Because of low state funding for public transportation, the late-night Blue and White Loop service might be cut from campus bus schedules.

The amount of federal funding for public transportation relies on population size not bus usage, so the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) -- used regularly by thousands of students -- may have to cut its services.

Cutting will be prioritized based on what routes are most necessary, Eric Bernier, service development manager for CATA, said.

"Weekends and evenings will be the first targets, but not because the service isn't used," he said. "The core is your weekday service, because people need to get to work and class."

The Loops currently run until 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Julie Marusak (junior-communications) said she would miss the evening rides.

"I went on it once last year," she said. "It was a lot of fun. It was a big party, and a good way to meet new people."

Bernier said route elimination could take effect beginning next fall semester.

"The way funding is regulated works against an area that is growing and needs to use a lot of transit services," he said. "If the state formula isn't fixed, we will be cutting services as early as a year from now."

State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, said the funding will be discussed by the legislature in January.

He said other than public transportation, there are many other issues with mass transit across the state that may take primary consideration.

"Pennsylvania has more bridges to maintain, repair and replace than all of our contingent states combined," he said. "In addition, Pennsylvania has more roads to maintain than New Jersey and all of the New England states combined."

He added that finding means to fund all projects, including partnering with individual entrepreneurs and privatizing the turnpike, are under consideration.

"Transportation funding comes from liquid fuel taxes," Benninghoff said. "There just is not enough to give additional subsidies as well as to fund some of the other projects that need to be done."

Without funding, Bernier said the decision of which routes to cut will not be easy.

"There isn't any obvious target in the system," he said. "Instead of cutting whole routes, we will have to trim back service across the board."

Emily Yarbrough, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) senator, said through discussion with Bernier, she understands the "drunk bus" may be a target.

"They said they would cut any unnecessary routes that run later at night for no specific purpose," she said. "They can't cut service to other municipalities because that's where a lot of the funding comes from."

Yarbrough said USG was considering campaigning for late-night buses on Thursdays, but because of the funding issue, the request is not feasible.

"There has been some concern because Thursday is becoming part of the weekend, and for overly intoxicated people, it might be good to provide them a system back to where they need to be," she said.

Bernier said CATA has been trying to get people to lobby their state legislators to ask for more funding so that all routes can stay.

"Up until last year, we were cutting back service every year for the past five years. The funding isn't growing in proportion to the cost of service," he said. "We will start cutting again this spring in preparation for next year's budget."