Choose the Correct WRTA Before Checking Routes, Bus Times or Stops
WRTA can mean two major U.S. transit systems: Worcester Regional Transit Authority in Central Massachusetts or Western Reserve Transit Authority in the Youngstown, Ohio region.
Both currently provide fare-free rides, but their routes, hubs, trackers, service hours, stop rules and schedule documents are completely different. Start by choosing the correct WRTA.
Which WRTA Bus System Do You Need?
Worcester Regional Transit Authority — Massachusetts
Use this WRTA if your trip involves Worcester, Shrewsbury, Auburn, Leicester, Oxford, Webster, Southbridge, Spencer, Brookfield, West Boylston, Worcester State University, UMass Medical Center or surrounding Central Massachusetts communities.
The Central Hub sits adjacent to Union Station and connects WRTA buses with MBTA commuter rail, Amtrak, intercity buses, taxis and other transportation.
Western Reserve Transit Authority — Ohio
Use this WRTA if your trip involves Youngstown, Austintown, Boardman, Canfield, Struthers, Liberty, Mahoning County, Warren, Youngstown State University or other destinations in the Mahoning Valley.
Most transfers involving different fixed routes are planned through Federal Station, although some through-trips may allow the rider to remain on the same bus while its route number changes.
WRTA Schedule Guide
How to Find the Correct WRTA Route and Departure Time
Are WRTA Buses Free?
WRTA has extended its suspension of fares on fixed-route and paratransit services through June 30, 2027.
That means riders currently do not need to purchase a regular fixed-route fare for a Worcester-area WRTA trip.
The current WRTA fare page states that rides on all WRTA buses are free and that sales of standard passes and tickets are suspended.
Older official documents contain different future fare-free end dates. For that reason, this guide treats the live fare page—not a printed future date—as the controlling source.
WRTA Operating Hours and Service-Day Differences
There is no single system-wide first bus or last bus for every route. Exact start and finish times depend on the route.
Do Not Mix Worcester Hub With Youngstown Federal Station
This SVG is a conceptual system selector, not a geographic map. It shows the two independent WRTA hub structures.
Worcester Regional Transit Authority Routes
The current WRTA route directory lists the following route labels and primary destinations.
| Route | Primary Destination / Corridor |
|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart 146 via Providence & Granite St. |
| 2 | Tatnuck Square via Pleasant St. |
| 3 | Worcester State University via Highland St. |
| 4 | The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley via Millbury St. |
| 5 | Blithewood / Massasoit via Grafton St. |
| 6 | West Tatnuck via Chandler St. |
| 7 | Washington Heights Apartments via Mill St. |
| 825 | Park Avenue Connector |
| 11 | Fair Plaza via Vernon Hill & Greenwood St. |
| 12 | Edgemere Crossing and DTA/RMV via Grafton St. |
| 14 | Market 32 and QCC via Burncoat St. |
| 15 | Shrewsbury Center via Shrewsbury St. & Route 9 |
| 16 | Lincoln Plaza via Hamilton St. & Lake Ave. |
| 19 | Webster Square / Clark University via Main St. |
| 23 | East Mountain St. via Lincoln St. |
| 24 | UMass Medical Center via Belmont St. |
| 26 | Great Brook Valley via Lincoln St. |
| 27 | Auburn Mall via Main St. |
| 29 | Southbridge – Charlton |
| 30 | West Boylston Walmart via Grove & W. Boylston St. |
| 31 | Lincoln Plaza via Elm St. & West Boylston St. |
| 33 | Leicester – Spencer – Brookfield via Route 9 |
| 42 | Auburn – Oxford – Webster via Southbridge St. |
| A | Northbridge Walmart – Shoppes at Blackstone Valley via Grafton |
| B | Northbridge – Grafton Stop & Shop – Grafton MBTA Station |
| WDS | Webster – Dudley – Southbridge |
Western Reserve Transit Authority Routes
The current Maps & Schedules directory identifies the following fixed, loop, express and YSU-linked route entries.
