Free Rides on Fixed Routes February 14 for Ohio Loves Transit Day!

WRTA will be part of a statewide celebration of public transportation in Ohio on February 14.

Valentine’s Day has been designated as “Ohio Loves Transit Day,” and WRTA will mark the occasion by offering free rides on all of the fixed routes in the system.

Over three million Ohioans rely on public transportation every weekday — and WRTA riders are a significant part of this group. They use WRTA to get to their jobs, for medical appointments, to buy groceries and to visit family and friends. In addition, over 40 percent of WRTA riders are persons with disabilities, while many others don’t own a vehicle and have no other means of transportation.

WRTA is important even to those who don’t use the service personally. It is a vital part of the local economy, in that area retailers benefit from customers who otherwise would have no way of patronizing their places of business. Also, WRTA makes it possible for more people to hold a steady job and therefore pay taxes. In fact, it’s estimated that every dollar invested in public transit generates four dollars to Ohio’s economy.

WRTA’s fixed route buses will operate from approximately 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on Ohio Loves Transit Day. Nightline routes operate as late as midnight. All rides on each of these fixed routes will be free on February 14. See this page for route and schedule information.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

WRTA Buses May Be Delayed

Please be advised that due to the inclement weather, WRTA buses may be delayed so please plan accordingly.  Your patience and understanding is appreciated!

New Year’s Day – January 1st

Last Chance to Ride the Holiday Bus: First Night New Year’s Eve

The WRTA Holiday Bus will make its final appearance this year at the First Night Youngstown celebration on New Year’s Eve. Along with a regular WRTA bus, it will carry passengers between events from 4:00 pm till just after midnight. There will be no charge for rides on either bus.

First Night events are scheduled for several locations in downtown Youngstown, including the Covelli Centre, as well as along Wick Avenue and on the YSU campus. The buses will make continuous runs in both directions between the venues.

The Holiday Bus, sponsored by First National Bank, brightened the holidays for thousands of riders this season, as it traveled every daytime route in the WRTA system at least once. Look for the Holiday Bus to return in December 2o18!

WRTA Holiday Bus Makes Its Debut at Boardman Library Event

The holiday spirit was definitely in the air as the WRTA Holiday Bus made its first appearance at the Boardman Branch of the Public Library of Mahoning County on December 13.

The festively decorated bus pulled into the parking lot with driver Howdy Divelbiss and WRTA Director of Transportation Judy Rodriguez dressed for the occasion. Kids and their parents got to visit with Santa and receive gift bags courtesy of the Library.

As WRTA Executive Director Jim Ferraro noted, “The Holiday Bus is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the voters who supported our recent Sales Tax issue, which will allow us to continue to provide transportation service to Mahoning County residents who need WRTA to get to their jobs, their doctor, and to shop for groceries and other necessities. We’re also thanking our riders for their continued patronage by making all rides on the Holiday Bus free.”

The bus will travel all WRTA daytime routes at least once from now through December 30, and Santa will be on board through December 23. Check the previous News story for a complete schedule.

The final appearance of the WRTA Holiday Bus will be at the First Night celebration in downtown Youngstown on New Year’s Eve.

 

 

Ride the WRTA Holiday Bus FREE! Here Are the Routes and Times

Between December 14 and December 30, the WRTA Holiday bus will make at least one trip on every route within our system. And when you see the Holiday Bus coming, you can keep your fare in your pocket, because everyone rides FREE!

The Holiday Bus will make its final runs in downtown Youngstown on New Year’s Eve as part of the First Night celebration.

Here is the full schedule (times shown are when the Holiday Bus leaves Federal Station unless otherwise indicated):

DAY	DATE	ROUTE	TIME
Thursday	December 14	8 Market	10:10 AM
		10 Belmont	11:10 AM
		4 Steel	1:40 PM
		11 Cornersburg	2:40 PM
Friday	December 15	12 Albert	12:40 PM
		1 Elm	1:30 PM
Saturday	December 16	28 Warren Express	4:40 PM
Monday	December 18	6 Fifth	10:10 AM
		2 Oak	11:10 AM
Tuesday	December 19	16 Buckeye	5:10 PM
		15 Struthers	6:10 PM
Wednesday	December 20	14 Mosier	2:40 PM
		3 Wilson	3:40 PM
Thursday	December 21	7 Glenwood	10:10 AM
		5 South	11:40 AM
Friday	December 22	9 Austintown	3:10 PM
		12 McGuffey	4:10 PM
Saturday	December 23	26 Boardman East Loop	*2:40 PM
		23 Canfield/Boardman Loop	3:40 PM
		25 Boardman/Canfield Loop	*4:25 PM
Tuesday	December 26	8 Market	6:10 AM
		8 Market	8:10 AM
		10 Belmont	7:10 AM
		10 Belmont	9:10 AM
Wednesday	December 27	4 Steel	10:40 AM
		4 Steel	12:40 PM
		4 Steel	2:40 PM
		11 Cornersburg	11:40 AM
		11 Cornersburg	1:40 PM
Thursday	December 28	14 Mosier	9:40 AM
		14 Mosier	11:40 AM
		1 Elm	10:40 AM
		5 South	12:40 PM
		7 Glenwood	*1:20 PM
Friday	December 29	9 Austintown	5:38 AM
		9 Austintown	7:10 AM
		9 Austintown	9:10 AM
		13 McGuffey	6:10 AM
		13 McGuffey	8:10 AM
Saturday	December 30	7 Glenwood	12:10 PM
		7 Glenwood	*2:20 PM
		5 South	*12:45 PM
		5 South	1:40 PM
Sunday	December 31	First Night Youngstown	TBA

* leaving Southern Park Mall

Bring the Kids to See WRTA’s Holiday Bus and Santa Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 3:00 pm!

WRTA is getting into the spirit of the season this year in a new and exciting way with a beautifully decorated Holiday Bus.

The WRTA Holiday Bus, sponsored by First National Bank, will make its public debut at a special event to be held at the Boardman location of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County (7680 Glenwood Avenue). The bus will roll into the Library parking lot on Wednesday, December 13 at 3:00 pm. — and it will be carrying a special passenger: Santa Claus!

Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the Library for this magical event. Kids will have the opportunity to visit with Santa on board the bus (his “throne” will be a seat in the middle of the back row) and receive special gift bags provided by the Public Library.

The WRTA Holiday Bus will be decorated both outside and in with all the festive sights and colors of the season, and holiday music will be played on board. Starting the next day, the bus will be traveling all daytime WRTA routes in Mahoning County from December 13 through the end of the year. And here’s the best part…all rides on the Holiday Bus will be free!

We’ve posted a schedule of the days and times the Holiday Bus will be on your route. You might want to plan a ride on the WRTA Holiday Bus when your kids or grandkids can join you.

The Holiday Bus’s  final appearance will be at downtown Youngstown’s First Night celebration New Year’s Eve.

All the best wishes of the season to our WRTA riders!

 

[NOTE: Illustration above is an artist’s conception.]

Thanksgiving Day – November 23rd

Please be advised that WRTA will be closed and there will be no bus service on Thursday, November 23rd 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 24th.

Veterans Day – November 11, 2017