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YOUNGSTOWN -- The Western Reserve Transit Authority is receiving a $1.76 million grant to make improvements along its Belmont Avenue bus route, which runs from the downtown Federal Station to the Churchill Giant Eagle in Liberty.
The funding is coming from the Ohio Department of Transportation's Ohio Workforce Partnership Program, which uses federal dollars to support public workforce transportation projects.
As a condition of the grant, WRTA is providing $440,000 -- a 20% match -- for the work, which brings the project's total to $2.2 million.
ODOT announced $13.5 million Friday for projects in 13 counties, with WRTA receiving the second-most amount of money.
Dean Harris, WRTA executive director, said the money will be used to enhance the authority's bus service along Belmont Avenue.
Among the work are two large bus shelters and pull-offs on Belmont Avenue near Crandall and Norwood avenues, Harris said. There also will be enhanced lighting, signage, bicycle pads for people to park their bikes and landscaping at those locations, he said.
The shelters, which are being obtained with the assistance of the Mahoning County Land Bank, will help with safety and are part of the effort to revitalize the Belmont Avenue corridor, Harris said. Build a Better Belmont unveiled its plans Wednesday to revitalize the area.
"This is the starting point of redeveloping Belmont," Harris said. "It's going to help with the Belmont corridor improvements they're planning. People will see this improvement and make their own. It also helps our passengers with well-lit bus shelters."
The project is expected to be done by the end of 2027, Harris said.
ODOT's grant award announcement states: "By improving amenities and operational efficiency at this key corridor, the project strengthens workforce mobility and expands reliable access to major employment centers and essential services across Mahoning and Trumbull counties."
Gov. Mike DeWine said: "When we connect workers directly to reliable transportation, our entire economy improves. This next round of funding ensures that hard-working Ohioans can easily reach growing employment centers, helping businesses stay fully staffed and competitive."