Congratulations Valley Valentine Winners

In celebration of Ohio Loves Transit Week and Valentine’s Day, WRTA turned the tables and asked Valley residents, “Who do you love?”. 36 lucky winners were able to answer that question in a big way with a “Valley Valentine.” These graphics are on display on the giant sign at WRTA’s Federal Station through Sunday.

Congratulations to the following winners!

WRTA’s 2024 Annual Report is Now Available

The 2024 Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) annual report is now available online.

The annual report covers all the important initiatives undertaken by WRTA this past year, including public engagement programs, Autonomous Vehicles, and more.

Last year, WRTA vehicles travelled more than one million, five hundred thousand miles and provided more than TWO MILLION PASSENGER TRIPS.

Click here to view the 2024 Annual Report

Show Your Love With Valley Valentines

Ohio Loves Transit Week, a campaign of the Ohio Public Transit Association, is the same week as Valentine’s Day, so WRTA is celebrating by turning the tables and asking Valley residents “Who do you love?” You will be able to answer that question in a big way with a “Valley Valentine.”

A dozen lucky Valentines who fill out the form below, indicating to whom they want to send their love, will have a huge Valentine with their names created and shown on the giant video display that looms 35 feet above Federal Station in downtown Youngstown. In addition, the winning Valentines will be shared on WRTA’s website, social media, and in a TV spot.

To be eligible to have your Valley Valentine shown on our Federal Station video display, fill out and submit the form below. 12 Valley Valentines will be chosen in a random drawing. Only one entry per person is permitted.

The deadline to enter is Monday, February 3. Winners will be announced and contacted on Tuesday, February 4.

Be sure to indicate which one of the four designs you would like to use for your Valentine.

DESIGN A

DESIGN B

DESIGN C

DESIGN D

Fill out the form below!

We have received an overwhelming amount of responses. Thank you to all who participated! 36 winners will be chosen in a random drawing, and if your Valley Valentine is picked, you will be contacted directly on February 4 via email. Thank you!

WRTA Hires Jordan Pennell as External Affairs Director

Jordan Pennell, former Special Projects Coordinator/Representative for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown was hired to fill the newly created position of External Affairs Director at Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA).

Pennell is lifelong Youngstown-area resident and graduate of Youngstown State University. Prior to working in Brown’s office, Pennell was a legislative aide to State Senator (now Judge) Joe Schiavoni.

“Jordan’s decade-long experience at both the state and federal government levels will be a great help to us.” said Dean Harris, WRTA Executive Director. “Now we’ll have another voice advocating for public transportation causes in the Valley. Jordan’s relationships and his knowledge of how things work will help ensure our participation in many more projects and funding that benefit our residents and our local economy.”

“WRTA has a great reputation among state and federal government officials.” said Pennell. “WRTA, led by Dean Harris, is seen as being on the forefront of progress in almost every area of public transportation in Ohio and the U.S. I’m looking forward to helping WRTA and the Valley continue moving forward.”

OEPA Grant for Electric Buses Helps WRTA Roll Into Zero-Emission Future

Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) was notified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) that its proposal for the Diesel Emission Reduction Grant (DERG) was accepted.

This DERG Grant will provide WRTA $1,848,023 in funding for 75% of the cost to replace two older diesel-powered transit buses that are past their useful life with two buses (model year 2027 or newer) that are electric-powered.

“This is a win for the environment because as older buses reach the end of their useful life and are retired, we can replace them with zero-emission vehicles,” says Dean Harris, WRTA Executive Director. “It’s also a win for local taxpayers because the state/federal grant covers 75% of the replacement cost.”

WRTA has been actively working towards a sustainable, zero-emission future with the recent addition of electric-powered staff vehicles and battery-electric LTVs.

The DERG program supports public transit systems serving Ohio counties for the early retirement and replacement of older diesel transit buses. WRTA has been proactive in moving toward environmentally conscious transportation and reducing its carbon footprint.

2024 Holiday Lights Honorees Announced

Congratulations to the twelve local non-profits that were chosen as the 2024 Holiday Lights Honorees! Thank you for lighting up the Valley all year long with your good works.

The 2024 Holiday Lights Honorees are:

Clover Recycling
Dylan’s House
Olivia’s Grace
Sight for All United
Friends of Fido
Yellow Brick Place
United Returning Citizens
Limitless Dance Co.
Mahoning County Public Special Olympics
Veterans Haven
DIVA Donations
Youngstown Lions Club

Yellow Brick Place Named Non-Profit of the Year

Yellow Brick Place Cancer Wellness Center was presented the first-ever Non-Profit of the Year Award last night during Western Reserve Transit Authority’s annual Holiday Lights Campaign kick-off.

Yellow Brick Place was one of twelve non-profits being honored at the 4th annual WRTA campaign. Each of the honorees will receive promotions via social media, TV, bus signs, and more to help create awareness of their services and perhaps attract more users and supporters. The recipient of the Non-Profit of The Year award receives additional assistance. WKBN TV donated a TV campaign, while StrategiX Social and Farris Marketing donated a custom social media marketing campaign.

Yellow Brick Place Cancer Wellness Center (YBP) offers support and education to cancer patients and those closest to them by providing individual and group programs in the Mahoning Valley. According to their website, they nourish the mind, body, and spirit during the fight against cancer and provide an encouraging environment for cancer survivors, families, friends, and caregivers. All of their services and programs for cancer patients, caregivers, and family members are offered free of charge and are non-medical.

