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WARREN -- A half-dozen residents expressed frustration to Trumbull County commissioners Wednesday about the coming Sept. 8 elimination by the Western Reserve Transit Authority of five fixed busing routes.
Jacob Huff of Warren told the commissioners that he and friends already have collected a few hundred signatures on a petition in an effort to get the WRTA bus routes restored. The route eliminations were announced last week due to WRTA's loss of a state grant.
"There are a lot of people that rely on this bus," Huff said. "We are going to go to businesses to get support."
Sister Jean Orsuto of Mineral Ridge spoke about nonrenewal of the Ohio Public Partnership grant that paid for the five routes.
"The nonrenewal both saddened and disappointed me," she said. "I could well remember the day the routes began in Trumbull County. We truly hoped that this would be the beginning of an efficient, effective, coordinated and cooperative effort to address the transportation concerns that plagued the county for many years.
"But here we stand once again, watching transportation services that have helped so many get to jobs, doctor appointments and to so many other needed services come to an end," Orsuto said.
Noting that commissioners were elected to represent all county residents, Orsuto chastized the commissioners -- saying working poor, elderly and other marginalized individuals will be significantly affected when the routes end.
"A plan is not in place to address their interests and concerns," she said. "There is no viable plan on the horizon. I encourage the commissioners and the transit board to address this with the urgency and gravity that it deserves.
"I believe this is a matter that needs to come before the citizens of Trumbull County," Orsuto said.
OPTIONS
Mike Salamone, Trumbull County Transit Administrator, told the commissioners he spoke to an organization called Neoride, which writes grants.
"We may be able to write a grant for 2025, but it has to be with other transit systems," he said. "I could ask other transit systems if they are willing to go for a grant for 2025 through Neoride for operation assistance for transportation.
"I have no idea of the dollar amount," he said. "This would be the first step."
Salamone is asking people who use WRTA to call him, so he can determine if Trumbull Transit can help their particular situation.
"I know of one situation, where a man under 65 was taking one of the Warren fixed routes," Salamone said. "We could help him."
"If we don't know of a problem, we can't help," he said.
Salamone can be reached at 330-675-2873.
Commissioner Denny Malloy emphasized that rides are available for Trumbull County residents who are 60 and older or who are disabled.
"You can get rides if you're on Medicaid and are a veteran," he said. "What we don't have are rides for people under 60 that are trying to get work or other appointments."
Malloy said he's spoken with U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Cincinnati, Lordstown Mayor Arno Hill and representatives of Foxconn and Ultium Cells about the bus service.
"There are talks and negotiations happening right now, where those businesses in Lordstown could do a ride-share program,"he said. "I think we should be open to any and all ideas. The business community does want to work with us, and to get their people to and from work."
COST FACTOR
Bob Plant, of Warren, said he is 100 percent against bringing WRTA into Trumbull County, forcing its residents to pay a $7 million sales tax for its services.
Michael Shrodek of Warren compared services that once were provided by Community Bus Services to the services provided by WRTA. Shrodek argued that CBS provided 60,000 rides for $400,000 compared to WRTA's 30,000 rides for $1.2 million.
"Community had veteran services and handicap accessibility," Shrodek said. "Why don't you bid out the contract?"
Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa argues against spending $7 million on the transit system when not everyone in the county will benefit from it.
Cantalamessa argues there must be a way to provide needed transportation to residents with costs between the $2 million and the $7 million per year in sales taxes that WRTA would ask citizens to pay if Trumbull County signs on.
"What we've got to do is work with the cities where the saturated rides are," he said. "The commissioners cannot go at it alone. What we should do is to go to the communities and ask what they are willing to chip in."
Commissioner Niki Frenchko, who is supportive of joining WRTA, said the county would have representation on the WRTA board if the county joins.
"We need to allow this to go to the voters and let them decide," she said. "We would have a transit hub in Warren, a vehicle barn, and will be able to decide on routes."
Frenchko said people would be able to call and be picked up for rides, regardless of where they live.
"Services should be regional," she said.
Having transportation will attract new industry and create new jobs, she noted.
Hassan Hameed of Warren said commissioners should worry about residents who cannot get to their jobs or college classes because of a lack of transportation.
"Let's help the people," he said. "You have to get people to work … You want them off drugs, you want them off the street and want them off the system. Help them get to work."