| Route | Route Name | Useful Area / Destination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elm | North Side / Liberty / YSU area |
| 2 | Oak | Youngstown East Side |
| 3 | Wilson | Youngstown East Side |
| 4 | Steel | Youngstown West Side |
| 5 | South | Boardman / South Side |
| 6 | Fifth | North Side / Liberty |
| 7 | Glenwood | Boardman / South Side |
| 8 | Market | Boardman / Market Street corridor |
| 9 | Austintown | Austintown / West Side |
| 10 | Belmont | North Side / Liberty |
| 11 | Cornersburg | Austintown / West Side |
| 12 | Lansdowne | YSU / East High / Lincoln Knolls |
| 13 | McGuffey | Youngstown East Side |
| 14 | Mosier | North Side / Liberty |
| 15 | Struthers | Youngstown South Side / Struthers |
| 16 | Zedaker | Struthers / South Side |
| 24 | Midlothian Blvd Crosstown | Poland / Boardman / Walmart |
| 25 | Boardman/Canfield Loop | Southern Park Mall / Canfield / MCCTC |
| 26 | Boardman East Loop | Boardman / shopping / hospital area |
| 27 | Austintown Loop | Austintown destinations |
| 28 | Warren Express | Warren |
| 56 | YSU White Loop | Youngstown State University |
| 57 | YSU Red Loop | Youngstown State University |
| 80 | Lordstown Express | Lordstown employment area |
WRTA Bus Tracker: Use the Correct Live System
Worcester has introduced an updated Bus Tracker and also promotes the Transit app for real-time vehicle information and trip planning.
The Youngstown-area WRTA uses myStop tools for real-time bus locations, stop arrivals, trip planning and arrival notifications.
WRTA Bus Stop Rules Are Different in Massachusetts and Ohio
Within Worcester and many service communities, passengers use marked WRTA stops.
However, some outlying service areas use flag-stop rules. The official Worcester Route 15 map, for example, says that in Shrewsbury buses can stop at a safe location along the route; riders wave to board and tell the driver where they want to exit.
Do not assume this applies everywhere. Follow the instructions printed on the specific route map.
Fixed-route passengers must use designated WRTA bus stops. The agency no longer allows riders to hail a fixed-route bus from arbitrary locations.
Every stop has a unique code. Text the code printed on the stop sign to 321-123 to receive upcoming scheduled arrival information.
The same stop data is also available through myStop.
How to Read a Worcester WRTA Timetable: Route 15 Example
The official two-page Route 15 PDF shows a typical Worcester WRTA format: numbered timepoints on the schedule correspond to numbered locations on the map.
WRTA Schedule and Rider Guide PDFs
Worcester Route 15 Timetable + Route Map
The document is effective April 26, 2025 and includes weekday and Saturday departures, major timepoints, a full route map, connecting routes, Shrewsbury flag-stop instructions and accessibility information.
Western Reserve WRTA Rider’s Guide
The 15-page Rider’s Guide covers service hours, fares, boarding, exiting, bicycles, scooters, carry-on items, accessibility, fixed routes, travel training, Late Night, ADA All-Access and Countywide service.
Western Reserve Late Night and Other Non-Fixed-Route Services
How WRTA Trip Planning Handles Transfers
Many routes connect through the Central Hub at 60 Foster Street. The Hub is adjacent to Union Station, making it the key location for connections with rail and intercity transportation.
When a route does not directly serve your destination, check the Transit app or WRTA Bus Tracker before assuming that two printed timetables will line up.
The Western Reserve online Trip Planner can direct riders to Federal Station for a transfer to a second route.
In some cases, the same physical bus continues under another route number. The Trip Planner may instruct the passenger to remain onboard instead of transferring.
Wheelchairs, Bikes, Strollers and Accessible Travel
WRTA Holiday and Snow Schedule Checks
Individual timetables can specify Saturday service on selected holidays, weekday service on others, and no service on major holidays.
