Commissioners OK plan to expand WRTA’s reach

NEW MIDDLETOWN — Mahoning County commissioners paved the way Thursday to again place a quarter percent, five-year sales tax for the Western Reserve Transit Authority on the November ballot.

Meeting at New Middletown village administration offices for the first time, the commissioners again passed the necessary legislation to expand the WRTA to include Mahoning County and begin providing bus service in the county’s southern rural areas.

The action alters the WRTA’s five-member board which is now appointed by the city of Youngstown to a seven-member board with four appointed by county commissioners and three by the city. The city of Youngstown also approved the change this week and the WRTA is now free to try again in November to pass the sales tax.

James Ferraro, WRTA executive director, said he is trying to set a meeting for the WRTA board to act Thursday to place the matter on the ballot.

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com