030220...R WRTA 4...Warren...03-02-20...As a steady rain falls riders board a WRTA bus at the corner of N. Park Ave. and High St. during the kick-off of the WRTA fixed route bus service in Warren...by R. Michael Semple

By RENEE FOX

Staff writer

WARREN — When Trina Mechling of Warren first started using the bus service in Warren, she was nervous.

“I didn’t know how to bus hop, or how to pay for the rides. I wasn’t sure how to make sure I could get where I wanted to go,” Mechling said.

But when Mechling had to make a grocery run for her three boys, her round trip was more than 5 miles on foot.

And, she didn’t want the expense of a vehicle — thousands of dollars up front, plus the monthly expenses of insurance, gas and occasional repairs.

So about five years ago Mechling started taking advantage of the Warren Express route first offered in 2011 by the Western Reserve Transit Authority.

“At first, I didn’t know when to catch the bus or where at first; I didn’t think I could ride without having exact change,” Mechling said.

With the help of WRTA’s staff, apps and informative website, Mechling turned into an expert “bus hopper.”

When WRTA launched an additional six routes Monday, she spent part of her day getting familiar with them.

“I am so excited. This is wonderful. I hoped it would expand, and it has. I can get all over Warren,” Mechling said.

The main transit hub in Warren, where riders can hop off one bus and get on another to travel around the city or into Youngstown, is at High Street NE and North Park Avenue downtown.

WRTA wants riders to test out the new routes and get comfortable using them, said Dean Harris, executive director, so all rides on the entire fixed-route system in Warren and Youngstown are free this week.

Mechling said the trip planning app, available for download or through the wrtaonline.com website, makes it easy to figure out which bus to get on.

And, another app makes it easy to pay for all-day passes or monthly passes, so riders don’t have to pay extra to transfer to a different route to get where they need to go.

Mechling shared her exploratory bus ride with WRTA officials, Ohio Department of Transportation Administrator Chuck Dyer, Mirta Reyes-Chapman, transit program manager for the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Warren Mayor Doug Franklin, Warren Safety Service Director Eddie Colbert and others in the community who attended a launch for the new services.

As the bus navigated city streets, it stopped to pick up riders along the way.

Darrell Butler of Warren boarded the bus and said he was using the Warren Express route frequently to get to Youngstown to see friends. As the bus traveled the new route, he spotted housing developments where Warren friends live.

“I can go visit my friends there now,” he said, pointing to housing on the west side of the city where a young man boarded the bus.

Before the route, he used his bike to get around.

“I can get a lot more places now,” Butler said. “It takes me right where I need to go.”

There may be some kinks at first, said Mike McKay, who handles communication for WRTA. But any issues should be worked out swiftly, especially if riders call them to discuss their wants, needs, complaints and desires, he said.

Judy Rodriguez, WRTA director of transportation, said anyone who has questions about the service should call 330-744-8431 to get information directly from WRTA. Older riders and riders with disabilities who want to use discounted rates can also call the number to get information about how to register.

It’s been 30 years since Warren has had any fixed route service, Franklin said.

Denise Rising, community outreach coordinator at Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, praised the new routes.

“This is a positive moment in our history. There are so many possibilities, it will free people up to get around. And, there are bike racks, so you can even take your bike with you to use the bike trails,” Rising said.

Harris said the Warren Express Route gave 90,000 rides a year, and he hopes to see an additional 45,000 to 90,000 rides.

Every three months, the routes will be evaluated and changes considered.

Visit www.wrtaonline.com/services/warren-service/ for a full detailing of the new routes in Warren, and find information about hours of operation, how-to videos, rider training, an app for tracking rides, an app to plan trips and an app to purchase passes on a smartphone.

The service also includes door-to-door pickups for riders 65 and older, disabled riders and others with rides originating more than three-fourths of a mile from a fixed route, call 330-744-8431 to get pre-registered.

Adult all-day passes are $3 a day or $42 for a month, with a reduced rate of $1.50 per day or $21 a month for riders 62 or older or people with disabilities. WRTA will provide a senior / disabled ID card at Federal Station in Youngstown with proof of age / disability.

The routes

Six new routes are now running on major Warren thoroughfares, and will reach most retail and medical centers within the city limits:

• The new No. 70 and No. 75 Warren routes will operate Monday through Friday only.

• The new Monday through Friday 28-Warren Express route will be expanded to serve Mahoning Avenue and the KSU Trumbull campus during the week.

• The Saturday 28-Warren Express will continue to follow the original schedule and route, which serves Highland Terrace.

• The service also includes door-to-door pickups for riders 65 and older, disabled riders and others with rides originating more than three-fourths of a mile from a fixed route. Call 330-744-8431 to get registered.

• An Adult Day Pass or a 31-day pass allows riders to move from one new Warren bus to another one at the junction point at High Street NE and North Park Avenue, allowing riders to travel to any stop along any of the new Warren routes, and existing routes in Mahoning County, without paying any additional fare. The passes can be purchased from WRTA bus drivers or on the EZfare smartphone app. Adult all-day passes are $3 a day or $42 for a month, with a reduced rate of $1.50 per day or $21 a month for riders 62 or older or people with disabilities. WRTA will provide a senior / disabled ID card at Federal Station in Youngstown with proof of age / disability.