Use WRTA’s official Holiday Schedules and Snow Routes pages before traveling during severe weather or a holiday.
The official Rider’s Guide says WRTA is closed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Exact route-level exceptions should still be checked against current notices.
WRTA Hub and Federal Station Maps
Worcester WRTA Central Hub
60 Foster Street, Worcester, MA 01608
The Hub contains customer service and bus boarding areas and is adjacent to Worcester Union Station.
Western Reserve Federal Station
340 W. Federal Street, Youngstown, OH 44503
Federal Station is the principal downtown transfer point for many Western Reserve fixed routes.
First-Time WRTA Rider Checklist
- Confirm Massachusetts or Ohio.
- Confirm the full route name and number.
- Select weekday, Saturday, Sunday or holiday schedule.
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Locate the correct stop, bay or flag-stop area.
- Check whether the route currently has a detour.
- Open the live tracker before leaving.
- Arrive several minutes early.
- Confirm the destination sign before boarding.
- Check your return trip before getting off.
WRTA Customer Service and Lost Property
Customer Service Center
60 Foster Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Center hours published by WRTA:
Monday–Friday: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
General Office
604 Mahoning Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44502
330-744-8431
Toll-free: 877-845-9782
Email: info@wrtaonline.com
Published customer-information hours:
Monday–Friday: 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
WRTA Schedule Problems and What to Do
Official WRTA Sources Used
Bus Tracker
Fare Information
How to Ride
Contact Us
Lost & Found
Fares & Passes
How to Ride
Smart Riding
Trip Planner
Rider’s Guide
WRTA Bus Schedule FAQs
What does WRTA stand for?
In U.S. bus-schedule searches, WRTA commonly refers to Worcester Regional Transit Authority in Massachusetts or Western Reserve Transit Authority in Ohio. Confirm the city before opening a schedule.
Are WRTA buses free?
Both systems are currently fare-free. Worcester has formally extended fare-free fixed-route and paratransit service through June 30, 2027. Western Reserve’s current fare page also states that rides are free.
How do I track a Worcester WRTA bus?
Use the official Worcester WRTA Bus Tracker or the Transit app promoted by WRTA.
How do I track a Youngstown WRTA bus?
Western Reserve uses myStop and its Track My Bus web system for real-time vehicle information and stop predictions.
Where is the Worcester WRTA Hub?
The Central Hub is at 60 Foster Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, adjacent to Union Station.
Where is Federal Station?
Western Reserve’s downtown transfer station is at 340 W. Federal Street in Youngstown, Ohio.
Can I wave down a WRTA bus?
It depends on the system and route. Western Reserve fixed-route riders must use designated stops. Worcester has some flag-stop areas on particular routes; for example, Route 15 permits safe-location flag stops in Shrewsbury.
Can I text for the next WRTA bus?
On Western Reserve WRTA, each designated stop has a unique code. Text that code to 321-123 to receive upcoming arrival information.
Do Worcester Routes A and B still operate?
They are scheduled to operate only through Friday, August 28, 2026. WRTA has approved elimination of both routes after that date.
Does Western Reserve WRTA run at night?
Most regular Mahoning County fixed routes run into the evening, followed by a separate weekday Late Night curb-to-curb service within the qualifying fixed-route service area.
Are WRTA buses wheelchair accessible?
Both agencies publish accessible-service information. Western Reserve states that all WRTA buses are wheelchair accessible, while Worcester timetables identify accessible buses and services.
Why does an official WRTA PDF show an old fare?
A route timetable can remain operationally useful after the fare policy changes. Always compare the PDF with the current agency fare page before relying on a printed price.
Which schedule should I use if the app and PDF disagree?
Check the PDF effective date, current route page, active service alerts and live tracker. A current official alert or service change can supersede an older printed timetable.
How early should I arrive for a WRTA bus?
Arriving several minutes early is safer than reaching the stop at the exact scheduled minute. Western Reserve’s Rider’s Guide specifically advises being at the stop five to ten minutes before the scheduled arrival.