Community officials are starting to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a proposed downtown bus terminal.

The terminal, which is still in its first stages of planning, could also house a parking garage and a restaurant or retail facility.

Planners are focusing on the top two possible locations for the bus terminal: between Garner and Hiester streets on Beaver Avenue, or at the intersection of High Street and College Avenue. The project is slated to be completed between 2009 and 2012.

Because of its proximity to campus and location on the outskirts of town, the High Street location would be best for downtown State College, said Elizabeth Goreham, State College Borough Council member and chair of the committee planning the terminal.

"I think High and College in a way has the easiest or the best combination of factors," she said.

With that location on the eastern side of town, the bus terminal would not cause as much traffic congestion, Goreham said.

The High and College location would allow buses to access the Route 322 bypass rather than traveling through town, said Bob Seibel, a representative from the Highlands Neighborhoods.

"It's not as if we're looking at a site that is out of reach of students," he said.

A bus terminal between Garner and Hiester streets, however, has the potential to disturb businesses in the area, such as The Deli, 113 Hiester St., or The Gingerbread Man, 130 Hiester St., Seibel said.

"I am still concerned about the bus exhaust fumes traveling on either Hiester or Garner, causing trouble for the outdoor restaurant facilities," he said.

More than exhaust fumes could disturb nearby restaurant patrons, Jen Valese (senior-wildlife and fisheries science) said.

"I think [the restaurants] are used to the CATA buses now, but it would add to the noise pollution," she said.

But the new station could have a positive effect on nearby businesses if the terminal goes in at the Hiester Street location, said Teresa Sparacino, State College Downtown Improvement District executive director.

"I think the big plus for us would be that it's to include parking, which is badly needed on that end of town," she said. "This one's in the heart of where a lot of students reside."

Some students, like Linda Tait (sophomore-marketing), agree that a downtown location could be more convenient than the current bus terminal on Atherton Street.

"Freshmen use [the terminal] the most. It'd be easier for them to locate," she said.

However, Valese said she thinks the downtown location would be less accessible.

"It's a pain to drive through these streets anyway; it will just clog it up more," she added.

On Friday, community representatives discussed their concerns about the effects of the terminal on students, downtown businesses and traffic congestion. The terminal, which could cost between $10 million and $20 million, will house Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA), Greyhound and Fullington bus services.

Planners are now waiting for the financial analysis from Synergy Real Estate Corp., Sparacino said.

Although eminent domain, in which government condemns property for another use, is a possibility in this situation, planners would prefer to leave it as a last resort, Goreham said.

"I want to do this in a positive way. I don't like the idea of condemnation, but we could," she said. "That is a possibility, I just hope not."

The current bus terminal on Atherton Street will be replaced by an expanded research facility for Penn State.

-- Kaitlyn Sweeney contributed to this report for the Collegian.