May 2008

From the General Manager...
A Look Ahead to FY 2008/09

CATA’s staff has finalized the draft FY 2008/09 Budget which will take effect July 1, 2008. In this document, we’ve identified our goals and the various programs, services and activities that will take place in the coming year.

Capital projects that we expect to be undertaking next year include:

• Natural Gas Fueling Facility - we’ll replace two of our three 12-year-old CNG compressors on our Cato
  Park property with new electrically-powered units this summer.
• “Smart Bus” Program – we’ll put the finishing touches on the first phase of our technology initiative, and hopefully begin work to install Phase II components such as automatic stop annunciation, on-board video, etc.
• Bus Fleet Restoration/Procurement – we’ll continue with the program we started two years, rebuilding several more of our older buses, and get started on the purchase of new buses, a procurement made possible by two federal earmarks secured by Congressman Peterson and our U.S. Senators.
• Facility Upgrades – we’ll be working with staff at the State College Borough and Schlow Centre Region Library to enhance both the aesthetics and the functionality of our bus waiting area and Downtown Pass Sales Office. This project will include new signage, better lighting and improved placement of benches and other amenities.
  

On the planning and operating side, here are a few activities that we think are likely to happen:

• Service Expansion – with new state transit funding made available through Act 44, we plan to restore some of the service that we’ve cut over the past six or seven years, and even add a limited
  amount of service.
• Rebranding - due to the expansion of our available services over the past decade to include both the LOOP and LINK and now CENTRE COMMUTE, we will be rethinking our current service marks and logo to better adequately identify our services in a “rebranding” initiative led by our Marketing Manager.
• CATA Website - we will be updating our “streaming videos” that provide how-to-ride information, and begin to integrate the real-time route and schedule information that we will have available as part of our Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) project. If we are able to secure PENNDOT Research & Development funding, we will also add a module to allow us to provide breaking news to subscribers via their cell phones and other mobile devices.

It’s pretty clear that the 2008/09 fiscal year is shaping up to be a very busy one for CATA. If you have questions on any of these projects, please contact me via e-mail at hmose@catabus.com, or by phone at (814) 238-2282 ext. 130.

Hugh A. Mose
CATA General Manager

CATA Summer Service Schedule

CENTRE LINE

CATA’s CENTRE LINE Reduced Service Schedule will take effect on Monday, May 12 (All trips will continue to operate with the exception of the shaded trips on the N, NV, R, UT and V Routes). There will be no service on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day) or Friday, July 4 (Independence Day). Full service is tentatively scheduled
to resume its full operation on Monday, August 25.

LOOP/LINK

Starting Saturday, May 10, the LOOPs and LINKs will operate on Reduced Service (there will be no WHITE LOOP or GREEN LINK service and no weekend service on the BLUE LOOP and RED LINKS). There will be no service on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day) or Friday, July 4 (Independence Day). LOOP and LINK
services are tentatively scheduled to resume their Full Service schedules on Saturday, August 23.

For additional information regarding CATA’s Summer Service schedule or any of its transportation services, please call (814) 238-CATA or visit www.catabus.com.

Finals Week Late Night LOOP Service

To accommodate end-of-semester study needs, operating hours throughout Pattee and Paterno Libraries will be extended nightly Wednesday, May 2, through Thursday, May 10. As a result, the University Libraries and ITS (Information Technology Services) are partnering once again to sponsor extended CATA LOOP service to
provide students and others safe transportation as they return to their apartments, residence halls, or homes, after these late-night study hours.

The sponsorship will extend one bus on each of the LOOP routes Wednesday, April 30, and then again the following week, Sunday, May 4, through Wednesday, May 7, providing service at 20 minute frequencies, with the last trips leaving from the Library bus stop at 2:21 a.m. (BLUE LOOP) and 2:15 a.m. (WHITE LOOP). A time schedule is available for this extension of service on the CATA website at www.catabus.com.



55 or Over? Catch a Free Ride to the Health and Lifestyle Expo!

Area residents, age 55 and older, can enjoy a free bus ride to the Nittany Mall to attend the Adult Health and Lifestyle Expo on Thursday, May 20 (10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)  CATA normally provides free rides for senior citizens age 65 and older with a Senior Transit Identification Card; however, during this event the Authority will provide free rides for those 55 and older. These free rides are for CENTRE LINE routes only and include all routes to accommodate anyone needing to use a combination of routes to reach their destination. (Passengers 55 and older without a Senior Transit ID Card will be required to show the driver one proof of age to ride free).

For information on the Adult Health and Lifestyle Expo, please contact the Nittany Mall at (814) 238-8037.

CATA Summer Youth Pass Offer Summer Freedom

CATA is again offering a three-month summer OnePass to area middle and high school students for a deeply discounted cost of only $49.00 (a $146.00 value). The pass offers unlimited access to all of CATA’s CENTRE LINE routes Sunday, June 1, through Sunday, August 31, 2008.

High school students must present a current high school identification card to qualify for the pass. Middle school
students without school identification must present a statement signed by a parent to verify age and middle school attendance. Two complimentary ride passes will be provided to all participants for parents and travel training purposes. Summer Youth Passes go on sale Thursday, May 15, and are available for purchase at either CATA office. For additional information, please visit www.catabus.com or call (814) 238-2282.

Ferguson Township Community Open House Thursday, May 8

Make plans now to visit the Ferguson Township Annual Community Open House, scheduled for Thursday, May 8, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Ferguson Township Office, 3147 Research Drive, State College. While there, be sure to visit CATA’s display, a 35-foot low-floor clean natural gas powered bus and “Tripper,” CATA’s newest addition and parade bus! For additional information on the Open House, please contact
the Ferguson Township Office at (814) 238-4651.

CATA May Online Survey

Special thanks to those who participated in CATA’s April online survey. Steven Gehris of State College was chosen randomly as the winner of a $40.00 Mario & Luigi’s gift certificate!

Submit your responses to CATA’s May online survey at www.catabus.com to register to win a $40.00 Mario & Luigi’s gift certificate to be awarded Monday, June 2.