CATA Resuming Additional Bus Service Next Week

With Centre County now in the green phase of reopening, the Centre Area Transportation Authority is reinstating more services that had been curtailed in March amid COVID-19 shutdowns.

“As our county moves into the green portion of the governor’s reopening plan, we want to assist employers and companies and get residents and our economy moving forward,” Louwana Oliva, CATA executive director and CEO, said in a statement. “In speaking with local employers about the transportation challenges their employees are facing, we have layered in what we feel will be an appropriate level of service.”

Effective Monday, June 8:

– The HM (Nittany Mall/Toftrees), P (Tussey Mountain) and W (Valley Vista) routes will operate on their regular reduced service schedule, Monday through Saturday.

– The K (Cato Park) route will operate on a special modified service schedule, Monday through Saturday, at a 60-minute frequency.

– The N (Martin St./Aaron Dr.), R (Waupelani Drive), V (Vairo Blvd.) routes will operate on a special modified service schedule, Monday through Saturday, at a 40-minute frequency.

– The XB (Bellefonte) and XG (Pleasant Gap) routes will operate on their regular reduced service Saturday schedule, Monday through Saturday.

– The Blue Loop will operate Monday through Friday until 10 p.m., with 20-minute frequency.

Service begins at 6 a.m. each day. Specific schedules and routes are available at catabus.com/reduced-service.

No fares are being collected and riders are to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth. When possible, passengers are asked to board the bus from the rear door.

Also starting Monday, the CATA Go microtransit service in Bellefonte will operate 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday. The service will no longer operate in Pleasant Gap.

CATA Ride will operate 6 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Service outside those hours is limited life-sustaining treatment such as dialysis, chemotherapy and radiation. There is no service on Sunday. Call-in hours for reservations for next day trips are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to suspending fares and requiring riders to wear face coverings, CATA is providing and requiring masks and face shields for its front-line employees and conducting employee health screenings. Staff are regularly cleaning and disinfecting high-touch areas in vehicles and facilities using CDC-recommended cleaners, according to a release. The number of passengers permitted on board also is limited.