YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Western Reserve Transit Authority was awarded $228,413 in state funding to expand its Warren Express route, increasing service frequency to every 30 minutes during peak hours between Youngstown and Warren.
This enhancement will improve access to major employers, educational institutions and local businesses across Mahoning and Trumbull counties, supporting workforce mobility and economic growth in the region, a news release states.
The funding is part of a $13.5 million investment for 28 public transit projects through the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership program.
“Transportation should never stand in the way of a good job,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “This investment will help more Ohioans get to work and support employers who need reliable, skilled workers.”
Reestablished in House Bill 54, the program directs federal funding through the state transportation budget to projects that support workforce transportation by connecting residents to economically significant employment centers, bridge service gaps between rural and urban transit authorities and enhance mobility for residents in areas with limited or no public transit access.
“We keep seeing great companies moving into Ohio or growing in Ohio. The number of job opportunities coming our way is exciting,” Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel said. “Now we need to do our part, as a state, to empower our people to take advantage of these opportunities and become a part of our workforce team. By removing barriers to transportation for workers, that’s exactly what this program will do.”