A renovation project to the park and ride station at 130 Hollywood Drive in Butler is running ahead of schedule.

Butler Transit Authority executive director John Paul said at Tuesday's monthly board meeting that there isn't yet an estimated date for the project's completion.

“The waiting area won't be ready, but the park and ride will be operational,” Paul said.

The total cost for the project is about $2.8 million.

Members of the transit authority also heard an audit report at Tuesday's board meeting. Paul said the authority is receiving money through the CARES Act, as well as a chunk of funding from the state.

He said the authority is still evaluating the possible use of the CARES Act money.

“Our state funding for this year is going to be higher because more came in through taxes they weren't expecting,” Paul said. “Everything has to be used for operational funding other than local match. It could possibly be used for operating or capital.”

The transit authority began stopping bus routes Sept. 19, before shutting down all bus service from Sept. 22 until Sept. 28. Services began being reinstated by the end of September, but normal service didn't resume until Nov. 8, which Paul announced at the meeting.

As a result of the stoppages, the total number of trips supplied by the transit authority throughout October was down a few hundred across the board.