JACKSON TWP — The newly expanded Route 528 park and ride lot will reopen Monday.

More than 250 spaces were added during the more than seven-month project, according to John Paul, executive director of the Butler Transit Authority.

“There were 82 spaces originally and there are 335 now,” he said. “We tripled its size.”

Work on the $1.9 million expansion project began in October.

The authority, which currently does not use the lot, wanted to expand it to prepare for proposed bus service from Butler to Pittsburgh.

Paul said the authority hopes to begin that service in the next 18 months.

However, before it can offer rides to Pittsburgh, the authority needs to buy four 45-foot compressed natural gas buses and build a fueling station at its headquarters on Hollywood Drive in Butler.

The authority is looking to spend about $6 million combined on both projects. About 80 percent of the cost would come from federal funding.

Paul said the authority is awaiting federal approval for the grant and state approval for the authority's capital funds budget for 2014, which would include funding for the projects.

While the authority in Butler does not currently use the lot, the New Castle Transit Authority does use it for its service to Pittsburgh.

Commuters who had used the lot have been parking at the water park complex at North Boundary Park in Cranberry Township since December because of the work.

But the water park lot no longer will be available to commuters when the park and ride reopens.

Paul said the lot will open a little earlier than he was anticipating.

“I've been saying (it would open) early summer, and it's not even summer yet,” he said.

While the lot is set to open, the project is not quite complete. Paul said crews still need to put a metal roof on the new bus shelter, which was added as part of the project.

Crews also need to correct some minor drainage issues.

Paul warned a few parking spaces may be closed for a while to make room for that work.

But finding a place to park shouldn't be the hassle it once was for commuters.

“There are a lot of spaces out there now,” Paul said.

Before the expansion, commuters would often park outside of designated spaces due to crowding.

Paul said it is important that commuters stick to the provided spaces for both safety reasons and to protect their wallets.

“Jackson Township police will monitor the lot and will ticket illegal parkers,” he said.

Paul said he appreciated the patience of the riders who were displaced while work occurred, and he hopes they will be happy with the expansion.

“It's an asset,” he said. “It will be a benefit to the residents of Butler County for years to come.”