Westmoreland County sends 18 buses full of office workers into Pittsburgh and back each weekday. Beaver County sends 15 each way, and New Castle seven buses.

Butler County, meanwhile, sends two.

County transit authority director John Paul and county commissioners say if Butler County increased its ridership and number of trips to Pittsburgh, municipalities would see higher-wage office workers spend their money at home and drivers would benefit from fewer cars on their commute.

Riders could economically benefit by eliminating gas and parking costs as well as wear and tear on their cars and tires.

Paul said the county is now beginning a three-year City of Pittsburgh Demonstration Project in which strict state Department of Transportation criteria must be met.

One of the requirements is that more than 11 people per hour ride on each bus trip to Pittsburgh or back. Paul said currently, 6.5 people are on the bus per hour.

“I have three years to get it above 11,” Paul said.

One way Paul hopes to accomplish the task is to add a bus that goes from downtown Butler, west on Route 68, stops at EDCO Park in Evans City, continues on Route 528 to Interstate 79 South, stops in Cranberry Township, and continues into Pittsburgh to the end of the line at Allegheny Station on the North Shore.

Paul said that service will begin on July 1, but he would like to add a stop between Butler and Evans City to allow workers in that area to catch the bus.

He does not currently have a stop in Cranberry Township either, as the owners of the Target property at Cranberry Commons did not support a park and ride stop there.

Paul said Cranberry Township and the surrounding municipalities likely contain many residents who work in Pittsburgh.

“We had a Southwest Pennsylvania Commission do studies on riders, and it was substantially higher in that corridor,” Paul said.

Paul said Commissioner Kim Geyer is working to secure a place in that area to host a park and ride, whether it be a church, business or other organization.

“And both (commissioners) Kevin Boozel and Leslie Osche have been supportive and very active in not only that corridor but on Route 68,” Paul said.

Because the authority is involved in the demonstration project, Paul is not permitted to build a park and ride like the one at the intersection of Route 68 and I-79.

“It's kind of a chicken-and-the-egg thing,” he said.

Commissioners at their Wednesday meeting showed support for the project by voting to provide $100,000 in matching funds to the transit authority over the next five years for commuter service to Pittsburgh.

Geyer said the commissioners are committed to working with Paul to bolster ridership to Pittsburgh.

“We are working very diligently to make this project a success,” Geyer said.

Osche said young professionals looking to locate near Pittsburgh immediately research transit opportunities, and Butler County wants to retain and attract young families.

“If not, property values will decrease and young families will not move here and school enrollment will continue to drop,” Osche said.

More information on the authority's transit service to Pittsburgh, including costs per ride, is available at www.butlertransitauthority.com.