Lawmakers Visit CATA for Rural Transit Day

Centre Area Transportation Authority joined transit agencies across Pennsylvania on Thursday, July 16, to celebrate Rural Transit Day by hosting local legislators for a look inside the organization.

State Rep. Paul Takac, Mihaly Sogor from state Sen. Wayne Langerholc’s office, Loren Glossner from state Sen. Cris Dush’s office, Jennifer Brungard from state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff’s office, and Warren Obenski, Ferguson Township Manager, visited CATA to learn more about the agency’s work. They were joined by CATA staff, including CEO Todd Horsley, COO Derek Sherman, Director of Finance Bruce Donovan and Director of Business Development and Community Engagement Lori Miller.

The visit began with a brief presentation outlining CATA’s role as a small urban transit system that also services rural areas. Staff emphasized how services like CATA Go support seniors, workers, and individuals who may otherwise have limited access to healthcare, employment, education, and other essential services.

Following the presentation, Sogor, Glossner and Brungard toured CATA’s facility and participated in a CATA Go ride‑along, giving them a firsthand look at how the region’s geography and population patterns make flexible, on‑demand service an effective solution for replacing low‑performing fixed‑route service.

CATA Go is an on‑demand microtransit service operating in areas such as Boalsburg, Houserville and Lemont. The service offers a cost‑effective alternative to low‑ridership fixed‑route service and expands public transit access into rural parts of CATA’s service area.

“CATA provides robust, frequent bus service in and around State College and Penn State,” Horsley said. “In the less densely populated parts of our service area, CATA Go gives residents a reliable way to get to work, critical appointments and everyday needs. We appreciate our legislative partners coming out to see how CATA Go supports both residents and the local economy.”

CATA officials said they are proud to take part in Rural Transit Day and value the continued collaboration between local and state officials to support transportation access for residents in the region and across rural Pennsylvania.

For more information about CATA services, including CATA Bus, CATA Go, CATA Transit and CATA Commute, visit catabus.com.

Rural Transit Day is an annual statewide initiative recognizing the vital role public transportation plays in connecting rural communities. Observed each year on July 16, the day highlights how transit services support residents in remote areas by providing access to healthcare, employment, shopping and other essential destinations.

The observance was established by the National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP) to celebrate the agencies, staff and passengers who make rural transit possible. In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) helps promote Rural Transit Day and the importance of continued investment in transportation services that support the state’s rural communities.