YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Western Reserve Transit Authority’s autonomous shuttle is expected to hit the road within a few weeks, the agency’s executive director said.
WRTA introduced the shuttle in August, and it’s been going through testing to ensure it operates correctly. One company provides the technology for the autonomous package, and a second company provides the administration and drivers.
“They’re still testing it,” Dean Harris said. “Hopefully, in the next few weeks we’ll have it operational.”
Although the shuttle will be autonomous, a safety driver will be on board to take over if it’s necessary. When the shuttle goes into service, it will travel along Fifth Avenue between WRTA’s Federal Street station and Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.
The city has a separate autonomous vehicle that it’s testing. When it’s operational, it will travel Federal.
Annual Report
WRTA released its 2024 annual report last week. It lists more than 2 million passenger trips, more than 1.5 million miles traveled and 90,951 hours in service last year. And the service provides more than 7,000 rides daily for Mahoning Valley residents traveling to work, shops, medical appointments and other locations.
Last year, WRTA received several grants to begin rebuilding its infrastructure including replacing its 1920s-era bus barn and adding on to the administration and maintenance building.
“We’ve increased our workforce – we’ve added 20 drivers to our workforce within the last year,” Harris said.
The agency received a grant last year to look at redesigning Federal Station. That redesign includes transforming it from strictly bus parking to vehicle and bus parking, with the possibility of apartments above the station.
“That’s going to be going on [this] year, and we’ll have some public input on that when we get a little closer to when we have at least a draft design,” he said.
Harris said WRTA’s fixed route service sees the bulk of the passenger trips. Its 56 large bus fleet serves riders from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
But the transportation agency also offers Americans with Disabilities all access, countywide and late night service.
The late night service is at capacity.
“We have three buses out there, and it’s usually full,” the executive director said.
The countywide service is at capacity as well with 12 smaller buses and six modified minivans, which also run for the ADA service, ferrying riders. Late night, ADA and countywide all offer curb-to-curb service.
The countywide service runs Monday through Saturday and provides transportation to locations not served by fixed-route buses.
WRTA is also working to reduce its carbon footprint. It’s in the process of replacing its fleet with zero-emission vehicles, but it’s a long slog.
“We have one LTV [smaller bus] that’s onsite that just got delivered a week or two ago,” Harris said.
Cameras and bus tracking equipment must be installed before it will move into operation. For the larger buses, which comprise most of the fleet, Harris said they are preparing to order eight.
“It takes about 20 months for delivery,” he said.
The first eight are expected to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027. Between three and six more of the smaller buses are expected roughly within a year.
Each large bus costs about $1.2 million, with the smaller ones running between $150,000 to $250,000, depending on the travel range. WRTA secured federal grants to help cover those expenses.
Pictured at top: WRTA’s autonomous shuttle. (WRTAOnline.com)