Hypernex
Manufacturer
3006 Research Dr, 16801 State CollegeIn 1989, CATA implemented the Town LOOP to complement the existing Campus LOOP operated by the Pennsylvania State University. Also added was a Park-and-Ride program, developed through a partnership between the Borough of State College, the Downtown Business Association (now the State College Downtown Improvement District) and Penn State. By 1990, ridership had grown to over 2 million for the first time in the Authority's history. In September of 1991, CATA opened the doors to a new facility on Whitehall Road in Ferguson Township, home to CATA's transportation, maintenance and administration functions. However, CATA continued to maintain a pass sales and information office in downtown State College. After making a commitment to alternative fuels in 1994, CATA made plans to purchase sixteen compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and construct a fueling facility. However, before either of these could be accomplished, there was a leadership transition in the organization. After ten years at the helm General Manager Kevin Abbey resigned and was succeeded by Hugh Mose. CATA's first CNG buses, from Orion Bus Industries, arrived in 1996, just in time for the completion of the fueling station. With its next purchase CATA standardized on low-floor buses; the Authority bought eight manufactured by New Flyer in 1997, another ten in 1998 and ten more in 2000, bringing the total of CNG powered buses to 44. In 1998 and 1999 CATA added six minibuses to the fixed route fleet. Including six used diesel buses and four paratransit vans, at the end of the decade CATA's fleet totaled sixty revenue vehicles. CATA headed into the new millennium on the heels of the largest service enhancement in its history. In the fall of 1999, the Authority assumed operation of all transit service on the Penn State campus, converting the Town and Campus LOOPs to fare-free service. Thanks to new state transit assistance, CATA was able to expand service throughout the community. As a result, ridership exceeded 6 million riders in 2003 - the highest ever. In 1999 CATA implemented RideShare, a carpool matching program, which was funded through a partnership with Penn State. That same year CATA expanded the bus storage area in its maintenance facility to accommodate the growing fleet. The following year bike racks were installed on the front of all CATA buses - CATA was the first transit authority in the state to have such a program. In 2001/2002 CATA nearly doubled the size of its operations and administrative office area to serve the need of its 120-person workforce. Today, CATA's entire fleet is fueled solely by CNG. CATA is now the first transit system on the East Coast to have converted its entire fleet to alternative fuel. CATA's six million plus annual riders now enjoy the clean, quiet, and smooth ride of these new buses, all of which are wheelchair lift-equipped. With these new programs, partnerships, facilities and equipment, CATA is well prepared for the future.
2081 W. Whitehall Road, 16801 State College
Manufacturer
3006 Research Dr, 16801 State College