A bus driver takes her bus thru car wash at Butler Transit Authority headquarters in Butler on February 29, 2023. Eagle file photo

The Butler Transit Authority board voted in August to apply for up to $2.6 million to purchase up to four new buses to increase the number of trips available in the five local routes.

The application is being made to the state Department of Transportation, which will rule on whether or not to grant the $2.6 million request.

John Paul, executive director of the transit authority, said Friday, Aug. 30, that he will request a study from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission which will help determine how much money the authority will need. Paul said the transit authority has six buses for the local routes, and additional buses would not only give riders more frequent route departures, but could expand routes as well.

“Right now they make trips about every hour; if we could put a bus out in between, then service people would be able to use it every half hour, which would drive ridership and add convenience,” Paul said. “I’m going to look at morning and afternoon service to East Butler, and then use those buses midday and later in the day to have expanded service locally.”

Paul said he does not know how long it will take for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission to complete the study, so it may be a while before the authority actually submits its funding request to PennDOT.

According to Paul, more time options for trips has been a frequent request from riders of the local service.

“That’s always been a request here for the service,” he said.