Don't Drive, Ride for Five!  PSU Employee Mass Transit Pass

To encourage the use of mass transit in the area, Effective July 1, 2002 , the University's department of Transportation Services initiated a program to help cover the cost of a mass transit pass for University employees who live in the CATA's  CENTRE LINE service area.  Full-time employees can benefit from Penn State's Ride-for-Five program for the very low cost of only $5.00 per month, payroll deduction, which will provide them with a bus pass good on all regular CATA CENTRE LINE bus routes.

In order to qualify for the program a person must be a full-time employee of the University and either not possess a University parking permit or relinquish their current permit to the Parking Office. In return, the employee will receive a transit pass valid on all CATA Centre Line bus routes and four one-day parking permits per fiscal year. The employee cost for this monthly transit pass is only $5 per month, available through payroll deduction (pre-tax). Transportation Services then covers the remaining cost of the pass to assist and encourage University employees to use the transit service provided by CATA.

Of course, once on campus, the campus bus service, known as the Loop and Link, is available to everyone at no charge.  If you wish to take advantage of the PSU Employee Mass Transit Pass, please contact or visit the University Park Campus Parking Office at the Eisenhower Deck, 865-1436 or 865-1437.  

So far, over 450 University employees have taken advantage of the program. "The Ride for Five program is a win-win-win-win situation," says Hugh Mose, CATA's General Manager. "Participating employees get a deep discount on the price of their bus pass. CATA receives additional revenue, which helps support the cost of operating the bus service. The University saves, because it doesn't need to provide so much parking in the core campus. The entire community also benefits from the reduction in traffic congestion. It's a great deal for everyone."

For those who live outside of CATA's CENTRE LINE service area, CATA's RideShare program offers carpool matching services, as well as a Guaranteed Ride Home "safety net."