Fare Options and Information
There is no fare required for the CATABUS Campus Service (LOOP and LINK routes). A fare is required for every one-way trip on the CATABUS Community Service routes and the CATAGO microtransit service.
Cash, tokens, transfers, and passes are the available fare options. While CATA accepts LionCash+ for the purchase of tokens and passes at the Customer Service Center, LionCash+ cannot be used to pay the cash fare on the buses. Exceptions to the required fare are noted below (under Passes).
Payment options for the purchase of tokens and passes: In addition to cash or personal checks accompanied by proper photo identification, CATA accepts LionCash+ and all major credit cards for debit or credit purchases of tokens and passes at the Customer Service Center.
Penn State "RIDEpass" Program
Penn State University Transportation Services provides access to reduced-fare CATABUS service to/from campus for eligible Penn State full-time employees and graduate students. For more information, visit the University Parking Office at 1 Eisenhower Parking Deck, call (814) 865-1436, or visit the Penn State University Transportation Services website
at https://transportation.psu.edu/ridepass.
Cash
$2.20: Exact change only, drivers do not carry change.
Tokens (one token is valid for one fare)
Token singles: $2.20
Roll of 20: $42.00
Tokens are available at CATA's Customer Service Center and the following retail locations:
-
- CAMPUS: The HUB Information Desk and the six Commons Desks (Findlay, Pollock, Redifer, Waring, Warnock and White Course)
- DOWNTOWN STATE COLLEGE: Student Book Store and McLanahan’s Student Store-Penn State Room
TRANSFERS:
If you are using cash or tokens as fare and you need to take more than one CATABUS or CATAGO trip to complete a one-way trip, ask the driver of the first vehicle you board for a transfer when you board that first vehicle. Transfers are free and are valid for up to one hour as substitute fare for the second ride needed to continue your one-way trip. Transfers cannot be used for return trips.
Passes
$6 day passes via Token Transit mobile ticketing
CATA now offers a day pass, good for unlimited rides on all CATABUS routes and the CATAGO microtransit service during a one-day period.
For frequent riders, CATA offers the "OnePass," good for unlimited rides on CATABUS and CATAGO. Monthly passes are sold in increments of one and four months based on the following cost schedule:
OnePasses are available for any length of time you desire. The price for the combinations of 1 month and 4 month passes you will need to cover various numbers of months is below:
Months |
Price Calculation |
Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 2 one-month passes ($86 each) |
$172.00 |
| 3 months | 3 one-month passes ($86 each) |
$258.00 |
| 5 months | 1 four-month pass ($337), plus 1 one-month pass ($86) |
$423.00 |
| 6 months | 1 four-month pass ($337), plus 2 one-month passes ($86 each) |
$509.00 |
| 7 months | 1 four-month pass ($337), plus 3 one-month passes ($86 each) |
$595.00 |
| 8 months | 2 four-month passes ($337 each) |
$674.00 |
| 9 months | 2 four-month passes ($337 each), plus 1 one-month pass ($86) |
$760.00 |
| 10 months | 2 four-month passes ($337 each), plus 2 one-month passes ($86 each) |
$846.00 |
| 11 months | 2 four-month passes ($37 each), plus 3 one-month passes ($86 each) |
$932.00 |
| 12 months | 3 four-month passes ($337 each) |
$1,011.00 |
The “OnePass” is available in monthly increments ranging from 1 to 12 months, beginning on any day of a given month. For example, a pass for three months which begins on March 21st will expire on June 20th.
A "OnePass" may be purchased at CATA's Customer Service Center during regular office hours. If you already have a "OnePass," you can order your next pass by mail; click here for the order form, which includes instructions and must be completed and mailed to CATA with your payment. Please call CATA at (814) 238-2282 if you have questions about how to order a pass by mail.
Youth Passes are available for riders under the age of 18 for a deeply discounted price of $26.00 per month. Youth Passes offer unlimited access to all CATABUS routes and CATAGO! microtransit service. To qualify for the discount, riders must present either a valid middle or high school identification card or a statement (available here) signed by a parent to verify age. Please see more information regarding Youth Passes here.
Exceptions to the required fare
- Free:
Children Under 40" Tall (accompanied by an adult)Persons age 65 and Older may ride free on all CATABUS routes and the CATAGO microtransit service (and on local transit systems throughout the state of Pennsylvania), whenever the service is in operation, by swiping a Senior Citizen Transit Identification Card as they board.
The Senior Citizen Transit Identification Card is available free of charge by completing and printing the form here and bringing it along with proof of age to CATA's Customer Service Center; forms are also available at the Customer Service Center.
- Reduced Fare: $1.10
Individuals with disabilities may use all CATABUS routes and the CATAGO microtransit service for one-half of the cash fare by presenting a CATABUS Reduced Fare Photo Identification Card or a valid U.S. Medicare Card, in which case the Driver may ask for additional photo identification.The CATABUS Reduced Fare Card is available free of charge at CATA's Customer Service Center. An application and either a doctor’s certification of disability or valid U.S. Medicare Card are required. Please print and complete the form here and bring it to the Customer Service Center.
Patrons enrolled in this Reduced Fare program are eligible to purchase reduced fare tokens, to be used in place of required $1.10 cash fare. Each token is valid for a one-way trip when presented with the CATABUS Reduced Fare Identification Card or a valid U.S. Medicare Card. Tokens are sold individually or in rolls of 20 for $22.00 at CATA's Customer Service Center.