Butler Transit Authority
Founded | 1989 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 130 Hollywood Drive Butler, Pennsylvania |
Service area | Butler County, Pennsylvania |
Service type | Bus |
Routes | 8 |
Fleet | 12 Buses |
Fuel type | CNG |
Website | www |
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]
History
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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:
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Ferris, Steve (April 12, 2019). "Transit Authority celebrates 30th anniversary". Butler Eagle.
- ^ a b Grubbs, Paula (December 9, 2017). "New Pittsburgh bus service has many benefits". Butler Eagle.
- ^ Miller, Sally (September 29, 1984). "The Bus Starts Its Runs In Butler Area Monday". Butler Eagle.
- ^ Byko, Maureen (November 1, 1989). "Township-City Bus Board OKs Members". Butler Eagle.
- ^ Andrasovsky, Jeff (September 24, 2006). "Transit Authority considers new name". Butler Eagle.
- ^ "History". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ Biller, Ed (December 19, 2010). "Wheels in Motion". Butler Eagle.
- ^ a b c McKrell, Aaron (September 26, 2017). "CNG buses arrive". Butler Eagle.
- ^ Trizzino, Eddie (September 14, 2022). "Waiting area for commuters shows Pullman memorabilia". Butler Eagle.
- ^ a b Friel, Tyler (2023-03-15). "Transit Authority Sells Trolley Bus". ButlerRadio.com - Butler, PA. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
- ^ a b "65+ Ride Free". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Local Bus Info". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Commuter Routes and Schedules". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ Ferris, Steve (August 16, 2018). "Transit authority may move park and ride lot". Butler Eagle.
- ^ "Free Park N Ride Lots | Butler Transit Authority". www.butlertransitauthority.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
- ^ a b c d e "Buses". Butler Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ Friel, Tyler (2022-03-09). "Butler Transit Purchases New Bus". ButlerRadio.com - Butler, PA. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- ^ "Butler Transit Authority receives first ever standard floor converted trolley". Butler Eagle. August 27, 2021.