Sales tax levy would keep WRTA buses rolling

By David Skolnick

The head of the transit agency calls the current level of service to the region ‘almost embarrassing.’

YOUNGSTOWN — With the Western Reserve Transit Authority on life support, the approval of a 0.25-percent Mahoning County sales tax in November is the difference between making a full recovery and thriving, or quite possibly pulling the plug on its existence, its executive director says.

“It doesn’t look pretty; we don’t know if we can cut much more,” said James Ferraro, WRTA’s head. “We don’t know if we can survive [without the sales tax]. We’ve cut as much as we can.”

If the tax fails in November, the agency’s board will give serious consideration to shutting down, he said.

“We don’t want to close,” but may have no other choice, said Ferraro, adding that the current level of service by WRTA is “almost embarrassing.”

The county sales tax for WRTA was rejected by 57 percent of voters in March.

More than 60 percent of Youngstown voters supported the tax that was soundly defeated in the suburbs and rural communities.

Youngstown has two property taxes that raise about $2.6 million a year for the transportation agency. WRTA receives no funding from other communities or the county.

If the sales tax is approved, it would raise about $7 million annually for WRTA. The agency would then eliminate the Youngstown levies.

In order to avoid a deficit, WRTA has made significant cuts to its budget and services, Ferraro said.

In 2002, the agency had about 100 employees. It now has 52, and none have received raises in three years, he said.

The agency had 26 routes three years ago and now has 12, most in Youngstown with a few that travel to Boardman and Liberty. Also, WRTA used to run until midnight and had Saturday service. The latter was eliminated, and the buses stop running at 6 p.m.

WRTA raised its monthly unlimited ride pass June 1 from $38 to $42 for adults and students, and from $19 to $21 for the disabled and those 62 years of age and older.

The bus system has seen its state funding decline from $347,000 in 2002 to $116,000 last year, Ferraro said.

A huge expense for WRTA is fuel, ironically a reason to turn to public transportation, he said.

WRTA along with 10 other public transportation systems in Northeast Ohio have a contract with a Cleveland company through the end of the year for a fixed price of $2.77 a gallon for diesel for its buses. The price will definitely increase, probably by quite a bit, Ferraro said.

WRTA is using about 60 percent of the diesel it used in 2007, when the fixed price was $2.07 a gallon, he said.

“The fuel problem is killing this country,” Ferraro said. “Fuel costs are making people take a second look at public transportation.”

If the tax passes, bus routes abandoned by the agency would return as would service until midnight and Saturday runs, he said.

The agency would also implement door-to-door bus service for those in need of transportation throughout the county for $1 a ride, he said.

skolnick@vindy.com