Wikipedia

Butler Transit Authority

Butler Transit Authority, also known as theBus or the BTA, is a public transportation service in Butler, Pennsylvania.[1] The service provides local transit in central Butler County and commuter routes from Butler to Pittsburgh.[2] The BTA operates a fleet of 12 buses.[1] The service transports nearly a quarter million passengers annually.[1]

Butler Transit Authority
Founded1989
Headquarters130 Hollywood Drive
Butler, Pennsylvania
Service areaButler County, Pennsylvania
Service typeBus
Routes8
Fleet12 Buses
Fuel typeCNG
Websitewww.butlertransitauthority.com

History

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The Butler Transit Authority traces its roots to the early 1980s, when the City of Butler Renaissance Commission started a local bus service to revitalize downtown.[3] This service became the Butler Township-City Joint Municipal Transit Authority (BTCJMTA) in 1989.[4] The BTCJMTA changed its name to the Butler Transit Authority in 2006.[5] Since its founding, the Butler Transit Authority has expanded beyond its 4 original routes. An express route was added in the mid-1990s, which would become route 5 in 2011.[6] In 2017, 4 commuter routes running from Butler to Pittsburgh were created.[2] Along with the expansion of service, facilities and equipment have been upgraded over the years. A transit center consisting of an administrative office and bus garage was completed in 2010.[7] The BTA started purchasing buses fueled with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in 2017 and in 2019 a new CNG fueling station was completed at the bus garage.[8][1] In 2022, the addition of a training room, commuter waiting room, and Park n' Ride lot was completed at the transit center.[9] In 2023, the last diesel fueled bus was sold.[10]

Local Service

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Local service consists of 4 routes. These routes provide transportation in Butler Township, the City of Butler, Center Township, and Summit Township. All local routes offer weekday service and 3 offer a modified Saturday schedule. Free local service is offered to citizens over 65 years of age who have a PA State Senior Citizens Pass.[11]

Weekday Routes and Major Destinations:[12]

  • Local 1 - Butler City/Pullman Square/Moraine Point/VA Hospital/Butler Commons/Terminal.
  • Local 2/4 - Butler City/Butler Arbors/Sunnyview/BC3/Center Avenue/Terminal.
  • Local 3 - Butler City/Clearview Mall/BHS/Care Center/Terminal.
  • Local 5 - Butler City/Duffy RD. VA Health Center/Butler Commons/Butler Crossings/Terminal.

Saturday Routes and Major Destinations:[12]

  • Local 1 - Butler City/Pullman Square/Moraine Point/VA Hospital/Butler Commons/Terminal.
  • Local 2/4 - Butler City/Butler Arbors/Sunnyview/BC3/Center Avenue/Terminal.
  • Local 3 - Butler City/Clearview Mall/BHS/Care Center/Terminal.

Commuter Service

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Commuter service consists of 4 routes running from Butler to Pittsburgh. Commuter routes 1 and 2 operate via PA Route 8 and PA Route 28.[13] Commuter routes 3 and 4 operate via PA Route 68, I-79, and I-279.[13] Park N' Rides along the route provide a place for riders to park their vehicles and board the bus.[14] Commuter service is only offered on weekdays. Free commuter service is offered to citizens over 65 years of age who have a PA State Senior Citizens Pass.[11]

Commuter Routes and Number of Daily Trips:[13]

  • Commuter Route 1 - 1 Southbound Trip, 1 Northbound Trip.
  • Commuter Route 2 - 2 Round Trips.
  • Commuter Route 3 - 2 Round Trips.
  • Commuter Route 4 - 1 Southbound Trip, 1 Northbound Trip.

Park N' Ride Lots:[15]

  • Commuter Routes 1 and 2 - Pullman Square Park N' Ride, Glade Run Church, and Duncan Avenue.
  • Commuter Routes 3 and 4 - Pullman Square Park N' Ride, Edco Park (unavailable between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend), Route 528 Park N' Ride.

Fleet

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The Butler Transit Authority maintains a fleet of 12 buses. All 12 buses in regular service are fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG).[1] All buses are handicap accessible.[16] Combined, Butler Transit Authority buses travel nearly 200,000 miles annually.

Current Buses:

  • 1 2022 45-Foot MCI D4500 Commuter Bus (CNG).[17]
  • 3 2019 29-Foot Gillig Local Buses (CNG).[16]
  • 3 2017 29-Foot Gillig Local Buses (CNG).[8][16]
  • 5 2017 45-Foot MCI D4500 Commuter Buses (CNG).[8][16]

Former Buses:

  • 1 2007 30-Foot Gillig Phantom Trolley Bus (Diesel).[18][16][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Ferris, Steve (April 12, 2019). "Transit Authority celebrates 30th anniversary". Butler Eagle.
  2. ^ a b Grubbs, Paula (December 9, 2017). "New Pittsburgh bus service has many benefits". Butler Eagle.
  3. ^ Miller, Sally (September 29, 1984). "The Bus Starts Its Runs In Butler Area Monday". Butler Eagle.
  4. ^ Byko, Maureen (November 1, 1989). "Township-City Bus Board OKs Members". Butler Eagle.
  5. ^ Andrasovsky, Jeff (September 24, 2006). "Transit Authority considers new name". Butler Eagle.
  6. ^ "History". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  7. ^ Biller, Ed (December 19, 2010). "Wheels in Motion". Butler Eagle.
  8. ^ a b c McKrell, Aaron (September 26, 2017). "CNG buses arrive". Butler Eagle.
  9. ^ Trizzino, Eddie (September 14, 2022). "Waiting area for commuters shows Pullman memorabilia". Butler Eagle.
  10. ^ a b Friel, Tyler (2023-03-15). "Transit Authority Sells Trolley Bus". ButlerRadio.com - Butler, PA. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  11. ^ a b "65+ Ride Free". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Local Bus Info". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "Commuter Routes and Schedules". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  14. ^ Ferris, Steve (August 16, 2018). "Transit authority may move park and ride lot". Butler Eagle.
  15. ^ "Free Park N Ride Lots | Butler Transit Authority". www.butlertransitauthority.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Buses". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  17. ^ Friel, Tyler (2022-03-09). "Butler Transit Purchases New Bus". ButlerRadio.com - Butler, PA. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  18. ^ "Butler Transit Authority receives first ever standard floor converted trolley". Butler Eagle. August 27, 2021.
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