CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Mass transit services in the Bellefonte area will be changing this summer but now there is word that those changes could be happening earlier than expected and the transit program for this year is expected to change again next year.
The Centre Area Transportation Authority announced earlier this year that changes were in the works for their service to the Bellefonte area, saying the funding they receive from the municipalities involved isn’t enough to support the authority's expenses.
The CATAGo service to that area is to be replaced with the Bellefonte/Benner B-line.
“We’re going to be rolling that out in the next week or so. Passengers using the service will be able to call a day in advance and make a trip reservation. They can either travel locally in Bellefonte, or along the Benner Pike, in Spring Township, or they can go to the Nittany Mall and transfer to one of our buses to travel into the State College area.”
The new CATA B-line will only operate for two hours in the morning, and two hours in the afternoon, Monday through Friday.
Riders are thus looking at other options, including the Centre County's transit service.
The county transportation director recently told administrators that they're already adding more buses and staffing.
“Is this part of county planning for the eventual cutbacks by CATA? Yes, and we are already seeing an uptick in ridership from people who went away from us, using their services, but knowing the changes are coming.”
Now with Bellefonte, along with Spring and Benner Townships, deciding to cut ties with CATA next year, what’s next for Bellefonte area transit service remains unknown.
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