A Valentine’s Day Gift: Free Rides on All Fixed-Route Buses February 14!
Bus riders in the Mahoning Valley will enjoy a Valentine’s Day gift: free rides on all Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) fixed route buses on Friday, February 14.
WRTA, along with many other Ohio transit systems, is participating in “Ohio Loves Transit Day,” an annual event sponsored by the Ohio Public Transit Association (OPTA).
“Ohio Loves Transit Day gives us the opportunity to thank WRTA riders for their loyalty, and also to welcome new riders who may not have used WRTA previously,” said Executive Director Dean Harris.
Depending on the route, WRTA’s fixed route buses will operate from as early as 5:10 am to 7:00 pm on Ohio Loves Transit Day, while Nightline routes will run as late as midnight. All rides on each of these fixed routes will be free on February 14. (WRTA’s Countywide and ADA-All Access buses are not a part of this free promotion.)
Complete route and schedule information is available here.
Sitio web de WRTA y documentos de respaldo — ahora disponible en Español
Los visitantes del sitio web de WRTA (WRTAonline.com) ahora pueden ver todo el sitio en español con un simple clic del mouse.
Cada página del sitio web tiene un área de “Traducir” en la esquina superior derecha que presenta enlaces en los que se puede hacer clic para traducir toda la página al español o volver al inglés nuevamente. El sitio continuará desde ese punto para mostrarse en el idioma seleccionado cuando se haga clic en cualquier otro enlace.
Además, ciertos documentos de soporte en el sitio que están en formato PDF también se pueden ver en sus traducciones al español, incluidos los documentos relacionados con ADA y Derechos Civiles / Título VI, y la Guía de pasajeros WRTA.
Warren Service Starts Mar. 2 – Preview Map and Schedules Here!
WRTA will begin offering Monday through Friday Fixed Route bus service within the city of Warren on Monday, March 2.
You can preview the new schedules for the #70 through #75 routes by clicking here.
You will also see the newly expanded Monday through Friday 28-Warren Express route, which will now serve Mahoning Avenue and the Kent State University Trumbull Campus — as well as the final map for all routes.
New at Federal Station
WRTA has installed a series of banners below each of the route number signs next to the bus shelters at Federal Station.
The banners highlight some of the services offered by WRTA. They include:
- Our myStop Mobile smartphone app, which allows riders to track their bus, plan trips, and receive text notifications when their bus is nearing their stop.
- The EZfare smartphone app, which can be used to purchase Adult Day Passes, Multi-Ride Tickets and Adult 31-day passes without the need for paper passes.
Expanded WRTA Service Coming to Warren on Monday, March 2!
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has announced a grant that will enable the Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) to begin Fixed Route bus service in Trumbull County on March 2, 2020, with up to six routes serving the greater Warren area. The grant also provides funding for several other WRTA initiatives in both Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.
WRTA already operates the Warren Express route, which runs from Federal Station in downtown Youngstown to Courthouse Square in Warren. This route is being expanded and now will serve the Kent State University Trumbull branch as well.
The new Warren Fixed Route buses would all be accessible to riders traveling the Warren Express route, so there will be a seamless connection between them. Fares for the Fixed Route buses in Warren will be the same as other WRTA routes.
Maps and schedule information for the new Warren routes will be posted on the WRTA website soon.
WRTA Kicks Off 2019 Holiday Bus with Kids, Santa
WRTA officially launched its 2019 Holiday Bus on Monday morning, November 25, when the bus pulled into the parking lot of the Newport branch of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County.
On board was a special passenger: Santa Claus. Excited children, who are students at Alta Head Start, got on the bus for a visit with Santa, whose “throne” was the seat in the back row. Kids also enjoyed refreshments and activities courtesy of WRTA and the Library.
The festively decorated Holiday Bus is designed to bring cheer to children, adults and everyone who will ride it. It made its debut two years ago and was a tremendous hit with riders in 2017 and 2018. This year’s new and enhanced holiday-themed design is carried out both outside and inside of the bus, and holiday music adds to the fun atmosphere.
This year’s Holiday Bus is co-sponsored by WKBN-TV and First National Bank. Officials of both entities joined WRTA Executive Director Dean Harris and the Library’s Director Aimee Fifarek in presenting the bus to the media and children.
