The Butler Transit Authority, in its 2011-12 year that ended June 30, experienced steady ridership increases.

“I believe we were up every month, which has never happened since I’ve been here,” said John Paul, executive director of the authority who has been with BTA for 13 years.

“I’m hoping it’s because we have informed more people about the benefits of the service and it’s not all because of a bad economy.”

The authority recorded about 245,000 passenger trips in 2011-12, up more than 26,000 trips from last year. The biggest increase in ridership came from BC3 students, a 52.2 percent increase, while the largest decline in ridership was among discount pass-using students ages 13 to 17.

Paul credited The BUS’ new terminal, as well as the online availability of bus schedules and GPS-tracked locations, as factors in the ridership increase.

“Hopefully, that’s attracting people back to the service also,” he said.

Despite the increase in ridership, the BTA was forced by increased fuel prices, insurance costs, and bus maintenance costs to increase fares, effective July 1, for the first time in nine years.

The rate increase will produce an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 for the authority annually, according to Paul, and a second rate increase is planned for July 1, 2015.

A full fare schedule is available on the authority’s website, www.butlertransit.com