Commuters to Pittsburgh who reside near the Route 528 park and ride in Jackson Township or use it, can hop on a bus to the big city beginning July 1.

The Butler Transit Authority announced this week that the new route will start at the bus terminal on East Cunningham Street and pick up passengers from the former Shop n' Save in Pullman Square before heading west on Route 68 to Route 528.

John Paul, authority executive director, said the bus will stop at the Route 528 park and ride before heading down Interstate 79 and then 279.

The run will end at the T station outside of PNC Park on Pittsburgh's North Shore.

From there, commuters can hop on the free T to access their final destinations downtown.

At the end of the day, passengers will board the bus home at the T station.

Paul said two morning runs will use the new route to accommodate passengers' various work schedules.

A stop at EDCO Park in Evans City may be added in the fall, he said.

“We don't want to disrupt their pool season,” Paul said.

The authority currently operates two routes into downtown Pittsburgh on Route 8 to Route 228.

The new run means the authority will be using four of its five compressed natural gas buses, which have free wireless Internet, comfortable coach seating, USB charging ports and real-time bus tracking.

Cost for the service is $5 each way, and cost-saving multiple-ride passes are available as well.

Paul hopes county residents will embrace the service, as the state Department of Transportation has determined that each trip must have at least 11 passengers after the three-year pilot program ends to continue state funding.

Other state goals the trip must meet include operating costs per hour, operating revenue per hour and operating costs per passenger trip, Paul said.

New park and ride

Paul also said the current stop at the former Shop n' Save in Pullman Square will eventually be switched for all runs to a new park and ride to be built at the authority's offices on the south end of Pullman Square near the Pullman car.

In addition to the new park and ride, the authority will build a new waiting area so passengers won't have to wait for the bus in their cars. The new park and ride will have 50 spaces.

A trophy case will be added to the waiting room that will house memorabilia from the former Pullman Standard train car manufacturer, which operated until the early 1980s on the ground where the authority sits.

Windows in the new waiting area will face the Picklegate Crossing, and the facility will hold 25 to 30 people, Paul said.

Both local and commuter buses will pick up passengers at the authority and not the former Shop 'n Save once the project is complete, he said.

The project is now in the preliminary design phase. Once basic plans are complete, the authority will have an idea of the project's cost and construction date.