The addition of new connector routes and microtransit service zones, along with the elimination of one bus route and restoration of some suspended service, could be in store for this fall under changes proposed by the Centre Area Transportation Authority.
CATA will hold a public hearing on the proposed service changes from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on April 14 in the Downsbrough Community Room of the Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 S. Allen St.
Here’s a look at the proposed changes, most of which would take effect on Aug. 20. The proposal assumes CATA will be hire enough drivers to cover the services. If not, services will continue to operate as-is throughout the fall with reconsideration for January.
• New Atherton Street and College Avenue Connector Routes: Two new high-frequency connector routes would be added.
The Atherton Street connector would provide service from Colonnade Boulevard to Geisinger Scenery Park via Atherton Street, downtown State College, and S. Pugh Street, operating from approximately 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The College Avenue Connector Route would provide service between the Nittany Mall and the CATA office via College Avenue, operating from approximately 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Between 8 and 11 p.m. a shortened version of the route would operate between the Nittany Mall and downtown State College.
• New West State College CATA Go Zones: Two new service zones for CATA Go, the authority’s on-demand microtransit system, would be added. They would operate during peak commute times (6-10 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.) and provide free transfers to the high-frequency connector routes and other bus routes and microtransit zones.
The Northwest zone would provide service in the Park Forest and Science Park areas, along with multiple destination points outside the zone, linking the zone with the Atherton Street Connector, the College Avenue Connector, the N route, the V route, the W route, the Red Link and all other microtransit zones. Destination points would include Wegmans, Walmart (North Atherton), Giant Food Store (Northland Center), Weis Market (Martin Street), Mount Nittany Medical Center and Centre Medical Sciences Building.
No changes are proposed for CATA Ride service in the area of the Northwest zone.
The Southwest zone would provide service in the Pine Grove Mills, Cato Park and Westerly Parkway areas, along with numerous destination points outside the zone, linking the zone with the College Avenue Connector, the Red Link and all other microtransit zones. Destination points would include Weis Market (Westerly Parkway), CVS (South Atherton), Giant (Hills Plaza), Weis Market (Hills Plaza), SunPointe Health, Nittany Eye Associates, Centre Oral & Facial Surgery, Mount Nittany Physician Group Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgery, Geisinger Scenery Park, Mount Nittany Medical Center and Centre Medical Science Building.
No CATA Ride changes are currently proposed for the area of the Southwest zone, but the area will undergo further study in the coming months according to the authority.
• Elimination of P Route: The route currently serving Boalsburg would be eliminated. Service would continue to be provided by CATA Go in Boalsburg and those traveling beyond the zone would transfer to the Atherton Street Connector in Scenery Park or along Rolling Ridge Drive.
• Late night and Sunday service restoration: These would be restored, though operated differently than in the past, using the NV and RP routes and a shortened version of the new College Avenue Connector. Sunday service currently is slated to resume in May.
• Express route restoration: Express routes would return to operate all day with a 20-minute frequency during peak hours and 40-minute frequency during off-peak hours.
• Game Day Shuttle: The downtown Game Day Shuttle would be reinstated, providing service from downtown hotels and the three parking garages to Beaver Stadium on Penn State football game days.
For those who cannot attend the public meeting, comments on the proposed changes can be submitted through April 19 online, by emailing comments@catabus.com or contacting CATA’s Customer Service Center at (814) 238-2282.
CATA will host a career fair to provide information about open positions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Nittany Mall.
