Federal Station Building Closing Tomorrow at 4:00 PM
WRTA’s Federal Station building at 340 W. Federal St., Youngstown, will be closed beginning November 6 at 4:00 PM for a scheduled electrical system update and will reopen for normal operations on November 7.
Bus service will not be affected — riders can board and deboard from this location as normal.
Nominate Your Favorite Local Non-Profit to Win Holiday Lights Award
The Annual WRTA Holiday Lights Campaign is once again honoring local non-profit organizations that light up the Valley all year long. Non-profits and those who know their good works can nominate a deserving non-profit by clicking here and completing this short form.
Winners will be honored at a special event on Thursday evening, November 21st at the DeYor Performing Arts Center in downtown Youngstown. In addition, the winning non-profits will receive
- ongoing promotion and recognition on TV,
- bus advertising,
- featured on WRTA’s giant digital display sign,
- social media marketing
- entry into a special drawing to win a social media or TV ad campaign to promote their organizations
- or make donation appeals
Complete and return the form before Friday, October 25.
HOW TO NOMINATE
Leaders of area non-profits who believe the work they have done has been exceptional and beneficial to the Valley can nominate their organizations by filling out the form below before Friday, October 25.
Thank you to all those organizations that entered! Our 2024 co-chairs will choose twelve winners, who will be contacted this week.
NEW AWARD ADDED FOR 2024 — NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR
The 2024 WRTA Holiday Lights Campaign will also feature a new special award. One of the 12 Holiday Lights award winners will be chosen as NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR. This award includes and a 3-month TV advertising campaign from WKBN TV and a 12-month social media campaign from StrategiX Social.
FAQ: Can you nominate your non-profit even if it has been one of the 12 winners in the past three years? YES, you can win as many times as your organization is chosen.
PAST WINNERS
Don’t delay, nominate your favorite non-profit today. Here are our past WRTA Holiday Lights award winners.
2023:
- Action Mahoning Valley Mobile Truck
- AMYA Marie Foundation
- Dorothy Day House
- Healthy Hearts & Paws
- National Alliance for Mental Illness
- MOAB House
- Persayus Way Project
- Senior Support Action Group
- Angels for Animals
- Sleep in Heavenly Peace
- Thrive Mahoning Valley
- Veterans Outreach
2022:
- Alta Care Group
- Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown
- Cadence Care Network
- Gateways to Better Living
- Glenwood Grounds
- Jewish Family and Community Services
- NAMI Mahoning Valley
- The Bummer Fund
- Yellow Brick Place
- YoFresh Foods
- Youngstown Blue Coats
- Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation
2021:
- Animal Charity of Ohio
- Buster’s Brigade
- City Kids Care
- Compass Family and Community Services
- Down Syndrome Association of the Valley
- Gateways to Better Living
- Help Network of NEO (Crisis and Suicide Hotline)
- Mercy Health Resource Mother’s Program
- Potential Development
- Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County
- Project MKC (formerly Making Kids Count)
- Rich Center for Autism
New Route Changes Effective August 18
Due to an operator shortage, WRTA announces route changes starting August 18. The upcoming changes will affect the following routes: #10 Belmont, #9 Austintown, and #8 Market St. These routes will run hourly service until further notice.
Riders can view the upcoming changes in the timetables below —
#8 Market Schedule Effective 8/18
#9 Austintown Schedule Effective 8/18
#10 Belmont Schedule Effective 8/18
A minor update will also be made to route #15 Struthers with a street change. Riders can view the upcoming change in the map and timetable below —
#15 Struthers Schedule Effective 8/18
#15 Struthers Map Effective 8/18
All route changes will be reflected on the myStop Mobile app and WRTA’s Maps and Schedules page on August 18.
WRTA Receives $1.3M to Improve Bus Garage
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced a $1.3 million investment to renovate the Western Reserve Transit Authority’s bus fleet facility. This funding aims to provide significant upgrades to the facility, which was built in the 1970s and 1980s.
The investment was made possible by the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which authorizes up to $108 billion in federal funds for public transportation. Over $52 million in grants have been given to the state of Ohio through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) bus grant programs since last year.
The projects announced are supported by FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low-and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs.
The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities.
FTA’s Low-and No-Emission program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease U.S.-built low- or no-emission vehicles, including buses and vans, make facility and station upgrades to accommodate low- or no-emission vehicles, and buy supporting equipment like battery electric charging.
The WRTA bus fleet facility needs upgrades and repairs, including a new roof, doors and door controls, and updated electrical, safety, and HVAC systems. The investment will also update fueling equipment for pollution-free electric vehicles.
