The Butler Transit Authority opened 25 bids submitted by contractors competing for four contracts to build an indoor rider waiting area and park and ride at the authority's office and a bus garage in the Pullman Center Business Park.

The bids were opened Wednesday and are being reviewed by Gannett Fleming, the authority's construction management contractor, said John Paul, authority executive director. The authority board will award the contracts at its Jan. 12 meeting, he said. Construction is expected to begin in the spring.

Seven bids ranging from $1.86 million to $2.25 million were submitted for the general construction contract; seven bids ranging from $356,200 to $487,650 were submitted for the electrical contract; four bids ranging from $179,000 to $205,000 were submitted for the mechanical contract: and seven bids ranging from $60,000 to $102,000 were submitted for the plumbing contract.

The lowest bids for the four contracts total $2,461,200.

“It's a little lower than engineering estimates were,” Paul said.

The authority operates five park and ride lots for passengers using the commuter bus service between Butler and Pittsburgh.

The only indoor waiting area is in the authority's Downtown Butler Bus Terminal on West New Castle Street, but it is open for ticket sales only due to the COVID-19 pandemic.