The Butler Transit Authority on Tuesday approved the purchase of a new compressed natural gas bus and two vehicles for employee use.

Authority board members agreed to buy a 45-foot MCI Coach bus for just less than $800,000 for the commuter service to and from Pittsburgh.

The authority has five buses of the same model and uses four to run the commuter routes. After the new bus is received next year, two will be used as reserves in case of breakdowns or maintenance is needed on the other buses, said John Paul, executive director.

The Federal Transportation Administration is expected to approve this expense from more than $3 million dollars the authority received in COVID-19 relief funding.

The board also approved the purchase of a new pick-up truck for about $49,000 and a new Ford Escape for about $27,000. The vehicles will be purchased from Schultz Ford in Wexford, which submitted the lowest of three bids received.

Paul said 80% of the cost will come from federal funding and the remaining 20% will come from state and local matching money. The vehicles will replace older vehicles that will be sold. The truck will be used for maintenance while the Escape will be used by office staff.