WRTA offers free bus rides downtown

WRTA's executive director is encouraging people to come downtown.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- No fare.
Western Reserve Transit Authority will celebrate the SteelHounds first home hockey game at the convocation center Nov. 4 by offering free bus rides to and from downtown Youngstown all day.
Civic leaders are working hard to make downtown attractive, said Jim Ferraro, WRTA executive director. Downtown is a destination, and WRTA is the way to get there, Ferraro said.
The WRTA board met Thursday.
WRTA in trouble
Ferraro told the board of the need to promote WRTA services and the transit authority's two operating levies up for renewal Nov. 8. Ferraro said the loss of those two levies would mean a $2 million loss for the transit service.
"The future of WRTA is at stake, and we hope people understand that," Ferraro said.
"We have some hot races this time that should bring people out to vote, so I'm optimistic."
WRTA wants to be a key part of Youngstown's future, because WRTA's future depends on Youngstown, Ferraro said.
"If we can get more people riding downtown, that means shorter trips for us," Ferraro said. "Without downtown business, we are traveling longer to get business out of town."
Coming downtown
SteelHounds games and other events at the convocation center will bring people downtown, which should mean more business for restaurants and other downtown businesses, he said. WRTA is also working on plans to provide shuttle service for convocation center events, but the details are still being worked out, he said.
Ferraro said people can ride the bus downtown and go to the game and not have to worry about getting home. Bus runs after the game will be no problem, he said.
"People shouldn't worry about coming downtown," Ferraro said. "There's nothing wrong with downtown Youngstown except that it needs cleaned up and fixed up, and there are a lot of people working on that. There's more and more activity downtown on Friday and Saturday nights, and that's great to see."
WRTA is sponsoring a contest for its riders in October. Up for grabs is a free, 6-month transit pass.
WRTA riders 18 and older can register Oct. 3-31 by picking up an entry form at Federal Station downtown, or by sending their name, address and phone number to WRTA Contest Entry, 604 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown, OH 44502.
The drawing will be Nov. 4 and there will be one winner. The free, six-month transit pass will be effective Jan. 1 to July 1, 2006.