A proposed downtown bus terminal could bring more than just Greyhound and CATA traffic to downtown State College, one local business owner said yesterday.

The terminal, which is still in its first stages of planning, could be completed between 2009 and 2012. Planners are focusing on 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.

Penn State students might have to wait until 2012 to catch the bus downtown, but Joe Shulman, general manager of the Gingerbread Man, 130 Hiester St., has a "gut feeling" that the terminal will positively impact his business.

"[The parking] is of interest to me, because it's going to bring more activity on this part of town," Shulman said. "I think any time you can increase the activity on any part of town, it's a good thing."

With the terminal could also come retail and parking space, said Carl Hess, State College Borough planning director.

Shulman added, however, that depending on the proximity of the buses to the restaurant, exhaust fumes could disturb patrons dining outside.

Although no location has been chosen, Kathy Folks, station manager at the current Greyhound terminal, 152 N. Atherton St., is anticipating future growth.

"It's needed -- the present terminal is too small to service the State College community," she said.

A Penn State materials research facility could replace the Atherton Street terminal, said Dan Sieminski, assistant vice president for finance and business.

"We've recognized for quite a while that the current bus depot facility is really not adequate for anybody's needs," he said.

The proposed terminal could cost $10 million to $20 million and will house Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA), Greyhound and Fullington bus services.

"It's safe to say that we hope that a large chunk of this funding comes through the federal government," Hess said.

The cost and timeline of the project depends on which site is chosen and what is included with the terminal, Hess said.

Planners should reach a final decision on the location by the end of 2004, he said.

State College Borough Council member Janet Knauer said she favors locating the terminal at High Street and East College Avenue to minimize traffic congestion.

"I would like to see that area remain more open and pleasant and not jammed up with more traffic."

As for funding, the borough must remain conservative if it contributes to the project, Knauer said.

"I don't think the borough is in a position to be handing over big bucks because we don't have them," she said.

It is important that the terminal remain accessible to students, Borough Council member Cathy Dauler said.

"There are many people, myself included, who feel wherever it is moved, it should be close to the people who use it, and those are the students," she said.

A location near the center of campus would be an improvement over the current terminal, said John Vidumsky (sophomore-archeological science), who travels by bus every four to five weeks.

"It's close to West Halls, so it's very convenient for me, but last year when I lived in East, it was very inconvenient," he said.

Relocating the bus terminal to downtown would increase traffic, said Richard Jeffery (sophomore-philosophy), who said he uses the terminal at least once a month.

Collegian staff writer Rebecca Short contributed to this report.