Public transportation on the University campus may double in the near future.

University and State College Borough officials plan to negotiate a proposal by the Centre Area Transportation Authority to create a new bus route to run on campus and along Beaver Avenue, said Kevin Abbey, CATA general manager.

The proposal, developed as a way to cut down campus automobile traffic, includes creating two off-campus parking areas on University property located east and west of the route, Abbey said.

The new route, along with the existing Campus Loop, would create a "park and ride system" which would enable people to be bussed to and from the parking lots, Abbey said.

"The idea is to get students and faculty to use public transportation," Abbey said. "It not only increases service but it gets people in and around central campus."

Gary Schultz, University Assistant Vice President for Operating Services, said the University plans to discuss the proposal with the borough by mid-September.

"I think it's a proposal that has a lot of merit and overall it looks pretty favorable," Schultz said.

Two Campus Loop buses, leased by the Univeristy from CATA, now run a 20-minute clockwise route around campus and down College Avenue. CATA would operate two more buses identical to the Loop buses along a portion of the campus route in a counter-clockwise direction, Abbey said. The new service, called "Centre Loop," would cut the wait at stops along both routes from 10 to five minutes, he said.

Schultz said the location of the parking lots and funding of their construction will be discussed at a future meeting between the borough and the University.

If the system is sucessful, a combination bus pass and parking ticket could be issued to the public, Abbey said.

State College Borough Manager Peter Marshall said he believes the proposal can work if the bus route and parking lot construction are approved together.

"I would recommend to the council that we don't support one without the other," Marshall said. "We will have to examine the details of the proposal. But at this point we support the general principle of the park and ride' system."

Abbey said downtown residents and visitors staying at hotels will have less trouble reaching campus with the two-way bus system than with the present route.

Linda Dorman, a clerical worker at the University, said she believes a park and ride" system would make the campus safer for pedestrians.

"I think its a good idea because it would probably cut parkinig problems and reduce the hazards to students," Dorman said.

Crystaf Powell (junior-accounting) said busses traveling in both directions would cut down on unnecessary waiting.

"If you wait for the Loop one way and you miss it, you have to wait for it to back around again," Powell said.

"CATA's objective is to make an integrated and open door system," Abbey said.

CATA operates 35 Centre Line buses in the boroughs of State College and Bellefonte and College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton Townships.