Centre Area Transportation Authority service reductions implemented throughout the fall will remain in place in January and “for the foreseeable future” as the mass transit agency continues to deal with staffing shortages.
The decision comes “despite months of recruitment efforts and recent public input meetings,” CATA officials said on Friday.
CATA will operate on its holiday schedule on Dec. 23 and Jan. 3 through Jan. 8. There will be no CATA Bus or CATA Go service from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day. The “full service” schedule, which incorporates the current reductions, begins on Jan. 10.
Riders who would typically use CATA Bus and CATA Go services on Dec. 24 or Dec. 27-31 can pre-register by 5 p.m. on Dec. 23 for Uber and Lyft reimbursements by calling (814) 238-(2282), extension 5577.
CATA Ride paratransit service will not operate on Dec. 25-26 or Jan. 1-2, but will be available until 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and Dec. 27-31.
After implementing some changes in August, CATA announced two rounds of service reductions and suspensions this fall.
In September and early October, CATA suspended the the F (Pine Grove), G (Gray’s Woods) and S (Science Park) routes, ended service earlier on the K (Cato Park) and P (Boalsburg) routes and reduced frequencies on the N (Martin Street/Aaron Drive), R (Waupelani Drive), V (Vairo Boulevard), W (Valley Vista), and HM (Nittany Mall/Toftrees) routes.
In late October, the authority suspended the A (Park Forest) and XG (Pleasant Gap) routes and University Park campus Green Link as well as all Sunday CATABUS and CATARIDE service. It reduced service frequencies on Saturdays and ceased service at 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday on all routes , with the exception of the campus Loop and Link. CATA also further reduced service on the K (Cato Park) HM (Toftrees/Nittany Mall), P (Boalsburg), XP (Scenery Park) and Loop and Link routes.
Louwana Oliva, CATA CEO and executive director, said in a September statement that the authority was experiencing “severe” and “unprecedented staffing shortages,” much like some other businesses and transit agencies around the country.
“The key for the restoration of service continues to be the ability for CATA to provide and restore service that is, and will remain, reliable for its riders,” a CATA statement on Friday said. “As service is restored it may return in phases and may be altered or changed to more closely meet community needs.
“CATA continues to recruit for many positions including that of bus operator and will further communicate with the public as additional information on service restoration becomes available.”
During a community input meeting on Dec. 7, members of the public shared how the recent service changes have impacted them. CATA officials thanked those who shared their feedback.
“The insights gained from this feedback provide CATA’s service planning team with direction in the development of a plan for restoration moving forward as resources allow,” the statement said.
For full details on service routes and schedules, visit catabus.com or contact CATA’s Customer Service Center at (814) 238-2282. For information about bus operator positions and other open positions with CATA, visit catabus.com/careers.
OnePass and Youth Pass Discounts Extended
CATA will continue to offer a 50% discount on OnePasses and Youth Passes (for individuals under the age of 18) through the end of April.
Both passes can be purchased in increments of one to twelve months and are available during normal business hours at CATA’s Customer Service Center, 108 E. Beaver Ave.. With the discount, OnePasses are $43 a month and Youth Passes are $13 a month.
The passes can be used an unlimited number of times for fare on the CATA Bus fixed-route and CATA Go microtransit service, which is currently available in Bellefonte, Pleasant Gap and Boalsburg.
