WRTA to cut two Trumbull County routes beginning May 30

Western Reserve Transit Authority will be giving less people in the Valley a lift, beginning May 30.

The public transit service is discontinuing routes 73 West and 74 Elm after just one year in service.

Funding for those routes came from roughly $300,000 in state grants from ODOT, which was matched by a combined $300,000 from Trumbull County Commissioners and the City of Warren.

But from the beginning of 73 West and 74 Elm's operation in mid-March 2024 to February 2025, those routes cost $449,925.50, according to a WRTA operating and financial report.

"There's no longer a grant there, and the commissioners and City of Warren will no longer be putting money into this, so that is the reason the services are being cut for the two routes," Trumbull County Transportation Administrator Mike Salamone said.

Ridership on those lines also did not measure up to those seen on more popular routes in Trumbull County. Within that year of operation (March 2024- March 2025), 73 West and 74 Elm ran a combined total 31,534 trips. That's significantly less than the 45,495 trips 28 Warren Exress took through the first quarter of 2025 alone.

The Warren Express will continue to provide service to Trumbull County and will be unaffected by the discontinuation of 73 West and 74 Elm.

Trumbull County Transportation Services is hoping to offset some of the impact of the route cuts by promoting their TCT Transit service, which provides advanced reservation transportation for seniors 60 and older and people with disabilities at a rate of $2.00 one-way or $4.00 round trip.

"The sad part is, we're not going to be able to do anything for the general public," Salamone said. "Those are the ones that are going to have to find other services."

More information on eligibility and restrictions can be found by downloading the Trumbull County Transit brochure included below. Those eligible for TCT Transit service can apply by calling Trumbull County Transit at (330) 675-2873.