Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority
diesel electric | |
Website | bartabus |
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Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA), previously Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority, is a
History
BARTA was created with the cooperation of the Berks County and the City of Reading in 1973 to purchase the failing Reading Bus Company. On October 8, 1973, BARTA began bus operations. The BARTA Special Services
In September 2013, BARTA expanded its service on a trial basis to
Dennis D. Louwerse, the long-time executive director/CEO at BARTA, died on Thursday, September 5, 2013, at the age of 68. He became the executive director at BARTA in 1983, and he was the executive director for 30 years until his death. David W. Kilmer is currently the executive director.[6] On December 1, 2014, the South Central Transit Authority was formed to oversee BARTA and the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) in Lancaster County.[7]
Current routes
BARTA operates most of its present route network on a
Route | Line Name | Terminals | Places Served | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
Temple via Fifth Street | BARTA Transportation Center
|
Walmart at North Reading Plaza | 5th Street, 5th Street Highway, Fairgrounds Square Mall, Penn Plaza, Plaza 222, Muhlenberg Shopping Center, Target, Temple | operates Monday-Sunday |
2
|
Fairgrounds Square Market | BARTA Transportation Center | Fairgrounds Square Market | 9th Street/10th Street, Exeter Street, 11th Street, Rockland Street, Kutztown Road, Madison Avenue, 5th Street Highway, Fairgrounds Square Mall | operates Friday-Saturday |
3
|
Temple via Kutztown Road | BARTA Transportation Center | Walmart at North Reading Plaza | 8th Street/9th Street, Kutztown Road, Temple | operates Monday-Saturday |
4
|
10th-11th Streets | BARTA Transportation Center | 10th and Exeter streets | Penn Street, 11th Street, Rockland Plaza, 10th Street | operates Monday-Sunday |
5
|
Albright College via 12th-13th Streets | BARTA Transportation Center | Reservoir Road and Hampden Boulevard | 12th Street/13th Street, Weis Market, Albright College , Hampden Boulevard
|
operates Monday-Saturday |
7
|
Pennside | BARTA Transportation Center | Stony Creek Towne Houses | Penn Street, Perkiomen Avenue, 23rd Street, Carsonia Avenue, Hollywood Court Apartments, Pennside, Butter Lane | operates Monday-Saturday |
8
|
Reiffton/Shelbourne Square/Birdsboro | BARTA Transportation Center | Walmart at Exeter Square or Birdsboro | Penn Street, Perkiomen Avenue, Redner's at Shelbourne Square Park and Ride, Walmart at Exeter Square, Lincoln Road
|
operates Monday-Sunday, limited weekday service to Birdsboro |
9
|
Grill via Kenhorst | BARTA Transportation Center | Redner's at Kenhorst Plaza | 4th Street, South Reading, KVP Factory, Alvernia University, Sencit Towne House Apartments, Kenhorst, Grill | operates Monday-Saturday |
10
|
Brookline | BARTA Transportation Center | East Wyomissing Boulevard and Margaret Street | 4th Street/6th Street, South Reading, Lancaster Avenue, Brookline Plaza, Hancock Boulevard | operates Monday-Sunday |
11
|
Mohnton via Shillington | BARTA Transportation Center | Main and Church streets in Mohnton | 4th Street, South Reading, Lancaster Avenue, Shillington Shopping Center, Fulton Bank , Wyomissing Avenue
|
operates Monday-Saturday |
12
|
Lincoln Park via Reading Hospital | BARTA Transportation Center | Berkshire Hills | Penn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, Reading Hospital, Reading Boulevard, The Highlands at Wyomissing, Lincoln Plaza Shopping Center, Spring Towne Center | operates Monday-Saturday |
14
|
Wernersville via Sinking Spring | BARTA Transportation Center | Wernersville State Hospital or McDonald's Park and Ride in Womelsdorf | Penn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, Sinking Spring, Redner's at Sinking Spring Plaza, U.S. Route 422, Phoebe Berks Village, Wernersville | operates Monday-Saturday, limited service to Womelsdorf |
15
|
Berkshire Mall | BARTA Transportation Center | Walmart at Berkshire Square or Giant on State Hill Road
|
Penn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, State Hill Road, Berkshire Mall, Walmart at Berkshire Square | operates Monday-Sunday, most Sunday service terminates at Walmart at Berkshire Square |
16
|
Broadcasting Square | BARTA Transportation Center | Target at Broadcasting Square | Penn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, Park Road, Penn State Berks | operates Monday-Sunday |
17
|
Glenside/Airport/Berks Heim | BARTA Transportation Center | Penn State Health St. Joseph or Berks Heim
|
Schuylkill Avenue, Bernville Road, Reading Regional Airport, MacArthur Road | operates Monday-Saturday, limited service to Berks Heim |
18
|
Schuylkill Avenue | BARTA Transportation Center | Windsor Street and Schuylkill Avenue or Penn State Health St. Joseph | Downtown Reading, Penn Street, Front Street, Windsor Street, Schuylkill Avenue | operates Monday-Sunday, limited evening service to Penn State Health St. Joseph |
19
|
Riverside/FirstEnergy Stadium/Cotton Street | 19th and Cotton streets | FirstEnergy Stadium Park and Ride | Cotton Street/Perkiomen Avenue, Downtown Reading, BARTA Transportation Center, 6th Street/8th Street, PriceRite , Spring Street, Riverside School, Centre Avenue
|
operates Monday-Sunday, no Sunday service between BARTA Transportation Center and FirstEnergy Stadium |
20
|
