Fixed Routes Extended, New Late Night Service Debuts Monday, June 8

WRTA has instituted several changes to the services it offers in Mahoning County.

These changes took effect Monday, June 8:

• All regular Fixed Routes in Mahoning County have had their schedules extended later into the evening. Most Fixed Route buses will make their final runs of the day Monday through Friday between 8:00 and 9:00 pm.
• Fixed Route schedules in the City of Warren remain the same as they have been, with no evening runs.
• Nightline routes have been discontinued.
• In their place is WRTA Late Night — a scheduled curb-to-curb service offered with dedicated small vehicles — that operates between 9:00 pm and midnight Monday through Friday. Late Night buses will run only within areas served by WRTA’s Mahoning County Fixed Routes.

Rides on all WRTA buses will continue to be free until further notice. Regulations put in place during the coronavirus pandemic remain in effect:

• Riders on all WRTA buses must wear a face covering. Riders will be prohibited from boarding the bus without a face covering.
• Except for those in wheelchairs or with baby strollers, all riders must enter Fixed Route buses through the rear door.
• Social distancing must be observed for seating on all buses. Signs are posted on the seats to enforce this policy.
• Only life-necessary trips are permitted. All riders must have a destination, and must get off of the bus when they reach it. Recreational and continuous riding is prohibited.
• Federal Station will remain closed, though buses will continue to arrive and depart from in back of the building.

For more information, call the WRTA offices at 330-744-8431.

Face Coverings Are Mandatory for All WRTA Riders

Riders on all WRTA buses are required to wear face coverings.

WRTA bus drivers have been wearing face coverings for some time. For their protection, as well as the public’s, we are now requiring our passengers to wear them as well.

This mandatory requirement extends to all WRTA services (Fixed Route, Countywide and ADA All-Access). You will not be permitted to board a WRTA bus if you’re not wearing a face covering.

If you have questions, please call WRTA at (330) 744-8431.

Fixed Route (Big Bus) Service from WRTA Will Return Monday, May 18

The “big buses” have begun rolling again in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. WRTA resumed Fixed Route bus service on Monday, May 18.

All rides are free as through June 30, 2021. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, certain requirements will be enforced for all riders:

• All passengers must wear face coverings. Riders who are not wearing face coverings will not be permitted to board the bus.
• With the exception of wheelchair passengers or those with baby strollers, all passengers must enter the bus through the rear door.
• Social distancing must be observed for seating on the bus. Signs will be posted on the seats to enforce this policy.
• Only life-necessary trips are permitted. All riders must have a destination, and must get off of the bus when they reach it. Recreational and continuous riding is prohibited.
• Federal Station will remain closed, though buses will continue to arrive and depart from in back of the building.

For more information or any questions, call 330-744-8431.

Services closing early on June 1st

Please be advised that due to current state of emergency and curfew at 7 p.m. imposed by Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown, WRTA will be shutting down its services early this evening, Monday, June 1st:

• The last buses will leave Federal Station at 7:15 p.m.
• The last Midlothian Loop will leave at 5:30 p.m.
• The last Boardman-Canfield Loop will leave at 5:55 p.m.
• The last Boardman East Loop will leave at 5:55 p.m.

WRTA Service Could Be Affected by Downtown Youngstown Protests

Due to ongoing protests in the downtown Youngstown area, it is possible that the regular routes of some WRTA buses may be affected.

WRTA Executive Director Dean Harris says drivers are authorized to deviate from their normal fixed routes in order to avoid crowds. Thus, WRTA riders may experience delays or detours.

More information is available by calling 330-744-8431.

Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Slated for June 10-11 at Covelli Centre

The City of Youngstown and Youngstown City Health District will host a drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic June 10 and 11 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown.

Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or those with direct exposure to the virus can be tested at this event. Pre-registration is required; participants can register at www.quickmed-uc.com or by calling 724-734- 5235 or 330-759-0085. Registration opens at 8:00 am Friday, June 5 and will close at 12:00 pm Thursday, June 11.

Pre-registered patients will need to enter through the Covelli Centre’s main driveway located off of 229 E. Front Street. Participants must remain in their vehicles and follow traffic control cones and officers. Testing will also be available for patients walking to the facility. If walking, patients should enter through the Covelli Centre’s main plaza and stand in line near the VIP Entrance and main driveway turnaround. Youngstown Police Department will direct traffic flow into the Covelli Centre.

For further information please visit www.quickmed-uc.com.

 

Please Participate in the 2020 Census!

WRTA is urging all citizens of Mahoning and Trumbull Counties to take part in the 2020 Census.

It’s extremely important to WRTA, the riders it serves, and the entire community. As with many other nationwide programs, the results of the Census in the Mahoning Valley will directly impact the funding WRTA receives from the Federal and State Government.

A more accurate count will translate into more Federal and State funds, which will keep WRTA serving you at the highest possible level.

Please visit 2020census.gov  for more information. Or to fill out your Census form directly online, go to my2020census.gov

Major Changes to WRTA Services Coming Soon

The coronavirus outbreak has necessitated changes to services offered by The Western Reserve Transit Authority. These are the changes that have been implemented recently..

• Effective Monday, April 6, all WRTA Fixed Route bus service has been eliminated. This means large buses will no longer run in Mahoning or Trumbull Counties until further notice.
• WRTA is providing Enhanced Countywide (small bus) service from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday to all areas within Mahoning County, and Monday through Friday to all areas within Trumbull County.
• Countywide is a scheduled service, with rides provided at no cost during this state of emergency. Scheduled rides must be for work, medical and shopping purposes only. Countywide trips can be scheduled up to seven days in advance, but no later than 24 hours in advance.

Those who wish to use Countywide Service must call 330-744-8431 to register for the service. Once registered, riders can schedule a trip between 7 days and at least 24 hours in advance of the planned trip.

More information is available on the Countywide page of this website.

“We are taking these steps to protect our employees and to assist with the Stay-at-Home order from Ohio Governor Mike Dewine,” said WRTA Executive Director Dean Harris. “We will do all we can to accommodate the needs of our riders. We hope that they will limit their requests to only the most essential trips.”

For more information, call 330-744-8431.

Services Continue, but WRTA Offices Are Closed to the Public

While modified services are continuing, WRTA has closed its offices at 604 Mahoning Avenue to the public. We’re taking the same precautionary measures as other offices across the country by canceling in-person meetings and travel, disinfecting office space, and keeping abreast of public health developments.

If you need to contact WRTA about any matter, you should call (330) 744-8431, or use the Contact form on this website.

Free Fares on ALL WRTA Buses Until Further Notice

WRTA is offering free fares on all of its buses — including fixed route, ADA-All Access and Countywide service — for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak.

The free fare promotion will be continued until further notice. And while it originally had applied only to fixed route buses, rides will now also be free on WRTA’s paratransit services, which include ADA All-Access and Countywide small bus services.