A former CATA transit bus no longer carries passengers around the Centre Region, but it is continuing to serve the public in a new capacity: helping train firefighters, rescue personnel and hazardous materials responders.
CATA recently donated the retired New Flyer XN40 bus and fire extinguishers to the Centre County Public Safety Training Center in Pleasant Gap to support emergency response training conducted by the Centre Region Council of Governments Fire Protection Program and regional hazardous materials teams.
The bus was in service for CATA from March 2012 to December 2024 and traveled 335,859 miles during that time.
CATA maintenance personnel safely decommissioned the vehicle prior to the donation by draining its compressed natural gas fuel tanks in preparation for training use.
Hands-on training exercises supported by the bus include vehicle rescue, patient extrication, hazardous materials response and CNG system familiarization. The vehicle will provide firefighters and emergency responders with a realistic training prop for incidents involving similar vehicles and alternative-fuel systems.
“This bus served our community for more than a decade, and we’re proud that it will continue serving in a new capacity by helping first responders train for a range of emergency scenarios,” CATA CEO Todd Horsley said. “Alternative-fuel technologies are becoming more common in public transit, as well as commercial fleets, so it’s essential that first responders have access to realistic training environments. We’re very proud that CATA is able to contribute to regional public safety efforts in this way.”
Emergency response agencies continue expanding their preparedness for incidents involving compressed natural gas and other alternative-fuel vehicles. Fleets operated by CATA, the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority, UPS and other public and private organizations increasingly utilize CNG-powered vehicles throughout the region.
The Centre Region Hazardous Materials Response Team and Eagle Response Services worked with regional partners to secure Local Emergency Planning Committee funding for CNG emergency response equipment and specialized training. One such program, the Alternative Fueled Vehicles Level III Technician course, combines classroom instruction with hands-on exercises focused on vehicle familiarization, fuel system neutralization and defueling procedures.
“We can study photos and videos, but nothing replaces hands-on experience,” Rob Nese, assistant chief of the Centre Region Fire Protection Program, said. “Having access to an authentic CNG-powered transit bus allows first responders to learn how these vehicles are constructed, identify potential hazards and gain experience working with the systems they may encounter in the field. This donation will help us better prepare responders for vehicle rescue operations and incidents involving CNG-powered vehicles throughout Centre County.”
The bus will support annual Rescue Academy training, company-wide training events and future educational opportunities for fire departments throughout Centre County.
Because the vehicle will be used as a long-term training tool rather than consumed in a single exercise, it is expected to provide value to first responders for years.
“This donation reflects CATA’s commitment to supporting the organizations and personnel who keep our communities safe,” Horsley said. “We’re grateful to work with Assistant Chief Rob Nese, the Centre Region COG Fire Protection Program and all of our regional partners for the important work they do to keep our communities safe.”