The kickoff event was sponsored by First National Bank and Adsposure. Co-chairs were Barb Ewing, CEO of Youngstown Business Incubator, Jordan Pennell, area representative of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, and Karen McCallum, Recreation and Engagement Director of Boardman Township Park.

2024 non-profit honorees are Clover Recycling, Dylan’s House, Olivia’s Grace, Sight for All United, Friends of Fido, Yellow Brick Place, United Returning Citizens, Limitless Dance Co., Mahoning County Public Special Olympics, Veterans Haven, DIVA Donations and Youngstown Lions Club.

WRTA Holiday Bus Schedule

WRTA Holiday Schedule for Christmas Eve 12/24/24 and New Years Eve 12/31/24 —

WRTA WILL NOT RUN A NIGHTLINE SCHEDULE

The last buses leave Federal Station at 5:40 pm & 6:10 pm
Last 25-Boardman-Canfield bus will leave @ 4:55 pm
Last 7-Glenwood will leave @ 5:10 pm
Last 5-South will leave @ 4:40 pm
Last 28-Warren Express will leave @ 4:40 pm
Last 24-Midlothian Loop will leave HillmanWay and Midlothian @ 5:15 pm
Last 26-Boardman-East Loop will leave Southern Park Mall @ 5:55 pm
Last 27-Austintown Loop will leave @ 5:40 pm outbound to Rulli Bros. only

Sorry for any inconvenience. For additional information contact WRTA at 330-744-8431

WRTA WILL BE CLOSED

CHRISTMAS DAY 12/25/24 And NEW YEAR’S DAY 1/1/25

Minor Route Changes Take Effect December 1

Minor changes have been made to WRTA routes to better serve the community. The routes that will be affected are the 15-Struthers, 16-Zedaker, 10-Belmont, and 8-Market. The Belmont and Market routes are going back to every 30-minutes. The new turn-by-turn information and updated maps for the Struthers and Zedaker routes are shown below. These changes will take effect on December 1.

10-Belmont

8-Market

15-Struthers

OUTBOUND

Facing north in Federal Station
Right on Commerce St
Right on Walnut St
Left on Front St
Right on South Ave
Right on Hadnet Dr
Right on Woodland
Continue to Poland Ave.
Right on Powers Way
Left on Midlothian Blvd
Right on 5^th St
Left on Elm St
Slight left to continue onto Elm St
Right on Terrace St
Right on Poland Ave
Continue on Poland Ave
Right on 5^th St
Right on E. Manor Ave
Left into Struthers Plaza

(DEADHEAD)

Leave garage to Struthers Plaza following this route picking up all passengers along the way: Right on Mahoning Left on Edwards Left on 680 Exit Midlothian (2^nd exit) Midlothian Right on 5^th St. to Struthers Plaza.

INBOUND

Exit Struthers Plaza
Left on Rita Dr
Left on 5^th St
Right on Omar
Right on Youngstown Poland Rd.
Right on Midlothian
Left on Walton
Left on Mt. Vernon continue on Alamo Pl
Left on Buckeye Cir.
Right on Loveland Rd. continue to Powers Way
Left on Poland Ave.
Left on Hadnet
Right on South Ave
Left on Front St
Right on Walnut St
Left on Commerce St
Left on Symphony Pl
Cont.to Federal Station

16-Zedaker

OUTBOUND

Facing north in Federal Station
Right on Commerce St
Right on Walnut St
Left on Front St
Right on South Ave
Left on Williamson
Right o Gibson
Left on E. Dewey
Right on Zedaker
Left on Midlothian
Right on Youngstown Poland Rd.
Left on W. Manor
Continue to E. Manor
Left into Struthers Plaza

INBOUND

Exit Struthers Plaza
Left on Rita Dr
Left on 5^th St
Left on Poland Ave.
Left on State St.
Left on Walton
Right on Midlothian
Right on Zedaker
Left on Dewey
Right on Gibson
Left on WIlliamson
Right on South Ave.
Left on Front
Right on Walnut
Left on Commerce
Left on Symphony Pl
Cont.to Federal Station

Choose The Non-Profit Organization of the Year

Twelve non-profit organizations that Light Up The Valley All Year Long have been chosen as the 2024 Holiday Lights Honorees! These organizations will be celebrated for their exceptional work in the community at a special event on November 21 and promoted through TV, social media, bus signs, and more. The twelve Honorees are listed below, along with links to their websites to learn more about each organization.

The 2024 Twelve Honorees —

Clover Recycling — Learn more.
Diva Donations — Learn more.
Dylans House — Learn more.
Friends of Fido — Learn more.
Limitless Dance Company — Learn more.
Mahoning County Public Special Olympics — Learn more.
Olivia’s Grace — Learn more.
Sight For All United —Learn more.
United Returning Citizens — Learn more.
Veterans Haven — Learn more.
Yellow Brick Place — Learn more.
Youngstown Lions Club — Learn more.

Vote for the Non-Profit of the Year

We’re asking the public to help select which one of these honorees above should be the Non-Profit Organization of the Year. To vote for your choice, please fill out the form below by 5:00 PM on Friday, November 15. Only one vote per person is permitted. The winner will be announced and presented with their award at the kick-off event!

Voting is now closed. Thank you to everyone who voted! The Non-Profit of the Year will be announced at the Holiday Lights event.