WARREN, Ohio — Community members are coming together to bring back public transit in the city of Warren after almost all routes within the city were discontinued in early September. 

What You Need To Know

  • Community members are coming together to bring back public transit in the city of Warren after almost all routes within the city were discontinued in early September

  • After getting the grant in March of 2020, WRTA was able to create a fixed-route service in Warren that was free to ride

  • In the three years the service was available, ridership grew from 20,000 to 60,000

  • ODOT did not renew the grant this year because WRTA was unable to secure local funding, and all routes within the City of Warren closed on Sept. 8

Dean Harris, executive director of the Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA), said a few years ago WRTA applied for a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to prove to city leaders in Warren that transit was needed there.

“We knew there was a need for service in the City of Warrren and Trumbull County in general,” Harris said.

After getting the grant in March of 2020, WRTA was able to create a fixed-route service that was free to ride. About 20,000 riders took the bus in 2021, the first year of service, and in 2022, it brought in more than 40,000 riders. 

“It was growing immensely, and very popular,” Harris said.

This year would have been the third year of service and was projected to bring in 60,000 riders, but ODOT did not renew the grant, and all routes within the city of Warren closed on Sept. 8.

In a statement, leaders with ODOT said, “ODOT provided short-term grant funding to help WRTA demonstrate demand for public transit service in Trumbull County. The goal was to help WRTA justify local funding to support the service. Unfortunately, they have been unable to do that.”

Community members who relied on the bus have now started organizing a campaign to encourage city and county leaders to invest in bringing the services back and expand them. 

One of those organizers, Lynette Wiseman, said it’s been very difficult for her to get around since they’ve shut the routes down. 

“You know, I live by myself,” Wiseman said. “I don’t have a car and a driver's license, nor can I afford them, and I know there are a lot of people in my shoes.”

Wiseman’s age and a medical condition make it hard for her to walk far distances, so she used the bus to get to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores and anywhere else she needed to go. 

Harris said that’s typical of folks who ride the bus.

“Half of people are going to work to earn money, and they ride the system because they can’t afford a car yet,” he said. “Or they’re trying to work toward a car.”

He agrees bringing the service back would be of value to the community, and said he’s working closely with leaders in city hall to make it happen as quickly as possible. 

He said WRTA is working with county commissioners to secure additional funding in hopes ODOT will renew the grant in July, which would mean they could return service in September of 2024.