The Centre Area Transportation Authority will introduce several changes, including two new fixed routes, for the summer service period beginning on April 29.
A new trial route, the VN, will serve downtown State College at Beaver Avenue, the Bryce Jordan Center, Toftrees, Vairo Boulevard, North Atherton Street, the Colonnade, Martin Street, and The Heights on Sundays with a frequency of every 35 minutes. The route will fill in stops on the established V and H routes that previously had no Sunday service, and will supplement the NV route.
The new Summer Community bus route also will launch on May 6. The circulator route will run between Westerly Parkway and downtown State College to take passengers — particularly youth who want to explore the Centre Region — to popular locations such as the Welch Pool, 2000 Degrees and The State Theatre.
The Summer Community route will run every day starting at 8 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends, with service ending around 9 p.m. each day.
CATA additionally will increase the weekday frequency on the N, V and R routes from every 40 minutes to every 30 minutes, with a service change on the R route now serving Stratford Drive and Cato Park.
CATA’s summer schedule, which operates on reduced service, runs until Aug. 21. There will be no service on Memorial Day or the Fourth of July.
Summer Youth Passes
CATA recently launched its discounted Youth Pass campaign, reminding residents ahead of summer that monthly passes are available for $26 for children age 18 and younger. Regular monthly passes are $86.
A valid school identification card or a statement signed by a parent or legal guardian must be brought to the CATA customer service center, 108 E. Beaver Ave., State College, to obtain a Youth Pass.
Youth Passes can be purchased in monthly increments and are good for all CATA Bus and CATAGo services. Children under 40-inches tall ride for free.
Bellefonte Area Changes
Outside of the Centre Region, CATA previously announced that starting July 1 the new B-Line service will replace CATAGo in Bellefonte and Benner Township.
The change is a result of funding shortfalls for contracted service in the Bellefonte area. CATA had been seeking significant municipal contribution increases from Bellefonte, Benner Township and Spring Township to close substantial operating deficits for service in the area.
CATA was established by, and has primary responsibility to, the Centre Region municipalities of State College Borough and College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton Townships. While it is allowed to contract with other municipalities for services, it is not legally permitted to run deficits for them, CATA Executive Director David Rishel said earlier this year.
The B-Line will have 20 designated pick-up and drop-off points in Bellefonte and Benner Township, and will have a connection at the Nittany Mall to the CATA Bus CC fixed route. Service will be available from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Riders will be required to schedule their trips a day in advance by phone.
Fares will be $4, cash only.
