STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — CATA is hosting a public hearing Wednesday where they’ll be looking for feedback on proposed route changes.
The meeting will be held in the Downsbrough Community Room at the Schlow Library.
The suggested changes will take effect on August 24, when CATA’s full service starts back up.
Some routes could be merged and others eliminated.
According to the CATA website, the following changes are being proposed:
- The existing HC (Toftrees Ave/Campus) and (UT (University Terrace) Routes will be merged into a single route, called the HU Route.
- The operating hours will be the same as they’ve been on both routes, but the frequency will change to run every 20 minutes.
- The existing K (Cato Park) and P (Tussey Mountain) Routes will be merged into a single route, called the KP Route.
- The hours will remain the same, but the frequency will change from every 80 minutes to every 60 minutes on the current P end of the new route.
- The frequency will also change from six trips a day on Saturday to every 60 minutes all day long on the current K end of the route.
- The timing of the trips on the HM (Nittany Mall/Toftrees) Route will be realigned from every two hours to better match traditional travel needs.
- The route will no longer serve the two stops on Premiere Drive before 4 p.m. on weekdays.
- The midday trips on the C (Houserville), F (Pine Grove Mills) and G (Stormstown) Routes will be eliminated and replaced with an Emergency Ride home pilot program.
Emergency Ride Home Pilot Program (C, F, and G Routes only)
On August 1, CATA will start a one-year pilot program for commuters on different segments of the C, F, and G Routes. These routes that don’t have a midday trip can request an emergency ride home in the area up to six times per year for an annual fee.
Applicable Route Segments:
- C Route – between the intersection of W. College Avenue and Walker Drive and the intersection of Trout Road and Gerald Street
- F Route – between OLV Catholic Church and Timothy Lane
- G Route – between Geisinger Grays Woods and the Stormstown Loop
To qualify, passengers must live within 3/4 mile of the impacted route segments. The passenger chooses how they get home, and schedules their own trips, but must be present a receipt to be reimbursed.
Trips must be taken within 30 minutes after the last morning trip and 30 before the first evening trip.
Passengers must preregister or register with first use to determine if they are eligible, but they don’t need to pay the fee until they first use the service.
The cost is $10 for the pilot year, which starts August 1.