Students who rely on public transportation may be waiting even longer for a bus.

The Centre Area Transportation Authority's (CATA) latest proposal to cut service by 2 percent is part of its $6.7 million budget for fiscal year 2003-2004.

The reduction would largely effect peak-hour stops on the N/V express route, which runs between campus and apartment complexes off North Atherton Street. Cutbacks would also be made to the M route, which runs to the Nittany Mall, and the RE express route, which runs between campus and Waupelani Drive.

CATA General Manager Hugh Mose said cutbacks to the express routes would be made during peak services hours, such as when students most often need to go to campus for classes.

Mose said if these changes pass, they would go into effect in August, at the start of the next academic year. Mose said the N/V and RE express routes currently run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most mid-day service would be cut. The M route, which runs every half-hour, would change to once every hour.

"Over the last few years ridership [on the RE and M routes] hasn't been high enough," Mose said. "We have found that the number of buses is sufficient to meet the level without the extra service."

This is the smallest reduction in three straight years of cuts. CATA reduced service 8 percent in 2001-2002 and 10 percent for this year.

Mose said there are several reasons for these proposed cuts. He said costs for fuel, insurance and employee healthcare keep going up. The state has also cut back on funding.

"We don't have much choice," he said.

Many students rely on the N/V express route to go to campus. Mose said he is worried some people will have to wait to catch the next bus, because there will not be enough room for passengers due to the cutbacks.

Chris Gembe (senior-agricultural business management) said while he uses the N/V express route frequently, he is not worried about the service cut. "It's nice to have the service to fall back on," Gembe said. "But I'm usually on time for the bus, so that's fine if I have to catch another one."

Other students are less optimistic about the service reduction.

Azza Abu Dagga (graduate-health policy and administration) said she relies on the RE Express more than the regular R route. "It's going to inconvenience me," Abu Dagga said. "What [CATA] needs to do is vary the times so people can catch it when they leave class."

Erica Brotzman (sophomore-English) said she would be unaffected by the cutback on the RE route.

"It wouldn't effect me because of my placement on the R route," Brotzman said. "That's lucky for me, but not for others.

The Centre Ride service for senior citizens would increase its fare from $1.25 to $1.50.