Assistance vehicle will be permanent in Youngstown metropolitan area

July 2, 2015 at 7:11p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

An Ohio Department of Transportation motorist assistance vehicle will now be permanent in the metropolitan area of Youngstown.

The State Farm Safety Patrol vehicle was introduced to the area in May in association with the Interstate 80 construction project. “It sort of started with the I-80 project and we realized this was a beneficial thing for the Youngstown-area so we decided to make it permanent,” said Matt Bruning, ODOT press secretary.

Similarly, there are permanent ODOT State Farm-sponsored vehicles in Akron, Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.

In a news release announcing the permanent vehicle, the Youngstown patrol vehicle assisted more than 346 motorists in May and June. “It kind of started out slow in May because that was our very first month,” Bruning said. “We anticipate those numbers will probably increase as we go forward.”

The vehicle will patrol the metropolitan area on Interstates 80 and 680 and state Routes 711 and 11. Justin Chesnic, spokesperson for ODOT District 4, said that means on I-80 between state Route 46 and state Route 193/Belmont Avenue, on I-680 from I-80 to Route 711 and on Route 11 from I-80 to U.S. Route 224.

“It’s a good program that ... basically helps motorists who are stranded,” Chesnic said.