New #80 Lordstown Express Route Debuts Aug. 31

Starting Monday, August 31, WRTA’s new #80 Lordstown Express bus will travel twice daily Monday through Friday to and from PurFoods, located at the corner of Mahoning Avenue and Bailey Road in Lordstown.

The #80 Lordstown Express morning run will leave downtown Youngstown’s Federal Station at 6:10 am Monday through Friday and arrive at PurFoods at 6:45 am. It will depart from PurFoods at 7:05 am and arrive back at Federal Station at 7:40 am.

The afternoon run of #80 Lordstown Express departs Federal Station at 2:10 pm, arriving at PurFoods at 2:45 pm. Employees whose shifts end at 3:00 can then catch the bus at 3:10 pm and return to Federal Station at 3:40 pm.

The evening run of this route leaves Federal Station at 6:10 pm and arrives at PurFoods at 6:45 pm. It then departs PurFoods at 7:05 pm, arriving at Federal Station at 7:40 pm.

The route is expected to be adapted to serve the TJX distribution facility in Lordstown once it begins operations.

A reminder that rides on all WRTA buses are free through June 30, 2021. Riders (except those using wheelchairs, walkers or canes) must board the bus through the rear door. Those with strollers must fold the stroller before boarding. Riders must wear a face covering in order to travel on WRTA buses.

For Early or Election Day Voting, WRTA Can Get You There!

If you’re planning to vote in the 2020 Election, there’s a WRTA bus that can help you do just that. Here are three different ways we can help you cast your vote.

EARLY VOTING 

Now through Monday, November 2, you can beat the crowds on Election Day by Early Voting at the Mahoning County or Trumbull County Board of Elections.

The days and hours Early Voting is available can be seen at this page.

In Mahoning County: The 7-Glenwood bus runs every hour and stops near the Mahoning County Board of Elections.

In Trumbull County: The 28-Warren Express bus also runs every hour and stops at the intersection of Central Parkway Ave. SE and Youngstown Rd. SE (Rte. 422). If you’re coming from the Warren area, cross the street at the light and make the short walk to the Trumbull County Board of Elections. When returning, walk to the Rte. 422 at Central Parkway Ave. SE intersection and wait for the inbound 28-Warren Express bus.

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY (NOV. 3) USING FIXED ROUTE SERVICE

WRTA Fixed Route buses serve many polling places in Mahoning County and the City of Warren. Here’s how you can determine whether a Fixed Route bus can get you to your polling place.

If you don’t already know the location of your polling place, you can find out by entering your address at this link for Mahoning County, or this link for Trumbull County.

Using the Trip Planning feature of the myStop Mobile app, input your home address and the address of your polling place.

If a WRTA Fixed Route serves your polling place, you’ll see a list of the bus(es) you can take and departure times.

You can also plan this trip on our website by clicking here for the Online Trip Planner. Or call (330) 744-8431 for assistance.

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY (NOV. 3) USING ADA-ALL ACCESS OR COUNTYWIDE SERVICE

Here are additional options for those who cannot get to a polling place using WRTA Fixed Route service…

If your polling place is within our Fixed Route service area in Mahoning County or the City of Warren AND you are 65+ or ADA-eligible:

You can use WRTA’s ADA All-Access service to travel to and from any polling place in Mahoning County or the City of Warren that is within our Fixed Route service area. This door-to-door service must be scheduled in advance (up to 7 days before your trip), and you must apply for the service if you’re using it for the first time. See the ADA All-Access page on our website to learn more, or call (330) 744-8431 for more information.

If your polling place is located in Mahoning or Trumbull County but is outside of WRTA’s Fixed Route service area:

You can travel to and from your polling place by using WRTA’s Countywide service. This door-to-door service must be scheduled in advance (up to 7 days before your trip), and you must register for the service if you’re using it for the first time. See the Countywide page on our website to learn more, or call (330) 744-8431 for more information.

NOTE: We anticipate high demand for these services on Election Day, so it’s important to schedule your trip as much in advance as possible.

No Bus Service on 4th of July

June Board Meeting Cancelled

Please be advised that the June Board of Trustees Meeting set for Thursday, June 25 at 3:00 p.m. has been cancelled.

Watch for WRTA’s New Bus Stop Signs!

