YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Western Reserve Transit Authority increased ridership by 28% in 2023. It provided over 1.7 million trips, making it the best year in over a decade, says Dean Harris, executive director.
WRTA made progress on several projects, including planning for the Federal Station renovation and submitting successful grant applications.
“It was an exciting and productive year,” Harris says.
WRTA launched its On Demand app, which allows users to schedule late-night curb-to-curb service. The transit authority also completed its second Give Local Small Business a Lift campaign and its third Holiday Lights campaign.
This year, WRTA kicked off its new Art on the Move Campaign, which recognizes local artists and their work.
WRTA landed three federal grants totaling nearly $8.5 million. The grants include a $4.3 million for construction and improvements to its bus maintenance and operations garage.
A second award of $2.9 million will be used to complete the engineering and final design of the reconstruction of WRTA’s Federal Street station. .
The third grant, $1.2 million, will be used to replace older buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. WRTA has a goal of going all-electric by 2040 and will begin converting its large bus fleet to electric in 2026.