YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - People in Mahoning County shouldn't have to wait as long to catch a bus starting next month.

The Western Reserve Transit Authority says it will begin hourly service on its Mahoning County routes beginning Tuesday, September 6.

“We already serve the targeted areas, but riders told us they needed more frequent trips,” says WRTA Executive Director James Ferraro. “Previously, some had to wait two hours for service. But now, all of our routes will have service every hour.”

WRTA says it will add approximately 56 more trips to the approximately 300 weekday trips, and doubles the number of trips on Saturday.

Ferraro says the increase in service is part of a plan that has already including upgrading systems and replacing WRTA's fleet of vehicles.

The authority says many riders have no other means of reliable transportation to work, medical appointments and shopping.

In addition to students who rely on WRTA to get to school, seniors and people with disabilities ride a bus to the doctor and to visit relatives.

Information about WRTA services, including the newly revised route schedules, is available at WRTAonline.com.