September 2013 CATALog Newsletter
                                                                                     January 2014
From the General Manager...
  
A Look Ahead at 2014
  

The coming year will undoubtedly be another busy and eventful one for CATA.  Here are some of the key activities that the staff and I expect to pursue in 2014:

 

40th Anniversary!  The year 2014 marks CATA's 40th Anniversary, and to celebrate the occasion, numerous activities are planned, including the unveiling of two commemorative posters that will be made available for purchase at CATA's offices, free CATABUS rides on February 24 (our actual anniversary day), special presentations, and more!  Watch for details!

 

Strategic Plan Update.  Over the coming year Greg Kausch, the Transportation Planner that CATA shares with the Centre Regional Planning Agency, will be developing an new strategic plan for CATA.  The new plan, which is already in process, will lay the groundwork for CATA's overall public transportation program, service plans and capital investments over the coming decade.

 

Exterior Bus Advertising.  The trial program of selling advertising on the backs of the buses has been made permanent by the CATA Board of Directors.  The Board has now approved a two-year trial program of full "bus wrap" advertising, limited to four of CATA's newest 40' buses. You can expect to see the first of these wrapped buses later this month.

 

Natural Gas Vehicles.  In the coming year CATA will be acquiring a variety of new compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.  In March we will take delivery of two additional full-size buses, identical to the 28 we had received in 2012.  Later in the year we'll be acquiring five body-on-chassis minibuses, which will be used on commuter routes with lower ridership, and will enable CATA to redeploy its larger buses on busier routes.  In 2014 we also plan to replace some of our aging "driver relief" vehicles with CNG-powered sedans.

 

Maintenance Facility Expansion.  In 2012, CATA was awarded a $12.3 million federal "State of Good Repair" grant to fund major improvements to CATA's bus maintenance, servicing and storage areas. Design work has been ongoing over the past year and is expected to reach completion in FY 2014, when the project will be put out to bid.  Groundbreaking is expected to take place in early 2015.

 

Leadership Transition. For me, personally, the big event of the coming year will be my retirement on June 30.  After 19 years of service as CATA's General Manager and 35+ in the public transportation industry, I plan to hang up my saddle. Louwana Oliva, who currently serves as CATA's Assistant General Manager, has been designated as my successor.

 

If you'd like additional information on any of CATA's recent and upcoming projects, a copy of the 2012 CATA Annual Report is now available on the CATA website at http://catabus.com/AboutCATA/Budget/AnnualReport/AnnualReport1213.pdf. I can also be reached at (814) 238-2282 ext. 130 or via email at [email protected].

  

Hugh Mose 
 
  
Hugh A. Mose
General Manager
 
Spring 2014 Full Service Schedule 
to Go Into Effect Saturday, January 11
 
CATA will resume its CATABUS Full Service Schedule on Saturday, January 11, 2014.  Below is a summary of service changes that will take effect on that date.

 

B (Boalsburg) Route:

  • The frequency and timing schedule for most trips have been adjusted to compensate for the effects of increased traffic.

K (Cato Park) Route:

  • The route is no longer interlined with the W (Valley Vista) Route.
  • The frequency and timing schedules for all trips have been revised to accommodate an all-day frequency of 50 minutes.

M (Nittany Mall) Route:

  • Two additional stops have been added to the route: 1) Sam's Club Entrance Driveway - Stop 666, and 2) Shiloh Road at Sheetz - Stop 350.
  • A number of shaded trips have been added to the weekday schedule, increasing mid-day and evening frequency to every 35 minutes during Full Service. 
  • The service schedule for Friday and Saturday evenings during Full Service has been extended, until 2:30 a.m.

NV (Martin St./Vairo Blvd./Toftrees Ave.) Route:

  • Routing has been extended to include North Atherton Place (Walmart), West College Avenue, Blue Course Dr., Havershire Blvd. and Circleville Rd.
  • Weekday service will now begin at 2:30 p.m. and Saturday service will begin at 7:30 p.m.
  • Service on Sundays during Full Service will operate hourly from 10:50 a.m. - 8:40 p.m.

VN (Toftrees Ave./Vairo Blvd./Martin St.) Route (NEW):

  • Service will operate on Sundays only, with routing to follow the NV Route, but in the opposite direction. 
  • Operating hours will be the same as the NV Route schedule.
  • Routing will provide service to Toftrees, West College Avenue and Havershire Boulevard.

W (Valley Vista) Route:

  • The route is no longer interlined with the K (Cato Park) Route.
  • Routing entering Campus will shift from Burrowes Road to North Atherton Street.
  • The frequency and timing schedule for most trips have been adjusted to compensate for the impact of increased traffic.

WE (Havershire Blvd Express) Route:

  • Mid-day and early evening service has been eliminated.
  • The timing schedule for most trips has been adjusted to best complement W (Valley Vista) Route service.

RED LINK:

  • Service on Sunday evenings during Full Service has been extended until 10:00 p.m.

Complete Spring 2014 schedule and service information is available on the CATA website at www.catabus.com and in the Spring/Summer 2014 Ride Guide available throughout the community, and on all CATA buses in early January. Copies of the Ride Guide will also be distributed in the Centre Daily Times on Friday, January 10.
B Route Service Transports Skiers to Tussey Mountain

CATA's B Route serving Boalsburg provides an inexpensive way to get to and from Tussey Mountain throughout the year!

 

From Monday, January 13, through Friday, March 7, CATA will extend its regular B Route service to meet the needs of skiers and snowboarders. In addition to its year-round trips, the B Route will provide extra Outbound express trips from College & Allen to Tussey Mountain at 5:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Additional return trips will also run on weekdays, leaving Tussey at 6:15 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

 

For more information on this extended service, please refer to the Spring/Summer 2014 CATA Ride Guide, call (814) 238-CATA(2282), or visit the CATA website at www.catabus.com. 
Carry-On Policy Reminders
 
CATA maintains a comprehensive Carry-On Policy for its riders which may be viewed on the CATA website at www.catabus.com and in the CATA Ride Guide.

 

All items brought on board by passengers must either be held on the passenger's lap, or sit on the floor at their feet, or be placed in the priority seating area without blocking the aisle of the bus.  Packages cannot be placed on the wheelwell of the bus. In addition, drivers cannot be expected to load passengers' packages, carts or strollers, or to watch a passenger's packages. Packages cannot take up a seat if there are passengers standing.

 

Exceptions are made for ADA mobility devices and in other instances as stated in the full policy.   Anyone with questions about the policy is encouraged to call the CATA office at (814) 238-CATA(2282).

 
  
  
Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA)
2081 W. Whitehall Road
State College, PA 16801
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