Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority

Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA), previously Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority, is a public transportation system serving the city of Reading and its surrounding area of Berks County, Pennsylvania. The South Central Transit Authority owns BARTA and the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA).

Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority
BARTA bus 0534 in downtown Reading on the Route 16 line
SloganMore than a ride!
Founded1973[1]
Headquarters1700 North 11th Street
Reading, PA 19604
Service areaBerks County, Pennsylvania
Service typepublic transit
Routes17
HubsBARTA Transportation Center
Reading, Pennsylvania
Fleet51 buses
Fuel typeDiesel, hybrid diesel electric
Websitehttp://www.bartabus.com

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 paratransit service was formed in 1978 when 33 social service agencies in Berks County consolidated their transportation systems. In 1992, BARTA became the first small public transit agency in the United States to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. A grant from the Federal Transit Administration in 1993 allowed BARTA to eliminate the pedestrian mall along Penn Street in downtown Reading and reopen the road to traffic. As part of this, Penn Street between 4th and 6th streets was restored and bus shelters and berths were built. The BARTA Transportation Center at 7th and Cherry streets opened in 2002 to serve as a hub for BARTA buses. In 2005, the BARTA Park-N-Transit garage with 350 parking spaces opened at 7th and Franklin streets. The same year, a new logo for BARTA and paint scheme for buses was introduced. The agency also started investing in electric-diesel hybrid buses. In 2010, BARTA became a county authority, overseen by the County of Berks, reflecting its focus on regionalism instead of centralism on the city of Reading. The former Reading Railroad Franklin Street Station was refurbished and reopened to bus service on September 9, 2013.[2]

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.[3] On December 1, 2014, the South Central Transit Authority was formed to oversee BARTA and the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) in Lancaster County.[4]

Current routes

BARTA operates most of its present route network on a hub and spoke type system, in which most passengers transfer between routes at a central location, the BARTA Transportation Center.[5]

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, Reading Senior High School, 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 Birdsboro Penn Street, Perkiomen Avenue, Reiffton, Boscov's at Reading Mall, Exeter Commons, U.S. Route 422, Redner's at Shelbourne Square Park and Ride, Walmart at Exeter Square, Lincoln Road operates Monday-Sunday, weekend service terminates at Walmart at Exeter Square
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, Shillington, Ollie's Bargain Outlet/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, Kmart at 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, VF Outlet, 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 Giant on State Hill Road (Monday-Saturday) or Walmart at Berkshire Square (Sunday) Penn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, VF Outlet, State Hill Road, Berkshire Mall, Walmart at Berkshire Square operates Monday-Sunday
16
 Broadcasting Square BARTA Transportation Center Target at Broadcasting Square Penn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, VF Outlet, Park Road, Penn State Berks operates Monday-Sunday
17
 Glenside/Airport/Berks Heim BARTA Transportation Center St. Joseph Medical Center 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, U.S. Route 222 Business, Park Road, Blandon, Fleetwood, Fleetwood-Lyons Road operates Monday-Friday

Cooperation with other agencies

In September 2013, BARTA expanded its service on a trial basis to Lebanon with connecting service on Lebanon Transit to Harrisburg. This service replaced previously abandoned coach service operated by Bieber Tourways, on July 1, 2013.[6] However, BARTA discontinued its service to Lebanon on January 31, 2014 due to low ridership.

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.[7]

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 onboard 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.[7]

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.[2][8]

Franklin Street Station
The Reading Franklin Street train terminal was converted to a bus terminal in 2013. Buses enter from Cherry Street.

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.[2][8]

Park and ride locations

BARTA operates five park and ride lots across Berks County:[9]

BARTA's fleet

BARTA's fleet consists of 51 buses, consisting primarily of Gillig BRT buses, including 40 hybrid electric buses. 30 of the buses are 35 foot buses, and the remaining 22 are 40 foot buses. BARTA's fixed route fleet was mostly buses powered by Detroit Diesel engines until the production of the Detroit Diesel Series 50 was cut in late 2004. Then BARTA ordered their 05, 07, 08 and 09 Gillig BRTs with Cummins ISL. All the 2005 Gillig BRTs have been retired as of 2019. The 2007 Gillig BRTs started retiring in 2019. The first 2 digits of the bus numbers indicate the year the bus was ordered. Even in the 2000s and 2010s. All of BARTA's buses from 2010 and earlier are equipped with Allison Transmissions, and all of them have Bendix air brakes. As of 2009, BARTA has received 40 foot Gillig BRT hybrids with Cummins ISB, Cummins ISB6.7 and Cummins B6.7 engines. In 2009 and 2010, BARTA received 9 Gillig BRT hybrids with the Allison EP-40 hybrid drive system. As of 2015, BARTA has received additional Gillig BRT hybrids, which are series hybrids equipped with BAE Systems HybriDrive Series-E.[10]

Current fleet
Fleet Number(s) Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
0750-0756 2007 Gillig BRT 35' Cummins ISL Allison B400R
  • Mostly retired
  • The only unit left running is 0756.
0857-0862 2008 Gillig BRT 35' Cummins ISL Allison B400R
0881-0882 2008 Gillig BRT 40' Cummins ISL Allison B400R
0983-0984 2009 Gillig BRT 40' Cummins ISL Allison B400R
0991-0995 2009 Gillig BRT 40' Hybrid Cummins ISB Allison EP-40
  • First hybrids owned by BARTA
1096-1099 2010 Gillig BRT 40' Hybrid Cummins ISB Allison EP-40
1542-1544 2015 Gillig BRT 40' HybridDrive Cummins ISB6.7 BAE HybriDrive Series-E
1605-1608 2016 Gillig BRT 40' HybridDrive Cummins ISB6.7 BAE HDS-200 HybriDrive
1801-1805 2018 Gillig BRT 35' HybridDrive Cummins B6.7
1806-1807 2018 Gillig BRT 40' HybridDrive Cummins B6.7
1808-1812 9/2018 Gillig BRT 35' HybridDrive Cummins B6.7
1901-1905 6/2019 Gillig BRT 35' HybridDrive Cummins B6.7
1912-1918 9/2019 Gillig BRT 35' HybridDrive Cummins B6.7

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.[11]

Current fleet
Fleet Number(s) Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
1401-1403 2014 Ford E-350
1404-1409 2014 Ford/Champion E-450/Challenger
  • Operated by Easton Coach
1410-1416 2014 Ford/Coach & Equipment E-450/Hybrid
  • Equipped with VTM Ultra Capacitor Hybrid Propulsion System
1517-1519 2015 Ford/Champion E-450/Challenger
  • Operated by Easton Coach
1546-1548 2015 Ford/Champion E-450/Challenger
  • Unleaded gasoline powered
1649-1655 2016 Ford/Champion E-450/Challenger
  • Unleaded gasoline powered
1756-1767 2017 Ford/Champion E-450/Challenger
  • Unleaded gasoline powered
1868-1878 2018 Ford/StarTrans E-450
  • Unleaded gasoline powered
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References
  1. About Barta Archived December 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. BARTA. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  2. "BARTA History". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  3. David W. Kilmer Faces in the News
  4. "About the South Central Transit Authority". South Central Transit Authority. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  5. "Bus Schedules". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  6. BARTA Express Reading Lebanon Harrisburg Archived September 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Fares". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  8. "Transit Centers". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  9. "Park N Ride". Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  10. 2015 SCTA Annual Report
  11. "BARTA Paratransit Service". BARTA. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
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