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.

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.