WRTA is in the process of installing new bus stop signs along our many Fixed Routes that serve Mahoning County and the city of Warren.

Each sign also displays a unique code for that stop that you can text to 321-123 from your mobile device. You’ll receive an automated reply that shows the next few buses that are scheduled to come to that stop, and the times they will arrive.

“The bus stop signs are designed to give our riders a clear indication of where they should stand if they want to catch one of our Fixed Route buses,” said WRTA Executive Director Dean Harris. “We’re encouraging riders to wait by these signs to board the bus. It’s a convenience as well as a safety issue.”

We expect to have bus stop signs on every Fixed Route over the next couple of months.

 

Fixed Routes Extended, New Late Night Service Debuts Monday, June 8

WRTA has instituted several changes to the services it offers in Mahoning County.

These changes took effect Monday, June 8:

• All regular Fixed Routes in Mahoning County have had their schedules extended later into the evening. Most Fixed Route buses will make their final runs of the day Monday through Friday between 8:00 and 9:00 pm.
• Fixed Route schedules in the City of Warren remain the same as they have been, with no evening runs.
• Nightline routes have been discontinued.
• In their place is WRTA Late Night — a scheduled curb-to-curb service offered with dedicated small vehicles — that operates between 9:00 pm and midnight Monday through Friday. Late Night buses will run only within areas served by WRTA’s Mahoning County Fixed Routes.

Rides on all WRTA buses will continue to be free until further notice. Regulations put in place during the coronavirus pandemic remain in effect:

• Riders on all WRTA buses must wear a face covering. Riders will be prohibited from boarding the bus without a face covering.
• Except for those in wheelchairs or with baby strollers, all riders must enter Fixed Route buses through the rear door.
• Social distancing must be observed for seating on all buses. Signs are posted on the seats to enforce this policy.
• Only life-necessary trips are permitted. All riders must have a destination, and must get off of the bus when they reach it. Recreational and continuous riding is prohibited.
• Federal Station will remain closed, though buses will continue to arrive and depart from in back of the building.

For more information, call the WRTA offices at 330-744-8431.

Face Coverings Are Mandatory for All WRTA Riders

Riders on all WRTA buses are required to wear face coverings.

WRTA bus drivers have been wearing face coverings for some time. For their protection, as well as the public’s, we are now requiring our passengers to wear them as well.

This mandatory requirement extends to all WRTA services (Fixed Route, Countywide and ADA All-Access). You will not be permitted to board a WRTA bus if you’re not wearing a face covering.

If you have questions, please call WRTA at (330) 744-8431.

Fixed Route (Big Bus) Service from WRTA Will Return Monday, May 18

The “big buses” have begun rolling again in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. WRTA resumed Fixed Route bus service on Monday, May 18.

All rides are free as through June 30, 2021. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, certain requirements will be enforced for all riders:

• All passengers must wear face coverings. Riders who are not wearing face coverings will not be permitted to board the bus.
• With the exception of wheelchair passengers or those with baby strollers, all passengers must enter the bus through the rear door.
• Social distancing must be observed for seating on the bus. Signs will be posted on the seats to enforce this policy.
• Only life-necessary trips are permitted. All riders must have a destination, and must get off of the bus when they reach it. Recreational and continuous riding is prohibited.
• Federal Station will remain closed, though buses will continue to arrive and depart from in back of the building.

For more information or any questions, call 330-744-8431.

Services closing early on June 1st

Please be advised that due to current state of emergency and curfew at 7 p.m. imposed by Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown, WRTA will be shutting down its services early this evening, Monday, June 1st:

• The last buses will leave Federal Station at 7:15 p.m.
• The last Midlothian Loop will leave at 5:30 p.m.
• The last Boardman-Canfield Loop will leave at 5:55 p.m.
• The last Boardman East Loop will leave at 5:55 p.m.

WRTA Service Could Be Affected by Downtown Youngstown Protests

Due to ongoing protests in the downtown Youngstown area, it is possible that the regular routes of some WRTA buses may be affected.

WRTA Executive Director Dean Harris says drivers are authorized to deviate from their normal fixed routes in order to avoid crowds. Thus, WRTA riders may experience delays or detours.

More information is available by calling 330-744-8431.