Barta Transportation Center

The BARTA Transportation Center at 701 Franklin Street in Reading is the central hub of public bus service in Berks County. Nearly every fixed route operated in and around the city passes through this downtown facility, which functions as the main transfer point for riders moving between neighborhoods, suburban townships and the outlying boroughs of the county. Passengers board, transfer and alight here throughout the day, and the center also houses customer service functions for people buying passes, asking about schedules or sorting out questions about paratransit trips.

BARTA, the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority, has provided public transit in the Reading area for decades, continuing a tradition of streetcar and motor bus service that goes back much further in the city's history. Its operations are administered alongside those of its counterpart authority in Lancaster County under a shared regional structure, an arrangement that allows the two systems to pool administrative resources while each keeps its own identity, routes and local service area.

Location and Setting

The center sits at the corner of Seventh and Franklin Streets, on the southern edge of downtown Reading and within walking distance of the courthouse district, the Penn Street business corridor and the city's government offices. The site is adjacent to the restored Franklin Street Station, a former Reading Company passenger depot that has been rehabilitated as part of longer term efforts to bring intercity rail service back to the area. The pairing of the two buildings reflects the general intent of the block: to concentrate ground transportation in one place where connections are easy to make on foot.

Because the facility is in the city center, riders arriving by bus find themselves close to retail, restaurants, medical offices, social service agencies and the county and municipal buildings that generate much of the weekday travel demand in Reading. The surrounding streets are laid out on the city's traditional grid, which makes orientation straightforward for people continuing their trip on foot.

Services at the Transportation Center

The transit center is organized around sheltered boarding areas where buses pull in on a timed schedule, allowing passengers to step from one route to another without a long wait on the street. Electronic displays and posted signage identify which routes are loading from which positions and when departures are due, a layout that makes the center usable even for riders who are not familiar with the system.

• Boarding and transfer points for BARTA's fixed route network
• Customer service assistance for fares, passes and route planning
• Printed schedules and system maps
• Information on reduced fare programs for seniors and riders with disabilities
• A designated passenger loading area for drop off and pick up by car
• Connections to BARTA Special Services paratransit and shared ride trips

The Route Network

BARTA's fixed routes radiate outward from the Franklin Street hub in a spoke pattern that covers the City of Reading and extends into surrounding communities. Service reaches shopping centers and employment areas in Wyomissing, Muhlenberg, Exeter and other nearby townships, and longer regional routes link the city with outlying boroughs in Berks County. Buses also serve major trip generators including hospitals and medical campuses, colleges, large retail corridors and industrial and distribution employers in the region.

Because the system is built around timed transfers at a single hub, riders traveling between two outlying points generally pass through the Transportation Center to change buses. Schedules are coordinated so that connecting buses are in the bays at the same time, reducing the waiting involved in a two leg trip. Frequency varies by route and by time of day, with heavier service during weekday commuting periods and reduced service on evenings, Saturdays and holidays. Riders planning a trip at the edges of the operating day are encouraged to confirm the last departure times for their route before setting out.

Accessibility

The facility is designed for use by passengers with mobility devices. It has a wheelchair accessible entrance, an accessible restroom, accessible parking and a passenger loading zone at the curb. BARTA's fixed route buses are equipped with ramps or lifts and with securement areas for wheelchairs and scooters, and operators are trained to assist with boarding and alighting.

Beyond the fixed route system, BARTA Special Services provides door to door transportation for riders whose disabilities prevent them from using regular bus service, along with shared ride trips for senior citizens under Pennsylvania's lottery funded program. These trips are arranged in advance by telephone rather than by flagging down a vehicle, and eligibility requirements and reservation deadlines apply. Staff at the Transportation Center can explain how to apply for the program and how to schedule rides.

Fares and Passes

Riders may pay a single cash fare when boarding or purchase passes that cover a day, a week or a month of unlimited travel. Day passes are a common choice for people making several trips in a single outing, such as a medical appointment followed by errands, since the pass costs less than paying separate fares each time a bus is boarded. Reduced fare and free ride programs are available to qualifying senior citizens and to riders with disabilities who carry the appropriate identification. Operators on fixed route buses do not make change, so exact fare is needed when paying cash.

Practical Information for Riders

• Arrive a few minutes before a scheduled departure, particularly when making a timed connection between routes.
• Have exact fare or a valid pass ready when boarding.
• Check posted displays inside the center to confirm the correct boarding position, which can change.
• Paratransit and shared ride trips must be reserved in advance by phone.
• Downtown parking in the surrounding blocks is metered or permit restricted, so riders being dropped off should use the designated passenger loading area.

Contact

The BARTA Transportation Center is located at 701 Franklin Street, Reading, Pennsylvania 19602. The authority can be reached by telephone at +1 610-921-0601 for schedule information, fare and pass questions, lost and found inquiries and paratransit reservations.