Route 61/Hamburg | BARTA Transportation Center | Cabela's | Centre Avenue, Pennsylvania Route 61, Redner's Leesport Park and Ride, Leesport, Shoemakersville, Redner's Hamburg Park and Ride, Hamburg | operates Monday-Saturday |
22
|
Lyon Station/East Penn-Deka | BARTA Transportation Center | East Penn Manufacturing Company-Deka in Lyons | 8th Street/9th Street, Kutztown Road, , Fleetwood-Lyons Road | operates Monday-Friday |
Fares
The base cash fare to ride on BARTA buses is $1.70. Certain routes have an additional zone fare of $0.25 for travel outside the base zone. Transfers from one route to another are available for $0.25 and must be used within two hours of being issued. Students in grades 1-12 may ride for $1.20 with a Student ID card. Medicare Card holders and disabled people with proper ID may ride BARTA for $0.85. Senior citizens may ride BARTA for free with proper ID. Up to three children age 5 and under may ride for free with a fare-paying adult.[9]
BARTA offers various discount fares and passes for riders. Ten Trip Tickets provide ten bus trips and cost $17.30 for Adult Anywhere and $11.00 for Student Anywhere. The One Day Pass provides unlimited rides in a single day and costs $3.00 if purchased in advance and $4.00 if purchased on board the bus. The 31 Day Pass provides unlimited rides in a 31-day period and costs $47.00 for Adult Anywhere and $29.00 for Student Anywhere. The 31 Day Park-N-Ride Pass is valid for rides in a 31-day period to and from park and ride lots only and costs $31.00.[9]
Transit facilities
BARTA Transportation Center
The BARTA Transportation Center is located at 7th and Cherry streets in Downtown Reading and is where all BARTA bus routes connect. The transportation center has an enclosed waiting area, restrooms, customer service office, a break area for bus drivers, a community police station, and a 101-space parking garage. The BARTA Transportation Center has ten berths that the buses stop at and announces arriving and departing buses over the PA system and through information displays in the waiting and loading areas.[4][10]
Franklin Street Station
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Franklin_Street_bus_terminal_%281%29.jpg/250px-Franklin_Street_bus_terminal_%281%29.jpg)
The former Reading Railroad Franklin Street Station was refurbished and also has bus service. The station has a waiting area for passengers, customer service area, transportation museum, and space for passenger amenities. The station is intended to be used for future express and long-distance bus services.[4][10]
Park and ride locations
BARTA operates five park and ride lots across Berks County:[11]
- FirstEnergy Stadium (Route 19)
- Redner's in Hamburg(Route 20)
- Redner's in Leesport (Route 20)
- Shelbourne Square in Exeter Township (Route 8)
- Womelsdorf (Route 14)
BARTA's fleet
BARTA's fleet consists of 50 buses, consisting primarily of
Current fleet
Fleet Number(s) | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1542-1544 | 2015 | Gillig | BRT HEV 40'
|
ISB6.7
|
BAE HybriDrive Series E | |
1605–1608 | 2016 | BAE HybriDrive | ||||
1801–1805 | 2018 | BRT HEV 35'
|
B6.7
|
BAE HybriDrive | ||
1806–1807 | 2018 | BRT HEV 40'
|
BAE HybriDrive | |||
1808–1812 | 2018 | BRT HEV 35'
|
BAE HybriDrive | |||
1901–1905 | 2019 | BAE HybriDrive | ||||
1912–1918 | 2019 | BAE HybriDrive | ||||
2001–2002 | 2020 | BRT HEV 40'
|
BAE HybriDrive | |||
2003–2006 | 2020 | BRT HEV 35'
|
BAE HybriDrive | |||
2104-2107 | 2021 | Low Floor Plus HEV 35' | ||||
2201-2205 | 2022 | Low Floor Plus HEV 40' | ||||
2301-2304 | 2023 |
Paratransit
The BARTA Special Services Division provides Shared Ride bus service offering consolidated trips between customers’ origins and destinations that are not well served by fixed route bus service. Often referred to as “Paratransit,” Shared Ride operates during limited hours and specific travel areas.[13]
Current fleet
Fleet Number(s) | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1756-1767 | 2017 | Ford/Champion | E-450/Challenger | Ford V10 6.8L gasoline |
| |
1868–1878 | 2018 | Ford/StarTrans | E-450/Senator | Unleaded gasoline powered | ||
2025–2031 | 2020 | Ford/Coach & Equipment | E-450/Phoenix | Unleaded gasoline powered | ||
2032–2040 | 2020 | Ford/Coach & Equipment | E-450/Phoenix | Operated by Easton Coach | ||
2120-2124 | 2021 | Ford/Coach & Equipment | E-450/Phoenix | Operated by Easton Coach | ||
2125-2127 | 2021 | Ford/Coach & Equipment | E-450/Phoenix | Unleaded gasoline powered | ||
2314-2320 | 2023 | Ford/Coach & Equipment | E-450/Phoenix | Unleaded gasoline powered | ||
2403-2414 | 2024 | Ford/Coach & Equipment | E-450/Phoenix | Unleaded gasoline powered |
References
- ^ About Barta Archived December 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. BARTA. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c "BARTA History". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ BARTA Express Reading Lebanon Harrisburg Archived September 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ David W. Kilmer Faces in the News
- ^ "About the South Central Transit Authority". South Central Transit Authority. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Bus Schedules". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ a b "Fares". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "Transit Centers". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ "Park N Ride". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ 2015 SCTA Annual Report
- ^ "BARTA Paratransit Service". BARTA. Retrieved April 11, 2018.