YOUNGSTOWN — WRTA is starting a new route to Lordstown that will help people get to work at Mom’s Meals, and will be adapted in the future to help people reach TJX Homegoods.

“WRTA has been working with the Youngstown -Warren Regional Chamber to help provide transportation to the North Jackson-Lordstown area to help connect all of the new and existing employers in the area with employees from around the county,” said Dean Harris, Western Reserve Transit Authority executive director.

The No. 80 route to PurFoods’s Mom’s Meals, at the corner of Mahoning Avenue and Bailey Road in Jackson Township, will run twice a day, Monday through Friday, from Federal Station in Youngstown, beginning Aug. 31.

It will leave the station in downtown Youngstown at 6:10 a.m. and arrive at PurFoods at 6:45 a.m. It will depart from PurFoods at 7:05 am and arrive back at Federal Station at 7:40 a.m.

The afternoon run of No. 80 Lordstown Express will depart Federal Station at 2:10 p.m., arriving at PurFoods at 2:45 p.m. Employees whose shifts end at 3 p.m. will be able to catch the bus at 3:10 p.m. and return to Federal Station at 3:40 p.m.

The route, like WRTA’s other routes, will be free through Dec. 31.

“The route is expected to be adapted to serve the TJX distribution facility in Lordstown once it begins operations,” a news release from WRTA states.

“The new Lordstown express route is designed so that as more businesses open up we can extend the route without affecting the current schedule or having to wait until our next service update to add more stops,” Harris said.

Because of the COVID-19 virus, riders, except those using wheelchairs, walkers or canes, must board the bus through the rear door. Those with strollers must fold the stroller before boarding. Riders must wear a face covering in order to travel on WRTA buses.

Mom’s Meals makes refrigerated meals that are delivered to people who sign up for the service.

“We have been working with Mom’s Meals over the last few months to help them with dependable transportation options for their employees,” Harris said.

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