News

Wayne County residents will have new transportation option beginning Monday

September 30, 2021

Wayne County Transit will begin offering countywide public transit service Monday.

All Wayne County residents may use WCT. The service will be available 6 a.m.-midnight Monday-Saturday. Trips must be scheduled in advance.

WCT is a shared ride service so passengers may ride with others who are traveling in the same general direction. Drivers may make multiple pick-ups and drop-offs during each trip, according to a release from Community Action Wayne/Medina, which is partnering with Stark Area Regional Transit Authority.

Vehicles are American Disabilities Act compliant and will accommodate personal mobility devices, including wheelchairs.

A one-way fare of $2.50 may be paid with exact change on the bus or via EZfare, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority’s free mobile ticketing smartphone app. Residents are required to register with Community Action Wayne/Medina before using WCT.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED; HERE’S HOW TO DO IT

Registration forms can be obtained by calling 330-264-8677 or by visiting www.cawm.org. When the registration process is complete residents will receive a WCT client ID number that will enable them to schedule rides.

Request for reservations should be received three-four days in advance of the day the trip is needed.

Residents who start using the service for work trips will receive free trips to and from work for their first 20 days.

Detailed information about WCT is available at Wayne County Transit  at sartaonline.com or by calling 330-264-8677.

“WCT meets the demonstrated need for countywide public transportation,” CAWM President/CEO Melissa Pearce said. “Residents who once faced mobility challenges will now be able to travel to work, medical appointments, government offices, stores, senior centers and hundreds of other destinations in Wayne County. I am confident WCT will significantly improve and enhance the quality of life in our community, and I would like to thank the Wayne County commissioners and SARTA for working with us to create and operate the new service.”

SARTA CEO Kirt Conrad said his agency was eager to lend its experience and expertise to the project.

“Across Ohio, and particularly in rural areas, the lack of mobility is a barrier to self-sufficiency, job creation and economic growth,” he said. “I believe WCT will break down that barrier by delivering the safe, affordable, reliable and convenient mobility services the people of Wayne County want, need and deserve.”

Funding for WCT is provided by the Federal Transit Administration, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and various local contracts. For more information, contact SARTA Customer Service at 330-477-2782, Option #2, or CAWM at 330-264-8677.