Passengers may be asked to spare another dime for a bus ride within the next few months.

Centre Area Transportation Authority board members are considering a 15 percent increase in bus fares from 65 cents to 75 cents to curb the projected $200,000 deficit for CATA's next fiscal year, CATA Chairman Jim Miller said Monday. CATA's fiscal year begins July 1.

The authority has been experiencing revenue short-falls because of rising operation costs and a decrease in federal funding, said Kevin Abbey, CATA general manager. The federal monies, unlike state subsidies, have not kept up with inflation, he said.

Next year's $2.7 million budget is in the preliminary stages, so price hikes are only speculation, Abbey said.

The Campus and Town Loops, however, will remain at 25 cents, he added.

The CATA regular fare was last increased in 1981 from 60 cents to 65 cents.

If the increase is approved it will be used to level this year's deficit, not fund upcoming expenses such as those proposed in the borough's recently completed Neighborhood Action Plan, Abbey said during the meeting.

Board members applauded the plan, but said several recommendations to improve downtown parking are not feasible.

"It looks at a number of strategies for parking and traffic in the downtown area," Abbey said, adding that some of the programs can not be instituted because CATA funds are stretched to the limits.

The 56-page plan was compiled by the Neighborhood Conservation Action Plan Project Management Team and was presented to the State College Planning Commission last month. The commission then issued the report to agencies and organizations affected by suggestions in the plan.

The solutions for parking and traffic problems that would require CATA services include the following:

-- Providing a shuttle for shoppers in the high-use commercial districts, such as College and Beaver avenues.

Abbey said a shuttle bus would be too costly and suggests the long-awaited "inner loop," when completed, would provide the frequent service the plan recommends.

The proposed "inner loop" would extend existing roads around State College and enable motorists passing through the region to bypass the downtown area.

-- Increasing the number of trips on existing routes to Lemont, Boalsburg, and Bellefonte.

In order to increase service to these areas, Abbey said municipalities outside State College Borough would have to contribute financing.

-- Working with consultants and the media to develop a public education program concerning parking regulations and a promotional program to encourage use of vanpooling, Park-and-Ride and ride-share programs.

CATA strongly supports promoting alternate forms of transportation that would ease traffic congestion and parking shortages due to single-occupancy vehicles, Abbey said.

-- Developing additional Park-and-Ride locations in existing lots, which are not currently used to capacity during week days.

Josephine Chesworth, CATA vice chairwoman, suggested using lots such as those at Hills Plaza or the K-Mart shopping center. Both of the parking lots are stops along Centre Line bus routes.

CATA would have to rent spaces before providing passengers with those parking spots, Abbey said.

"Sprinkling Park-and-Ride is a good idea and one that eventually we should work toward, but at the present time, I don't think we have the resources or the funds," Abbey said.