Hugh Mose, who served as general manager of the Centre Area Transportation Authority for 19 years, was among three people inducted into the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Established in 1983, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have had long and distinguished careers in public transportation and have made extraordinary contributions to the industry.
Mose was honored for his nearly 50 years in the transit industry, which began when he he was hired out of graduate school to manage the city-run transit system in Iowa City, Iowa. After five years there, he became assistant transit director in Fresno, California, then managed the Olympia, Washington local transit system.
In 1995, Mose found what he called his “true home” at CATA, where he remained as general manager until his retirement in 2014. His achievements included leading CATA to become the first transit system on the East Coast to have a 100% natural gas-powered bus fleet, working with Penn State to integrate the town and campus Loops and helping to develop an apartment-based program in which student tenants prepay for bus service as part of their rent.
Since his retirement, Mose has continued his involvement in the industry, representing State College-based national transit technology company Avail Technologies, working as a consultant and devoting time to APTA, its associated foundation and the federally funded Transit Cooperative Research Program. He also continues to mentor young professionals throughout the transit industry.
Mose’s leadership at CATA also led to extensive community involvement. He has served as chair of the State College Transportation Commission, United Way Board chair, Rotary Club president and clerk of the Board at Foxdale Village.
For more than 30 years Hugh and his wife, Janyce, have shared their home with a succession of rescued greyhounds – perfect pets for someone who devoted his career to the bus industry.
