We are pleased that Jeff Kirkner has taken an interest in Park and Ride. We would like to CORRECT the inaccuracies presented in his letter (March 21).

The Park-and-Ride program is a partnership between CATA, Penn State, State College Borough, the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Association. It is and was not the creation of any one person or agency. Rather, these agencies have worked together to promote an innovative alternative approach to help relieve our downtown parking problem.

The idea to limit parking on local streets to two hours was proposed in the document The Neighborhood Report: Agendas for Action, which was prepared at request of the State College Planning Commission by an ad hoc committee of community residents, students and business organizations, and State College Borough officials.

The majority of this committee believed that unrestricted parking on neighborhood streets detracted from the quality of life in State College. Moreover, the proposed two-hour restrictions would only apply Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Evening and weekend visitors would not be affected by these restrictions.

Finally, we wish to comment on the short-sighted nature of Mr. Kirkner's statements regarding the Park-and-Ride program and borough parking policies. Parking is a scarce resource and has an economic cost to both the user and community at large.

With demand for parking in our community continuing to outstrip supply, finding viable alternatives to reliance on the private automobile is a critical issue facing both the public and private sectors.

The best and fairest way for everyone who appreciates and wishes to support and sustain our environment and local economy is to voluntarily use alternatives such as Centre Line, The Loop, Park and Ride, car/van pooling, cycling and walking.

Park and Ride is one step in the long-range effort to reduce our reliance on single occupant vehicles. Wishing alone will not solve the parking problems facing the community.