Aug. 25, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With a sellout crowd of 107,000-plus expected for Saturday's season opening clash between Penn State and Coastal Carolina, fans are reminded of several transportation opportunities from outlying regions and some parking locations that are a less than 10 minute drive from Beaver Stadium.
The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) will continue providing the Game Day Football Shuttle. This year, Fullington Bus Company is offering new transportation opportunities to all Nittany Lion home football games, the Penn State Football Express.
CATA Game Day Football Shuttle
CATA's Game Day Football Shuttles are split into two separate routes -- one serving downtown State College (Downtown Shuttle) and one serving Hills Plaza and other South Atherton Street hotels and businesses (South Atherton Shuttle).
The Downtown Shuttle will serve the downtown State College area with the following pickups on Beaver Avenue: the corner of Atherton Street and Beaver Avenue and the Schlow Library stop at the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street.
The South Atherton Shuttle will serve the Hills Plaza parking lot and all designated South Atherton stops from Hills Plaza to Easterly Parkway; it also will serve Rolling Ridge and Windmere Drives. Parking is available at the rear parking lot of Hills Plaza, along the streets in Windmere Park (Rolling Ridge Drive and Windmere Drive) and the Easterly Parkway Elementary School. Riders should note that parking at the Hills Plaza this year is limited to the rear of the Plaza only -- no parking in front or alongside of the Ollie's store will be permitted.
Each game day shuttle bus stop is distinctly marked designated by a special sign showing which of the two shuttle routes serve that stop. Each route will only stop at these marked locations.
The shuttles begin operation three hours before kickoff and run continuously until one hour after each game has ended. Shuttles will begin five hours before kickoff for games that start after 5:00 p.m. (Sept. 27 vs. Illinois, 8:00 p.m. kick).. Both shuttles operate in both directions every 10 minutes before the game, every 20 minutes during the game and every 10 minutes one-way from the stadium following the game.
Fare for either shuttle is $2.00, exact fare only. Individuals presenting a valid U.S. Medicare Card, Senior Transit Identification Card or a CATA Reduced Fare Identification Card may ride for half the fare, $1.00. Remember that passengers pay when boarding the bus and may pay for more than one passenger, but drivers do not carry change.
Penn State Football Express
There will be four new shuttles provided by the Fullington Bus Company on game days as well. The Penn State Football Express will be picking up fans at the following locations: Altoona, the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall, North Atherton Street, South Atherton and Benner Pike. All tickets are for roundtrip service. Drop-offs are within yards of Beaver Stadium.
| Bus | Location | Departure Time | Price | Tickets |
Altoona Campus Penn State Altoona Campus Four hours before kickoff $18 814-693-7630
Grange Fairgrounds Grange Fairgrounds - Gate 4 (Centre Hall) Three hours prior to kickoff $10 814-355-4900 North Atherton Street Shuttle
1) Sleep Inn, Comfort Inn, Motel 6
2) Weis Market (Martin Street)
3) Target (between Target & Kohls)
4) Toftrees
Begins three hours before kickoff and continues until kickoff $6 Tickets can be purchased on the bus from the driver
Benner Pike Shuttle
Wal-Mart parking lot
Begins three hours before kickoff and continues until kickoff $6 Tickets can be purchased on the bus from the driver
Returns
• The Altoona and Grange Fairgrounds busses will return one hour after the game.
• The Atherton Street and Benner Pike busses will continuously loop for an hour and half after the game starting at the 4th quarter.
In addition to the service provided by the CATA and Fullington shuttles, fans may also take advantage of the University's campus bus service -- the no-fare Blue and White Loops -- that provide continuous service within walking distance of Beaver Stadium to downtown State College until 2:30 a.m. Service beyond downtown to the South Atherton Street hotels and the Hills Plaza is available via the P Route ($1.25 fare) which leaves downtown at the Schlow Library stop at the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street every 70 minutes at 4:15, 5:25 and 6:35 p.m.
For information on these Penn State football shuttle services, including exact routings, refer to the CATA Game Day Shuttles schedule brochures available on all CATA buses, visit the CATA website at http://www.catabus.com or call (814) 238-CATA (2282) or visit the Fullington website at www.fullingtontours.com .