The Holiday Bus will travel every WRTA Fixed Route at least once from Friday, November 29 through Christmas Eve Day, and Santa will be on-board for all runs. (You can view the full bus schedule below.)
All rides on the WRTA Holiday Bus will be free.
2019 Holiday Bus Schedule
For a printable schedule in PDF format, please click here.
EZfare Brings Mobile Ticketing to WRTA
You can now purchase multi-ride passes for WRTA Fixed Route buses on your smartphone with the EZfare app, and then simply show the bar code on your phone to the WRTA driver. No cash or physical pass needed!
Once you’ve downloaded the EZfare app from the App Store or Google Play and set up your account, you can buy Adult Day Passes, Multi-Ride Tickets and Adult 31-day Passes through the EZfare app. Please note that EZfare cannot be used to purchase single, one-ride fares.
Click this link to learn how to download the EZfare app and set up your account.
YOUride Expands Service Area, Offers FREE Rides
Those using WRTA’s new YOUride service now have even more destinations they can be taken to or picked up from. And YOUride is being offered FREE during the introductory period.
The YOUride service area has been expanded; it now encompasses as far as Starrs Corners in Canfield Township to the west, the Poland Giant Eagle in Poland Township to the east, and Western Reserve Road to the south.
YOUride, a shared-ride service, can now take riders not only to destinations that are not a convenient walking distance from a WRTA Fixed Route, but also into areas that aren’t served by any Fixed Route bus.
Some common ways you might use YOUride
If your job is located a substantial distance from where your WRTA Fixed Route bus stops and you START or LEAVE work between 6:30 and 10:30 pm.
When you’re GOING to work, you can request a YOUride to pick you up where your bus stops and and bring you right to the door of your job. When you LEAVE work between 6:30 and 10:30 pm, request a YOUride to pick you up at your place of employment and bring you to a WRTA Fixed Route.
When you want to dine, shop or run other errands within the service area between 6:30 and 10:30 pm.
Just take a WRTA Fixed Route Bus to the service area and request a YOUride to pick you up. You’ll be dropped off right at the door of any supermarket, department store, medical center, restaurant or other location in the service area. When you’re done shopping or running errands, request another YOUride to pick you up at your location and bring you to a WRTA Fixed Route.
If you want to travel ANYWHERE within the service area between 6:30 and 10:30 pm.
Whether it’s your home, your job, a store, a restaurant, a hotel or any other location — YOUride will get you there! As long as your pick-up point and destination are within the service area, you can request a YOUride.
Getting started with YOUride
To use YOUride, you must download the TransLoc smartphone app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). The TransLoc app is the only way you can request a YOUride.
A map of the expanded YOUride service area is below. For more information, visit the YOUride page on this website.
YOUride Service Area
No Bus Service from 10:00–11:00 am — Friday, October 4
In order to allow our drivers to attend funeral services for former WRTA Executive Director Jim Ferraro, WRTA buses that leave from Federal Station at 10:10 am and 10:40 am will not operate on Friday, October 4.
Please check the WRTA schedule for the bus you plan to ride during this time frame to see how it will be affected.
Normal service will resume with the 11:10 am and 11:40 am buses on that day.
YOUride Service Comes to Boardman
WRTA is testing a new service in Boardman that will make it easier for shoppers and others to get around within the Rte. 224 retail corridor from the West Blvd. Giant Eagle to Tiffany Blvd. and the South Ave. Walmart.
YOUride is an on-demand, rider-scheduled small-bus service that can used to get to several different retail stores within the service area without having to wait for a Fixed Route bus. Or, if you work in Boardman and need to connect with a major Fixed Route hub such as the Southern Park Mall or Walmart in order to get you to your job or home after your shift is complete, YOUride can get you there. And those who are staying at one of the motels south of Rte. 224 can take YOUride to restaurants, stores or any other location within the service area.
Rides can be scheduled only via the TransLoc smartphone app, which you can download from Google Play or the App Store. Once you’ve registered and scheduled your first ride, you’ll see the approximate time when your YOUride bus will arrive, and you’ll be able to follow its progress in real time on a map within the app.
YOUride service is available between 6:30 pm and 10:30 pm Monday through Friday within the service area shown on the map below. The YOUride introductory fare is just $1.00 per ride!
If you’d like more information or have questions about YOUride, call (330) 744-8431 or visit our YOUride page on this website.
