Centre Area Transportation Authority's (CATA) Centre Line ridership decreased by 6.8 percent in the past year, while the Blue and White loops' and Red and Green links' ridership increased by 1.5 percent.

Eric Bernier, CATA service development director, said 2.15 million people used the Centre Line from February 2003 to February 2004, and 2 million people have used the service from February 2004 to February 2005.

The Loop and Link service, which includes the Blue and White loops and Red and Green links, however, had 3,968,285 million riders from 2003 to 2004, and 4,019,345 million riders from 2004 to 2005.

CATA general manager Hugh Mose said although the cost of transit has become too high, he is fairly optimistic that CATA will be able to avoid wholesale service cuts. CATA might, however, have to cut early morning or late evening services for the H and V routes.

Bernier said ridership might increase or remain steady if more Centre Line buses were able to run more often.

"Our main objective is to get buses to run more frequently," he said. "Our state funding has not increased, though, and we are unable to add more buses."

Recently, a funding shortage from the state has caused concern among state transportation companies, including CATA, which currently faces a $300,000 deficit.

Bernier said the biggest factor for the decrease in Centre Line ridership is the inexpensive commuter parking lots throughout campus, including student lots Jordan East and Stadium West, located near Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center. The permits cost $50 for both fall and spring semesters.

"As more parking becomes available very cheaply, it makes driving to campus more attractive," Bernier said.

Jen Mills (graduate-psychology) said she prefers to drive and park her car near the Bryce Jordan Center even though she lives on Waupelani Drive, where the R bus runs.

"It's less expensive for me and it's less of a hassle when I can drive my own car," Mills said. "I usually ride the Loop or Link [after I park] because it runs every 10 minutes."

Bernier said most people choose parking over a Centre Line bus pass, which is $49 per month.

"For somebody who has to make the choice between parking or CATA, it's human nature that most people are going to elect to buy the parking pass and drive even though owning a car can be very expensive," he added.

Dana Young (senior-geography) said she bought a bus pass because she does not have a car.

"For the most part, I like the bus, but sometimes it will come too early and I'll miss it," she said. "I don't like the schedule late [on the] weekdays, because the buses take too long."

David Dorman, Penn State's parking allocation manager, said he thinks Penn State staff members who were forced to park in the lots due to construction have become acclimated to the permit price and Loop and Link services.

Bernier said it is a good move for CATA and the university if students drive to campus and take the Loop/Link service from the commuter lots.

"Anything that reduces traffic on campus is good," he said. "The interior of campus becomes a much more hospitable place when cars are taken out of the equation."

Even though the Centre Line service is down overall, CATA's ridership actually increases during the winter months, Bernier said.

"When it's cold, the buses are much more crowded," he said. "People have the choice of riding the bus or scraping the snow off their car."