New bus ordered by BTA
The Butler Transit Authority board voted Tuesday to submit a purchase order for a new 45-foot-long bus that seats 60 passengers for nearly $799,000 from coach bus distributor MCI for the authority’s Commuter service reserve.
John Paul, transit authority executive director, said the bus will round out the commuter service fleet to six buses. He said the new bus will bring the transit authority to the proper bus ratio of four active buses and two in reserve.
The type of compressed natural gas (CNG) bus ordered from MCI is going to be discontinued as the company moves to electric vehicles.
The bus will be paid for in full with the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act funds the transit authority received. The authority board voted to file a letter of intent to buy the bus in March.
“We will issue a purchase order for the same one we acted on with the letter of intent,” Paul said. “This now formalizes that purchase order.”
The authority board also voted to allow bicycles to be transported on Commuter buses in luggage compartments, effective immediately. Paul said riders of the Commuter service, which transports people between Butler and Pittsburgh, have asked the authority for a way to take bicycles with them.
Tiffany Fosnaught, finance manager of the transit authority, said unlike local service buses, commuter buses don’t come equipped with bike racks for patrons to use.
Now riders with bicycles will be allowed to store their rides in the luggage compartment, as long as they are non-motorized.
“The only provision is no electric or motorized bikes,” Paul said. “They are too heavy, so that still stands as a regular policy.”
