BCTA History

Service and Service Delivery History

  • BCTA begins a fixed route operation with McCarter Transit as a local subcontractor in November 1982.
  • BCTA creates a county-wide shared-ride public transportation program called DART (Demand and Response Transit) in February 1983.
  • BCTA briefly sponsors passenger rail service until 1984.
  • BCTA assumes fixed route and shared-ride services operated by the Greater Aliquippa Transit Authority (GATA) in 1985.
  • BCTA starts Express A & B Service into Pittsburgh in July 1991 (currently Express Route 4) and executes an agreement with the Port Authority of Allegheny County for use of the West Busway.
  • BCTA consolidates fixed route and shared-ride services under one contractor upon completion of the ETC in 2001.
  • BCTA restructures fixed route operations in November 2002 creating a pulse-based system with a simplified route and fare structure and added fare media; a service model still in place today.
  • BCTA becomes a self-operating Authority in May 2003.

Construction History

  • BCTA completes construction of the Rochester Transportation Center (RTC) in May 1991 to house BCTA administrative office, customer service and the call center for the Shared Ride Program (DART). A bus terminal and a park ‘n ride facility are included in the construction project.
  • BCTA completes construction of the Regional Park and Ride in Ambridge in 1998 through a partnership with Ambridge Borough and the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
  • BCTA completes construction of the $14.5 million Expressway Travel Center (ETC) in 2001 to centralize operations and maintenance functions.  A park ‘n ride and customer information center are included in the construction project.
  • BCTA completes construction of the Rochester Roundabout project, an expanded park ‘n ride, and other facility renovations in 2011.
  • BCTA enters into an agreement with PADOT in 2016 to construct the CNG Station located at the Expressway Travel Center in Center Township.

Awards History

  • BCTA receives the “Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award” in 1988 by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA); the best small transit system in North America.
  • BCTA is the recipient of the Greater Pittsburgh Quality Award (Baldrige Award) in 1997 for “Significant Improvement”.
  • BCTA receives the “Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award” in 2006 and is again named the best small transit system in North America by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
  • BCTA is the recipient of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC/PA) Award for the Rochester Roundabout on February 2, 2012.
  • BCTA is the recipient of the Airport Corridor Transportation Association’s (ACTA) “Improving Mobility Award” for the Rochester Roundabout on February 8, 2012.
  • BCTA is the recipient of the PA State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) Road and Bridge Safety Improvement Award for the Rochester Roundabout in 2012.
  • BCTA is the recipient of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) Pittsburgh 2012 Outstanding Highway Engineering Award for the Rochester Roundabout.
  • BCTA is a recipient of an award from 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania in May 2012 for the Rochester Roundabout.
  • BCTA’s Board Chairman is the recipient of the APTA Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member Award in 2017.