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Iconic WRTA Federal Station sign tower gets new look by local mural artist

By Staff Report
The 52-foot WRTA sign tower at 340 West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown is getting a new mural by Patrick McGlone featuring updated WRTA branding.
The 52-foot WRTA sign tower at 340 West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown is getting a new mural by Patrick McGlone featuring updated WRTA branding. Courtesy

The iconic sign tower at WRTA ’s transit center at 340 West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown, standing 52 feet tall and featuring three giant video screens, is getting a new look.

“It’s a special sign and it deserves a special approach to redesign.” said WRTA’s CEO Dean Harris. “Entering downtown from Mahoning Avenue, it’s the first thing you see. We want to make sure that first impression of downtown is a good one.”

To help create that special look, WRTA said it asked muralist Patrick McGlone to handle the job. McGlone is best known for his building murals in downtown Youngstown and the Southern Park Mall.

The sign will feature WRTA’s updated branding including the updated logo and the curving highway design. Several times during the project, the process is expected to be on Facebook Live.

Patrick McGlone and his crew began the 3-day project on Tuesday, April 27. McGlone said the painting will begin at the top of the sign, which is nearly five stories high and then move downward.