

Using the Trip Planning feature of the myStop Mobile app, input your home address and the address of your polling place.

If a WRTA Fixed Route serves your polling place, you’ll see a list of the bus(es) you can take and departure times.

You can also plan this trip on our website by clicking here for the Online Trip Planner. Or call (330) 744-8431 for assistance.

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY (NOV. 3) USING ADA-ALL ACCESS OR COUNTYWIDE SERVICE

Here are additional options for those who cannot get to a polling place using WRTA Fixed Route service…

If your polling place is within our Fixed Route service area in Mahoning County or the City of Warren AND you are 65+ or ADA-eligible:

You can use WRTA’s ADA All-Access service to travel to and from any polling place in Mahoning County or the City of Warren that is within our Fixed Route service area. This door-to-door service must be scheduled in advance (up to 7 days before your trip), and you must apply for the service if you’re using it for the first time. See the ADA All-Access page on our website to learn more, or call (330) 744-8431 for more information.

If your polling place is located in Mahoning or Trumbull County but is outside of WRTA’s Fixed Route service area:

You can travel to and from your polling place by using WRTA’s Countywide service. This door-to-door service must be scheduled in advance (up to 7 days before your trip), and you must register for the service if you’re using it for the first time. See the Countywide page on our website to learn more, or call (330) 744-8431 for more information.

NOTE: We anticipate high demand for these services on Election Day, so it’s important to schedule your trip as much in advance as possible.

No Bus Service on 4th of July