More information Bids are due by 4 p.m. May 4 and will be opened May 7. The new contract will take effect July 1. A prebid meeting will be held at 10 a.m. April 16 in Ms. Kennedy's office at the Butler County Government Center in Downtown Butler. She said she expects at least three bidders, based on calls she has received.

Butler County is trying to avoid another bus fare increase for senior citizens and disabled people.

For the first time in five years, the county is seeking bids from those interested in operating the bus service commonly known as BART, an acronym for Butler Area Rural Transit.

Lutheran Social Services in Ross currently provides the service.

"It's not that we have a problem with the quality of the service," said Janine Kennedy, community action and development director. "They provide excellent service. But I'm operating on a shoestring budget, and I want to see who else may be out there who would be willing to do it for a little less money."

She said she is reluctant to raise fares because they were increased in August by 50 cents per trip, mostly due to rising gasoline costs.

"I really don't want to put a price increase into effect, but we may be forced to consider that if we don't get the kind of bid results we're hoping for," she said.

Ms. Kennedy said government subsidies were able to cover most of last summer's fare increase, but she's aware of the funding limitations of the agencies that provide subsidies. "I'm hearing that, even if we have to raise fares, they may not be able to raise their subsidy. That would mean that the costs would have to be paid by the rider," she said.

Ms. Kennedy said 99 percent of all riders receive some sort of government subsidy for their ride, though anyone can request service. Without a subsidy, the cost is $9.45 per trip within a specified zone. For each additional zone that is crossed, the fee increases by $3.80.

"It's pricey without a subsidy, but almost no one rides without a subsidy," Ms. Kennedy said.

County commissioners voted unanimously last week in favor of seeking bids.

Formerly known as a "shared ride program," the concept of the service is to provide public transportation for people who live in rural areas that are outside of conventional fixed bus routes, such as those operated by the Butler County Transit Authority.

BART buses go to all corners of the county, but frequency may be limited by the demand. "We try to schedule the buses in the most economical way we can," Ms. Kennedy said. The county fleet consists of 14 buses that seat 12 or 16 and a nine-passenger van.

Most of the funding for the program comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. In addition to PennDOT, various social service agencies within the county provide fare subsidies or a portion of the cost. Senior citizens fares, which account for about 70 percent of all annual ridership, are covered 85 percent by PennDOT.

Then the county Area Agency on Aging covers the balance if the trip is for shopping or medical purposes. Mental health/mental retardation dollars may cover the entire fare for a mentally disabled client who is taking a trip for therapy.

All trips must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by calling 724-282-6060. All clients must be preregistered by calling 724-282-1904.

Annually, the program receives about $500,000 in funding. The county keeps about $150,000 for gasoline and maintenance costs. Some 62,406 trips were made from July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006. In the first eight months of this fiscal year, 42,756 trips have been made.

Ms. Kennedy said she doesn't take any percentage of subsidies for administrative costs in her office, which is responsible for providing gasoline and maintenance for the fleet of vehicles used by the BART system.

"I have no money. Right now, I've got a couple of buses that aren't even identified as BART buses. I'd like to have the letters painted on, but I can't afford it. If I could get somebody to provide good, quality service for a little less money, I wouldn't be on such a shoestring," Ms. Kennedy said.

She said she also is concerned about being a "good steward" of the public dollar. "Competitive bidding is an enormous undertaking that we wouldn't want to do every year. But we have an obligation to test the community and be sure we are giving a chance to all interested parties," Ms. Kennedy said.

The county doesn't need to seek sealed bids because professional services are exempt from state bidding requirements. But Ms. Kennedy said she thought it would be the most efficient way to quickly secure the most bids.

Before Lutheran Social Services took over the contract five years ago, the subcontractor was Barker Brothers, of Kittanning, doing business as Pittsburgh North Aire Ride. Ms. Kennedy said that company had performed well, but Lutheran Social Services bid a lower fee at the time, so the switch was made.

The subcontractor handles administration of the program, from scheduling service to paying the bus drivers.

Lutheran Service Society receives $7 per trip plus $3.70 for each zone that is crossed. The price had gone up in August from $6.75 per trip. The fee for zone crossings didn't change. Butler County has nine zones.