CRANBERRY TWP — Early results from a township transportation survey currently under way indicate those using bus transportation desperately rely on that service.

And downtown Pittsburgh is where they want and need that service to go, according to Cranberry manager Jerry Andree.

For the past month the township staff has been gauging community interest in the future of public transportation.

Cranberry officials hope the survey will give them a better understanding for the demand for commuter services between Cranberry, adjoining communities and downtown Pittsburgh.

The public transportation survey, which has been posted on the township's website and on this link, www.surveymonkey.com/s/8835GB3, has generated 242 responses, according to Judi Boren, a member of the Cranberry's communications team.

The survey will likely continue through the end of November.

“The survey data we are gathering will be a useful tool in helping any transit provider to be better informed about the transit need,” said Andree.

The demand and need for transportation to Pittsburgh comes as no surprise as public transportation was one of the main objectives outlined in the Cranberry Plan, the township's 25-year long range plan.

Cranberry and other Butler County residents who rely on public transportation to Pittsburgh are facing the loss of a major Port Authority Transit of Allegheny County route.

The Marshall Express 13K serves the park and ride lot at the Warrendale interchange with Interstate 79 and the park and ride lot at Bladerunners.

However, if more state funding is not provided, this route is to be eliminated.

The PAT 13K Marshall Express, which provides weekday commuter services between Marshall Township and Pittsburgh is scheduled to end in March.

Andree said that based on the comments coming from the General Assembly, it appears extremely unlikely that more state funds will be provided to maintain the service to those park and ride lots at Warrendale and Bladerunners which are heavily used by Butler County residents.

He said, “The residents of Cranberry Township have consistently told us public transit into Pittsburgh and Oakland is very important. For well over 12 years, we have been working hard to establish the service that exists today by working with the Port Authority Transit. Unfortunately, we are often the only municipal voice that is being heard about the importance of this service.

“If folks want to use PAT for transit into Pittsburgh, they will either have to catch the local route in Wexford or travel to the park and ride lots further down McKnight Road or on Interstate 279,” Andree said.

The New Castle Transit service at the park and ride lot at Route 528 is not being affected. That bus also has service into downtown Pittsburgh.

This parking lot is scheduled to be increased to accommodate more vehicles. Bus schedules are available at: www.newcastletransit.org.

The township has had a variety of transit offered over the years, including an attempt by Butler County transit to run a route between Cranberry and Butler as well as with Beaver County Transit.

However, Andree said those services did not sustain themselves because that is not the direction people what to travel.

“The current public transit being offered at the park and ride lots is maxed out. The park and ride lots are full and the busses heavily used.” said Andree.

“Regardless of what happens, Cranberry Township will continue to be an advocate on the importance of public transit into the city of Pittsburgh and Oakland, be it a public entity or a private entity, as the need is clearly there,” he said.