CATA board begins talks on free Loop

By JOEL MYERS
Collegian Staff Writer

The Centre Area Transportation Authority discussed at its monthly board meeting yesterday a possible agreement between Penn State and CATA that would eliminate the fare on Loop buses.

The enhanced campus bus service was suggested by the university to offer more frequent and free Loop service in the downtown and campus areas, CATA general manager Hugh Mose said. The service is in response to the University Park Campus Master Plan, which suggests parking be moved to the fringes of campus and eliminate driving on campus, excluding mass transportation.

"This is an opportunity for CATA to enhance the service that we provide to the community, and Penn State is part of our community," Mose said. "It also has benefits to downtown State College because the free fare area covered by the Loop would include most of downtown."

Eric Bernier, CATA director of service development, said CATA was in a position to help the university but there are some issues to address before any official agreements are reached.

CATA feels Penn State should consider more closely riders that would be coming to campus from a greater distance than the average campus to downtown or on-campus rider. Penn State also has requested the final say about the bus routes and stops but CATA feels a mutual agreement is the best arrangement.

Marketing and promotion of the enhanced campus bus service and on-bus advertising also must be discussed, Mose added.

"I am pretty optimistic," Mose said. "The CATA board is supportive conceptually about the program the university has proposed and now we are talking about the details."

CATA is hopeful the details of the project will be decided in about a month and an agreement will be able to be reached soon after, he added.