Weekend bus riders may need to find another form of transportation beginning next month.

The Butler Transit Authority is proposing to reduce its number of trips on Saturdays and completely cut its bus service on Sundays.

Under the proposal, Routes 2 and 4 would be eliminated on Saturdays, while the last trip of Routes 1 and 3 would be cut. No routes would run Sundays.

The authority also is proposing to eliminate the last trip of each of its five weekday routes.

Routes 2 and 4 cover the south side of the city, including stops at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Butler County Community College. Routes 1 and 3 make trips to Moraine Pointe Plaza and the Clearview Mall, respectively.

Executive director John Paul said the proposed trips to be cut are not cost effective.

Paul said the authority must operate based on regulations through the state Department of Transportation. These standards dictate the operating cost per passenger.

“Our standard is nine passengers per hour,” he said. “Each of these trips fall way under that. Most are under five per hour.”

If approved, the changes would begin July 1.

The authority will have two public comment meetings before it makes a final decision.

They will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and 4:30 p.m. June 19 at the authority’s office building, 130 Hollywood Drive.

Written comments also can be submitted to the authority through the mail, comment cards at the bus terminal, or via e-mail on the authority’s website, www.butlertransit.com.

Written comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. June 23.

The board will vote on the proposals at noon June 24.

Paul also said the authority’s Route 3 bus service to the Butler Community Health Clinic on Bonnie Drive will be canceled while work is being done on PennDOT’s Kittanning Street bridge replacement project.

Route 3’s stop at the Terrace Apartments will be 8 to 10 minutes later than normal due to construction, but all other stops should remain the same.

The replacement project, which closed the bridge this morning, is expected to be completed late October.

Paul said the trip to the clinic using the state’s detour is not feasible for the bus.

However, Paul said the authority worked out a deal with Butler Area Rural Transit to have BART buses take riders to the clinic for the same $1.25 one-way rate of the authority’s bus.

Passengers with appointments at the health clinic may arrange for transportation through BART by calling 724-282-6060.