BELLEFONTE — Transportation in Bellefonte has been on the move lately. In the span of just a few months, Centre County’s transportation services have seen a shaky shift in how its residents get around.
Here’s how the transportation shake-up unfolded:
The first change came earlier this year when the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) announced its first fare increase in five years. Single-ride cash fares were slated to jump 14% from $2.20 to $2.50. According to CATA, the hike was necessary to offset operational costs and continue supporting its CATARIDE and CATAGO! on-demand services, which have seen steady expansion.
At the same time, CATA proposed reducing or eliminating underutilized fixed routes, including those serving parts of Bellefonte. This caused concern among local leaders, who feared a drop in service reliability for the borough’s workforce and residents with limited mobility.
Faced with growing uncertainty, Bellefonte Borough Council voted to withdraw from the CATA partnership altogether. The decision marked a shift in transportation services. While CATA’s services would still be technically available, the borough would no longer fund or directly partner with the transit authority.
Instead, Bellefonte began laying the groundwork for a new agreement with the Centre County Office of Transportation.
After months of behind-the-scenes negotiation, the pieces have fallen into place. On Tuesday, July 1, the Centre County Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the county’s Office of Transportation and Bellefonte Borough.
Under the MOU, effective Tuesday, July 1, Bellefonte residents can use Centre County’s shared ride service for a flat $5 copay each way. The borough will pick up the rest of the fare.
“This would be done throughout our shared ride service the same as everybody else we transport,” Dave Lomison, Director of the Centre County Office of Transportation, said. “The borough would pay the same rates as anyone else who rides our service. Clients would be required to pay a small copay of $5 each way.”
Bellefonte residents under 60 who aren’t covered by Medicaid or other assistance programs now have an affordable way to get to work, medical appointments and errands.
“The borough would be funding trips and assisting for individuals who are under 60 years of age who have no funding sources,” Lomison explained. “In particular, people who need to get to work but don’t have a vehicle or transportation.”
County commissioners praised the collaboration.
“I’m glad we’re able to provide this and that Bellefonte Borough is providing this service to their constituents,” Commissioner Amber Concepcion noted.
Commissioner Mark Higgins added a word of caution for residents.
“Just because your postal code says Bellefonte doesn’t mean you live in the Borough of Bellefonte. This does not cover residents of Benner Township, Spring Township, Walker Township and a variety of other townships,” he said.
“Serving Bellefonte Borough is nothing new,” Lomison said. “We’ve been doing that for as long as transportation has been in business. It’s just that we’re taking a different role with the Borough. Nothing has really changed, just a little different process in billing and what we do.”
For people interested in this service, you are encouraged to contact the Centre County Office of Transportation at 814-355-6807 or go to apply.findmyride.penndot.pa.gov.