Route Changes Announced for June
WRTA has made improvements to a number of its Fixed Routes to better serve the community. These routes include:
- #14-Mosier
- #15-Struthers
- #16-Zedaker
- #25-Canfield Loop
- #74-Elm
The changes to these routes will take effect on June 2 and will be reflected in the Maps & Schedules section of the WRTA website and on the Mystop Mobile app.
The new route schedules and maps can be found below —
#14-Mosier
#15-Struthers
#16-Zedaker
#25-Canfield-Loop
#74-Elm
WRTA Will be Closed on Memorial Day
Please be advised that WRTA will be closed and there will be no bus service on Monday, May 27th in observance of the holiday.
We hope that you and your family will have a very happy and safe Memorial Day!
Regular bus service will resume on Tuesday, May 28th.
Notice of Sale of Surplus Vehicles/Equipment
The Western Reserve Transit Authority will be selling surplus equipment by means of public online auction. Equipment will be advertised and sold through the Public Surplus Online Auction Services website — Public Surplus rules and bidding policies apply to all bidders. All equipment will be sold on an “as is and with all faults” basis. No warranty or mechanical condition of fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise shall be given.
Vehicles —
- (four) 2014 Chevrolet G4500 Light Transit Vehicles
- (one) 2015 Ford E450 Light Transit Vehicle
- (one) 2016 and one 2019 Modified Dodge Caravans
- (one) 2013 Chevrolet Traverse
The auction will begin on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 and will end Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
Additional information can be found HERE or by contacting Jeff Siwiec at (330) 941-5762 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Congratulations Small Business Winners!
WRTA hosted the third annual Give Local Small Business a Lift Campaign kick-off event on Thursday, April 18th. The following thirteen winners of the campaign were spotlighted and presented with an award at the event:
Two lucky winners also had their names chosen from a random drawing to win a TV Advertising Campaign and a Social Media Campaign. Those two winners were:
- $3,000 WKBN TV Advertising Campaign — J. Jenee Spa and Wellness
- $4,000 StrategiX Social Media Campaign — All Spruced Up Cleaning, Co
Thank you 2024 Small Business Sponsors!
- The Business Journal
- WKBN TV-27
- StrategiX Social
WRTA Announces Winners for Small Business Campaign
Thirteen local small businesses were selected to be featured in the 2024 WRTA Give Small Business A Lift campaign. Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) began the campaign in 2022 as a way to help Valley small businesses to thrive. 2024 is the third annual event and a total of 37 businesses and their owners have been featured so far.
“Many of our riders are heading to or from jobs and we wanted to support the businesses that employ our riders,” says Dean Harris, Executive Director of WRTA. “Running a small business is not easy and operating here in the Valley might even be more challenging. The work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit of the small business owners is amazing.”
More than 100 small businesses applied for the featured business status, and thirteen were chosen from that group by three business experts who served as co-chairpersons. The co-chairs are Teresa Miller, Executive Director, Mahoning Valley Development Partners, David Wilaj, Director, Mahoning Valley Logistics Council and Dan Procopio, Product Manager, CBC Global.
The 2024 WRTA Featured Small Businesses are:
- All Spruced Up Cleaning Co.
- Avalon Downtown Pizzeria
- Jenee Spa & Wellness
- Gloris Counseling Services
- La La Love Healthcare LLC
- Charly’s Family Restaurant
- The Joshua Tree
- The Emma Elf Project
- Rescued to Riches Pet Groom and Board
- Bending Oak Permaculture Farm
- Haus Auto Group
- Guided Compass Holistic Health
- QUICKmed Urgent Care
CAMPAIGN SPONSORS
The sponsors of the campaign include The Business Journal, WKBN TV 27, and StrategiX Social (a division of Farris Marketing)
CAMPAIGN BENEFITS
The thirteen featured small businesses will be promoted on WRTA buses, social media, giant digital sign downtown, and in TV commercials. In addition, featured businesses are entered in two random drawings. One winner of the drawings will receive a TV campaign from WKBN TV 27 and one will win a social media campaign from StrategiX Social.
KICKOFF EVENT
The kickoff event will take place Thursday, April 18.
WRTA Providing Free Eclipse Glasses
Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) is offering eclipse glasses for no charge while supplies last. The glasses will be available ONE HOUR before the event on Monday, April 8 at the ticket window inside WRTA’s Federal Station in downtown Youngstown. You do not have to be a rider to receive the glasses.
WRTA wants to remind riders and all area residents that appropriate eyewear is necessary to view the solar eclipse event on Monday afternoon.
