WRTA keeps its promise, restores night, Sat. service
By KATIE SEMINARA
The transit service, boosted by two federal grants, is welcoming back eight employees.
YOUNGSTOWN — Night and Saturday services haven’t been available to Western Reserve Transit Authority riders for almost two years, but that changes Monday.
“It feels more like a transit agency again,” said Tom Nugen, director of transportation.
“We’re glad to be in a mode where we’re adding services,” he said.
Starting Monday, six night service routes will be added, as well as Saturday services, Nugen said.
The first Saturday service will be Feb. 7.
Other added routes include the 40-Austintown bus that will go to Wal-Mart on Mahoning Avenue and the 31-Oak bus that will service Campbell and Struthers Liberty Road.
These services are able to start early because of two federal grants the WRTA received, as well as the remainder of the Youngstown property tax, Nugen said.
Besides adding services, the WRTA is welcoming back eight employees, some whom have been laid off since 2005.
The restoration of these services is just the beginning of changes being made by the WRTA.
Countywide services will be ready to roll by September, Nugen said. The countywide services will offer door-to-door operation, suburban cross-town service and express routes to Youngstown State University.
Providing the countywide services will depend on the revenue coming in from the 0.25 percent, five-year sales tax, which was passed in November 2008. The WRTA will not likely see any revenue from the sales tax until the summer, Nugen said.
The WRTA had originally estimated that it would receive about $7 million, but “of course sales tax is based on the economy,” said Nugen, who now estimates closer to $6 million.
“It’s going to open up a lot of opportunity for people in the county,” said Nugen of the September services and the revenue generated from the sales tax.
“With the state of the economy, this will provide people with alternate means of travel,” he said.
The September services will also include fixed routes, which means buses will run more frequently and existing routes will be evaluated and possibly adjusted.
Though it’s going to be a “gradual rolling out of services,” the WRTA is pleased with its progress thus far, Nugen said.
Six new 12-passenger vehicles, which are meant for specialized transportation, will arrive in March. The WRTA is also looking to upgrade mapping software and possibly purchase new radio systems, which will benefit drivers when the countywide service begins, Nugen said.
For more information on newly added services and upcoming services, visit www.wrtaonline.com.