If you would like to receive email updates of changes or services that affect you via CATA’s new email newsletter, TRANSITions, please send an email to marketing@catabus.com. Please include your name, address, telephone number, email address, and a list of routes that you ride most often. |
From the General Manager... Fall 2008 Service Changes
CATA’s service changes for the 2008/09 Fiscal Year are beginning to take final shape. As a starting point, the CATA staff introduced a list of possible service enhancements for the coming year at the annual Public Hearing held on February 25th. Taking into consideration the comments received there, as well as suggestions provided by CATA’s riders and the general public throughout the year, the staff has developed a preliminary list of Fall service enhancements, listed below.
• Increased frequency on the N (Martin/Aaron), R (Waupelani) and V (Vairo) Routes, during almost all of the evening and weekend times when the buses now run only every 64 minutes.
• Increased Saturday frequency on the H (Toftrees), W (Park Forest) and K (Cato Park) Routes, where the buses now run only every 120 minutes, as well as earlier Saturday operating hours.
• Operation of Sunday Service on Independence Day in 2009, when July 4th will fall on a Saturday.
• Addition of earlier inbound weekday trips on the M (Mall) and X (Bellefonte) Routes, as well as the S (Science Park) Route, to enable commuters to get to the Penn State campus and downtown State College before 7:30 am.
• One additional off-peak trip on the X Route (at a time yet to be determined) to provide improved service to transit dependent riders in Bellefonte Borough, as well as Spring and Benner Townships.
• Realignment and enhancement of the Red and Green LINKs to provide service to the new Law School as well as the Blue Band Building and other destinations north of Park Avenue.
CATA’s list of unmet needs is much longer than we can accommodate right now, mainly because we don’t have any more buses to put on the street during the rush hour. However, as we are able to increase the size of the bus fleet we will use more of our new state transit assistance to address those other requests that cannot be satisfied this year. Nonetheless, I am certain that the changes listed above will provide the greatest possible benefit to our riders, given our current limitations.
If you have any questions about CATA’s service planning process, please contact me. I can be reached by telephone at (814) 238-2282 ext. 130, or via e-mail at hmose@catabus.com.
Hugh A. Mose
General Manager
PENN State and CATA Promote Earth Week Challenge April 20 - 26
Penn State is challenging itself to go "green” this month. As a part of its "My 20" Campaign, the University is challenging all students, faculty, and staff to reduce their energy consumption and use of natural resources by 20 percent during Earth Week (Sunday, April 20 - Saturday, April 26). During this time, too, CATA encourages all of its riders and the general public to follow the University’s lead to make the move to join the initiative.
The idea behind the campaign is that, by going green for one week, whether it is riding a bicycle to campus, turning off computer screens, printing double-sided, buying recycled content paper, or turning off unused lights, Penn Staters and those throughout our community can do their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And, of course, small changes made by a large group of people can have a big environmental impact for future generations.
A few simple changes in your daily routine can greatly reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. For example, carpooling, taking the bus or walking to work for one day when you normally drive to work would count for your 20 percent.
By visiting www.my20.psu.edu, Penn State participants as well as the general public can learn more, add their own personal “green” stories and ideas, and find out what others in the community are doing to reduce their fuel consumption. Information on how public transportation plays a part in the reduction of fuel consumption and its overall benefits to the community may be found, too, on the CATA website, www.catabus.com. Information is also available for those interested in exploring the idea of ridesharing via CATA’s CENTRE COMMUTE program, which helps establish vanpools and carpools from outlying areas into the Centre Region.
CATA Encourages Students to Apply to Youth Summit in Washington, DC
With the push to go green and reduce greenhouse gases, CATA is encouraging local high school juniors and seniors to apply for the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) first “Teening” Up for a Greener World Youth Summit, that will be held June 22-25, 2008 in Washington, DC. This all-expense-paid youth summit will focus on the environmental benefits of public transportation, as well as how communities prosper with increased public transit services.
The summit will give participants the opportunity to spend three days in the nation’s capital -- meeting with lawmakers and leaders and learning first-hand the ways public transportation can shape the future.
Interested students and parents can find out more information or download an application at www.apta.com/youthsummit. “Teening” Up for a Greener World is only open to a limited number of students; application deadline is April 25, 2008.
CATA and Schlow Centre Region Library Promote Literacy in Centre County
CATA is currently working jointly with the Schlow Centre Region Library to promote their “PA One Book” program, which encourages area families to read the same book, “Up, Down, and Around” by Katherine Ayres, over the course of the year.
For information on the numerous activities planned for the month of April based on this featured book, including a visit to the Library on Wednesday, April 9, by author Katherine Ayres, and other special events fostering early literacy to be held at the Schlow Centre Region Library and libraries in outlying areas, please visit www.schlowlibrary.org.
CRBC Bike To Work Day Friday, April 25
The Centre Region Bicycle Coalition (CRBC), CATA, and others are working together to sponsor Bike-To-Work Day on Friday, April 25. Area residents are encouraged on this day to join citizens of other communities across the nation in riding their bicycles to school or work.
For more information about Bike To Work Day and the activities that will take place throughout the day, please visit the CRBC website at www.centrebike.org.
Register to Win! CATA April Online Survey
Special thanks to those who participated in CATA’s March online survey. Jason Helman of Julian was chosen randomly as the winner of a $40.00 Mario & Luigi’s gift certificate!
This month, we’re asking you to tell us about your favorite CATA story. Submit your responses to CATA’s April online survey at www.catabus.com to register to win a $40.00 Mario & Luigi’s gift certificate to be awarded Thursday, May 1.