Mahoning, Shenango Valleys Get $6.67M for Transit Systems

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Mahoning and Shenango valleys will split $6.67 million for public transit agencies.

The funding for the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman Ohio-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area represents a portion of the $264.5 million provided to Ohio through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the 2023 fiscal year. The MSA covers Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Ohio and Mercer County in Pennsylvania. 

Ohio will receive $1.3 billion of guaranteed transit formula funding over the next five years. This funding for Ohio infrastructure will help public transit agencies invest in expanding service for Ohioans, job training and new low- and no-emission buses, according to a news release from U.S. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Ohio will receive nearly $5 million of the $5.57 million in urbanized area formula grant funds, while Pennsylvania will receive $566,810 from the same grant fund. Another $455,653 for buses and bus facilities will be divided between the two states and $652,662 for enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities will be split between the Ohio and Pennsylvania departments of transportation for the metro area.

Western Reserve Transit Authority provides fixed-route service in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Shenango Valley Shuttle Services is the fixed-route provider in the Shenango Valley. 

“This is the continuation of the largest investment in Ohio’s public transportation ever. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already getting resources to Ohio communities to improve transportation,” Brown, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, said. 

“Employers, entrepreneurs and workers have all been asking for better transit,” he said. “Now we’re delivering by making major investments that will create good-paying American jobs that cannot be shipped overseas, and that will help Ohio localities of all sizes all over the state thrive and grow.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.