Approval of WRTA levy would restore, expand bus services

YOUNGSTOWN — After drastic service reductions, the Western Reserve Transit Authority is appealing to voters for a quarter-percent sales tax that would make the public transit system countywide.

The transit system slashed its $7 million budget to $5 million last year with measures that included layoffs and route reductions. Between 45 and 50 percent of its runs have been eliminated, said Executive Director Jim Ferraro.

“We’ve experienced increases in fuel costs, for insurance costs and a lot of things that come with public transportation,” said Ferraro. Meanwhile, annual state funding for public transportation has been reduced from about $800,000 in the late 1990s to about $172,000 today, Ferraro said.

A countywide sales tax would be enough to restore night and weekend service as well as assume some of the single-passenger transportation programs at the county level, said Ferraro.

Officials estimate voter approval of the tax — which will appear on ballots as Issue 1 — would generate about $7.5 million annually. The $2.5 million being generated by a 5-mill property tax in the city of Youngstown would be eliminated following a successful levy.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.