The Butler Transit Authority on Tuesday adjusted its capital project funding requests and approved a new marketing plan aimed at increasing ridership.

In addition, the authority extended bus driver contracts for its commuter and local routes and service for people with disabilities.

Authority board members approved adding three items, including a $1.5 million addition of a park and ride and indoor rider waiting area to the authority's office and maintenance facility on Hollywood Drive in the Pullman Center Business Park, to its Transportation Improvement Program funding requests.

The adjustments will be forwarded to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, which makes recommendations for project funding to the Department of Transportation.

The other changes include the purchase of computer software for managing finances and purchasing and the purchase of tire chains for commuter buses. The chains have been purchased.

A resolution agreeing to provide a $13,176 match for $395,376 in state funding for the capital projects was approved. Local and state funding would pay for 20 percent of the project cost and the federal government covers 80 percent.

The authority approved a $25,000 marketing plan for fiscal year 2020 beginning July 1.

Grant funds will cover $15,000, and $10,000 will come from the authority operating budget.

Included in the plan is $15,000 for a campaign using digital, radio, print and social media advertising to promote the commuter service to Pittsburgh; $5,000 for research and promotional items for events and activities; $4,200 for seven validators to gather ridership information on the seven local route buses; $600 for two credit card readers for the bus terminal on West New Castle Street and the authority office; and $200 for an open house.

The authority approved contract extensions with MV Transportation to provide drivers for the local and commuter routes and with ANR Transportation for service for disabled riders.

For the local service, the authority agreed to pay $57.78 per hour for the 2020-21 fiscal year and $58.93 per hour for 2021-22. The costs are $41.72 for 2020-21 and $42.69 for 2021-22 for the commuter service.

The ANR extension will cost $34.26 per trip for the current fiscal year and $35.42 for 2020-21.

In other business, the authority agreed to consider changing a daily 5:30 p.m. commuter bus trip from Pittsburgh to the Route 528 park and ride in Zelienople to 4:15 p.m. and implement the change if necessary to increase ridership.

The authority agreed to buy a new coin sorter for $2,894 and $651 per year for service to replace the existing sorter that is 10 years old and no longer works.