UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Transportation Services reminds students, faculty, and staff of the campus and community services available to them to get to, from and across the University Park campus during winter months.
Campus and community transit
The CATABUS Blue Loop, White Loop, and Red Link and Penn State’s two Campus Shuttle routes (via College Avenue and via Beaver Avenue) are no-fare transit options for the Penn State community for transportation to locations across campus and downtown. With service starting as early as 6:45 a.m. and running until late at night, passengers can escape the cold while getting a convenient ride to their destination.
CATA also offers 15 Community Service routes that serve campus and the surrounding State College and Centre Region area. Many stops are located at popular destinations such as grocery stores, restaurants, shopping centers, and apartment complexes. The cost is $2.50 for a one-way trip and riders can purchase bus passes or use exact change for bus fare.
Fare can also be purchased on a mobile device through the Token Transit app. Riders can purchase a pass in the app and scan the QR code when boarding. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
Riders can download the Penn State Go app for real-time bus and shuttle locations and arrival predictions for each stop to avoid waiting for a bus in the cold.
For more information on campus and community bus service, visit buses and shuttles and public transportation pages on the Transportation Services website.
CATACOMMUTE and Commute with Enterprise
CATA partners with Commute with Enterprise to offer vanpool commuting options for those across the Centre Region.
The program connects employees who live near one another and provides them with a van or SUV to serve as their vanpool vehicle. These vanpool groups allow users to save money on vehicle gas and maintenance while also allowing them to relax or catch up on work during their commute.
For more information on this vanpool program, visit the CATACOMMUTE and Commute with Enterprise page on the Commute with Enterprise website.
Winter biking
The Spin e-bike share program, through partnerships with Transportation Services, the Borough of State College, Ferguson Township and Patton Township, offers 300+ electric-assist bikes as another helpful option for getting around. Bikes are available across campus and in town year-round, and bike racks are close to buildings to provide convenient access to users.
Bicyclists are also encouraged to visit the Bike Den if they need help creating a winter riding plan. Staff and volunteers can provide valuable information on bike repair and maintenance, and bicyclists can get tips on layering clothing, changing the tread on bike tires, visibility, and more.
For more information on campus and community biking resources, visit the biking page on the Transportation Services website.
Lyft programs
The Penn State Ride Smart by Lyft program provides eight $10 per ride credits each month to all Penn State University Park students for Lyft rides back to campus residential areas from downtown State College and select surrounding neighborhoods on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights between 2 and 7 a.m. when other campus transportation is limited.
The Innovation Park/Medical Center Lyft program is for University Park students and full-time faculty and staff who need rides between campus, Mount Nittany Medical Center, and Innovation Park. Those who register for the program will receive twenty $20 Lyft ride credits each month from 6:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 to 1 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays year-round.
For more information on the Lyft programs, visit the Lyft programs page on the Transportation Services website.
Safe Walk service
Students are also encouraged to use the University's Safe Walk service operated by University Police and Public Safety, which provides walking accompaniment on campus for students, employees, and visitors who may feel unsafe walking alone on campus at night. This program is available from dusk till dawn, 365 days a year.
More information
To learn more about these campus and community transportation options, visit transportation.psu.edu, and for questions, contact Transportation Services at 814-865-1436 or email parking@psu.edu.