"The process is simply a matter of determining what it is we want in the bus, then we send the specifications of type of engines, seats, to the manufacturers," he said. "They then submit their bids, and then we select the low bidder among those manufacturers that respond."
The two-week test, in which CATA used a bus borrowed from Port Authority Transit in Pittsburgh, featured an accordion-like addition connecting the front and back sections.
Bernier said it could take anywhere from six months to two years until a bid is awarded, delaying the arrival of a State College accordion bus until at least the beginning of 2005.
CATA plans to purchase three articulated buses, which will cost about $550,000 each, Bernier said. The 40-foot buses that operate on the Loop and Link cost about $330,000 when they were bought two years ago.
While Penn State officials welcome the introduction of larger buses on campus, some changes may have to take place before implementation.
Bruce Younkin, Penn State director of fleet operations for transportation services, said even though there were several small problems during the trial, the university is anxious to begin using the articulated buses.
"The main problem that we saw had a little bit to do with the demo bus that was here," he said. "This one only had two doors, whereas some of the others have three doors."
Younkin said two doors slow down the loading and unloading times, and the buses have to spend more time at the bus stops.
CATA will specify the number of doors, types and arrangement of seats and engine type when constructing its bid proposals, Bernier said.
There were also problems with certain stops along the Loop lines on campus, Younkin said.
"How the bus lined up with some of our current bus stops created some problems," Younkin said. "The front door would open at the concrete sidewalk but back door would open in the mud or something like that."
Younkin said the university is able and willing to modify its routes when CATA introduces the articulated buses to its routes.
Some students wonder how effective the larger buses will be in easing congestion on the buses.
"I think it will help during the peak hours when lots of people are trying to ride them, but overall, they just need more buses running, not bigger ones," Jamie Brumbaugh (sophomore-finance) said.
Brumbaugh, who lives downtown, said she often rides the buses to get onto campus.
"I would rather have a bus come every 10 minutes than a bigger one every 20 minutes," she said.
Bernier said the community response during the test trial was overwhelmingly positive.
"No one contacted us and said 'Gosh, you guys shouldn't buy those buses,' " he said. "Many community residents called us and said they were great."
Kim Cendan (freshman-journalism), who rides CATA buses several times a week, said she thinks the larger buses will help with overcrowding problems.
"When it's snowing, there are always a ton of people using the buses, and it really gets annoying," she said. "Sometimes the drivers have to leave people at the stops because the buses are so crowded."
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