Butler Area Rural Transit had no choice but to contract the management of its bus drivers.

But as it turns out, the only option appears to be a good one.

BART’s bus drivers are now employees of Pittsburgh North Aire-Ride, a division of Barker Brothers, a Kittanning-based specialist in passenger transportation.

The move, effective Sept. 1, to privately employed drivers follows a bus-train collision in April that injured 11 riders, two of them fatally. In response, BART’s insurance carrier tripled BART’s rates in July and indicated it probably wouldn’t renew the policy when it expires next spring.

The Alliance for Nonprofit Resources, administrator of the rural transportation program, couldn’t afford the premium. So it struck a deal with Aire-Ride, which already was operating ANR’s Medical Assistance Transportation Program, taking county residents on nonemergency medical trips such as doctor appointments.

Under the realigned program, Aire-Ride will provide BART’s drivers. pay them and insure them under its own policy. Under the funding from the state Department of Transportation, Butler county gets $4.25 per one-way trip for gas and maintaining the nearly 20 buses; ANR gets $2.75 for administration costs; and Aire-Ride receives $8 for paying the drivers and insurance.

Riders won’t see much change. The rates stay the same. So will the drivers, since Aire-Ride retained 27 of the original 29 drivers and three office personnel who formerly worked for ANR.

However, there are changes. and they amount to more than just financial convenience.

Aire-Ride specializes in the transportation of people. It has experience in hiring, training and managing drivers. The arrangement adds new layers of professionalism and safety oversight that previously did not exist.

With Aire-Ride managing the drivers, ANR can concentrate on other aspects of the program

The enhancements do more than sustain a vital program that otherwise might have been forced out of existence. They should help to reassure Butler County residents who rely on BART for getting around.

It’s an unfortunate fact that accidents happen. Accidents can be brutal, expensive and sometimes fatal. They might never be eliminated, but actions can and should be taken to minimize accidents and their consequences.

The Air-Ride deal with ANR appears to be one such deal.