CRANBERRY TWP — Township officials are working to provide transportation alternatives to downtown Pittsburgh in the wake of the impending loss April 1 of Port Authority bus service serving the Cranberry area.

The township is helping to form car and van pools to both downtown and the Oakland section of the city.

The Port Authority’s decision to permanently eliminate its last remnant of bus service serving Cranberry, the 13K Marshall Express, will reduce the travel options for hundreds of commuters.

The bus cut leaves only one limited bus route serving the Cranberry area at the Route 528 park-n-ride by the New Castle Area Transit Authority.

Township manager Jerry Andree said last month the Port Authority cuts came as no surprise. “The cuts were made known all along the way. We are working now to find possible alternatives,” he said.

One of those alternatives is working with CommuteInfo, a program of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, to explore the formation of new carpools and van pools.

The township and CommuteInfo will have a public meeting called “The Bus Stop” at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 in the municipal center’s council chambers on Rochester Road. The meeting will provide information on how the ride sharing programs work.

John Trant, Cranberry’s chief strategic planning officer, said members of CommuteInfo will be at the meeting.

Trant said people interested in ride sharing are urged to complete an online “Commuter Profile” indicating their travel preferences before the meeting.

A link to the form for submitting information, along with other facts about the program, are available on the Cranberry website at: www.cranberry-township.org/commute.

Commuters also can provide information by calling toll free at 1-888-819-6110.