CRANBERRY TWP — A new countywide radio communication system is one step closer to a reality after township supervisors on Thursday approved an equipment purchase.

During their regular meeting, supervisors approved three motions totaling $350,425 to purchase mobile radios, base radios, portable radios and pagers. The purchase also includes installation of the system and will allow for the Butler County 911 system to transition from its current analog emergency dispatching system to a digital radio network.

According to Jeff Gooch, fire risk reduction coordinator for the township, the $14 million project is a collaboration with seven other counties, which will all share costs on the back end of the project. He said it will allow for additional traffic capacity, an improved coverage area and the implementation of new technology.

In total the township will receive more than 200 radios and pagers, with 75 radios and 60 pagers going to the fire department. Cranberry EMS will receive 20 radios and one pager, while the police department will receive 48 radios. Township EMA will receive three radios.

Of the cost, the township will pay $178,992 for the police department and EMA, and will cover the cost up front for the Fire Department Relief Association and EMS portion. That portion, totaling $153,883 and $17,548, respectively, will be reimbursed to the township, Gooch said.

The remaining portion of the cost — about 45 percent of a $632,000 total — will be covered by the county.

“This is quite a big investment ... and there’s a lot of different parts and pieces ... and a lot of work yet to happen as we work to get the radios here and get them installed,” Gooch said.

Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the expenditure. Gooch said the hope is that the radios will have a 10- to 15-year life span.

“We’re hoping with the investment in these radios ... that we can hopefully stretch it even longer,” he said.

The police department will be actively testing the system later this year, with the entire system expected to go live in the first quarter of 2019.