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In spite of the fact that one by one transit systems around the state - large and small, east and west - are announcing service cuts and fare increases in response to the continuing state transit funding crisis, nothing appears to be happening at this point in Harrisburg.
This is a very real problem for CATA, even though, unlike places like the Port Authority Transit in Pittsburgh, AmTran in Altoona, etc., we are not planning any service cuts or fare increases in the immediate future. The issue of state transit funding is looming and provides very real threats to our services here in the Centre Region. A year from now, if nothing is done on the state level to provide transit entities across the Commonwealth with the much needed funds that are required to maintain current operations, CATA will be put into a position where we may have to eliminate significant elements of our service and raise fares by a minimum of 20%. This is, of course, a situation we do not want to find ourselves in.
In response to the growing threat to CATA’s funding situation, members of CATA’s Board of Directors and staff, like many across the state, have been working to make their voices heard in Harrisburg. In addition to communicating with our representatives on a regular basis, we’ve begun meeting with a core group of community leaders to lay out the framework for a local transit coalition. Thus far, the group has developed the beginnings of an action plan that includes drafting a set of principles that it believes future state funding must encompass to meet CATA’s needs, creating an outline of steps that will need to be taken as the coalition process continues, bringing other constituency groups and others from throughout the community into the coalition, and working with transit systems in other small communities to try to gain more influence in Harrisburg.
If you’d like more information on CATA’s funding situation, how it could affect CATA, its riders and the community overall, and what you as an individual can do, please feel free to contact either myself at hmose@catabus.com or (814) 238-2282 ext. 130 or CATA’s Marketing Manager, Jacqueline Sheader, at jsheader@catabus.com or ext. 141. We also encourage those interested to visit the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) website at www.ppta.net for additional background on the funding situation.
Hugh A.
Mose
General Manager
As part of a ceremony held by the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) at its annual spring conference in Hershey, the CATA Board of Directors and staff named bus mechanic Don Lightner CATA’s 2007 “Superstar of Public Transportation.”
Don, prized for his dedication, quality work and never-ending enthusiasm, was awarded the honor as a result of his recent work on CATA’s newest addition - a miniature parade bus that’s used to represent CATA in parades, at information fairs, etc. The bus, which began as nothing but an older used golf cart, came to life as Don welded a frame, created a body, and completed the intricate detail and electrical work (it even has a working PA system, headsign and lights!). The end result of his, and fellow mechanics Rick McClellan and John Bruno’s, hard work has been a surprisingly authentic mini CATA bus, that’s already proven to be an instant hit throughout the community.
CATA Summer Youth Pass Available
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 June 1, through August 31, 2007.
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.
Summer Youth Passes go on sale May 15, and are available for purchase at either CATA office. For additional information, please visit www.catabus.com or call (814) 238-2282.
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 May 2nd and then again the following week Sunday, May 6, through Wednesday, May 9, 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.
Bike-To-Work Day Friday, May 18
The Centre Region Bicycle Coalition (CRBC), CATA, and others are working together to sponsor Bike-To-Work Day on Friday, May 18. Area residents are encouraged on this day to join citizens of other communities across the nation in riding their bicycles to school or work. The area on Allen Street between College Avenue and Calder Way, will be closed to traffic from 7:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. as various vendors and groups provide information on how to make your commute easier, how to take advantage of multi-modal opportunities, etc. Free bike checks will also be available.
For more information about Bike To Work Day, visit the CRBC website at www.centrebike.org.
55 or Over? Catch a Free Ride to the Adult 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 17 (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 RIDE 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).