The sounds of a daily ride on the Loop have always been the same: the click-clack of the turn signal, the hiss of the brakes, the mumbles of students and the squeak of the folding doors.

But now there is a new sound -- the booming echo of a driver who says, "Now approaching Schlow Library."

That addition is an effort recently begun by the Centre Area Transportation Authority to announce major stops on all its buses to accommodate visually impaired patrons.

CATA installed about 25 intercom systems into its buses last November to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The company provides all Centre Line and Loop buses.

Federal law requires public bus drivers to announce all major destinations -- such as the Nittany Mall or the Intramural Building -- and transfer stops.

David Harry, director of service development for CATA, said drivers will also announce stops that riders request when boarding a bus.

"Mostly, the comments we've gotten have been favorable," he said of the new service.

But one visually impaired rider has concluded that even more services are necessary.

"I don't think they meet -- by their nature -- all of what is going to be needed for severely visually impaired people to ride the bus," said Kay Marshall, who is totally blind. Marshall is a counselor at the University's Office for Disability Services.

She added that drivers are helpful but should warn passengers of snow, ice or unexpected obstacles, such as telephone poles and bicycle racks, near stops.

Harry said some customers had complained that they could not hear the announcements at first. Officials then re-positioned speakers and adjusted volume controls to correct the problem.

CATA's efforts to assist visually impaired passengers go beyond stop announcements. Operators also try to alert riders of route detours or stop changes when necessary.

"What we think is going to happen and what happens is not exactly the same," said Doug Little, a member of the board of directors for the Sight-Loss Support Group of Central Pennsylvania Inc.

"That makes a big difference to someone who can't see, like myself," he said. In the past, Little said he has spoken with CATA about basic awareness of visually impaired riders and found the company receptive and accommodating.

Harry said CATA will continue to strive to better aid customers with physical impairments. Future efforts will include:

-- Purchasing 16 new buses next fall, all of which will have intercoms and wheelchair-accessible features.

-- Distributing free, coded cards for visually impaired customers to display at bus stops. This would allow drivers to spot and assist those riders.

-- Continue communication with the Sight-Loss Support Group, the Office for Disability Services and other interest groups.