A proposed pilot program could take workers and shoppers to the Cranberry Township area via the Butler Transit Authority bus that takes riders from Butler to Pittsburgh.

County commissioners will vote next Wednesday on a contract with TransLoc, an affiliate of the Ford Motor Company, which would see cars or shuttle vans driving bus passengers from the Route 528 park and ride in Jackson Township to the Cranberry Township area.

The program would cost the county $19,500, and allow officials to terminate the contract with a 30-day notice if it is not working.

Leslie Osche explained that the current Butler Transit Authority bus that starts in Butler and travels west on Route 68 to the Route 528 park and ride, and finally into downtown Pittsburgh, does not stop in Cranberry Township due to cost and other factors.

This, Osche said, prevents those in Butler who do not have a car from taking jobs in Cranberry Township, where many service industries are struggling to find enough employees.

Those who want a ride to Cranberry would alert TransLoc, online or by using a smart phone app, that they need a ride from the parking lot at a certain time.

They would then hop the transit authority bus in downtown Butler or at its stop at EDCO Park in Evans City, and take the TransLoc vehicle from the park and ride to Cranberry.

They could also get a TransLoc ride to Route 528 after work.

Osche said it is as yet unclear whether the rider would pay a fare to get to Cranberry Township or the employers and township would kick in to pay for the service.

She said many young people today are living in cities specifically to avoid the expense and headache of owning a vehicle.

TransLoc would also allow those young professionals to get to their jobs in the southwestern portion of the county.

Mark Gordon, the county's director of planning and development, presented the plan to the commissioners at their Wednesday meeting.

He said the municipalities and facilities across the U.S. that use TransLoc have given very positive feedback about the service.

“It's considered the most innovative in the industry,” Gordon said.

John Paul, director of the transit authority, said he is all for the program.

“Anything that can help people get to work or get to where they want to go is great,” Paul said. “Hopefully, people will use our system to connect to that and it fits their needs.”

Osche said the company would start by gathering data from employers and municipalities, and determine the locations potential riders need to go.

TransLoc would then set up a full simulation before the program is enacted.

Commissioner Kim Geyer said the data collected by TransLoc to create the simulation would be valuable because the state requires a plethora of data when considering transportation grants.

“This would help us with long-term solutions with funding if we can provide the data the state wants to see,” Geyer said.

Geyer also likes the cooperation between the county, transit authority, employers and municipalities involved in the TransLoc data collection and simulation.

“We have a lot of agencies working collaboratively to try to make this work for Butler County,” she said.

Dick Hadley, chairman of the Cranberry Township supervisors, said the TransLoc initiative demonstrates the county commissioners' commitment to a sustainable public transit system.

“The commissioners are light-years ahead in planning for public transit of the future,” Hadley said. “We in Cranberry are very excited to be a part of this initiative, which is also consistent with Cranberry's strategic plan.”

Hadley also hopes the TransLoc program, if approved by the commissioners, will help employers in the southwestern part of the county fill their positions.

“The planning associated with this initiative is a great step forward in connecting people with jobs through an efficient public transit system,” Hadley said.

Osche said if approved by commissioners next week, the simulation could be complete within six months.