Berks County transportation planners are seeking input from the public on how to reduce barriers to walking, bicycling, and accessibility in Berks County and the best methods to achieve those goals.
The car has been the dominant choice for people to travel to work, school, shopping centers, etc. As roads become congested and air quality diminishes, people look for other ways to get where they want to go.
Additionally, some people do not own a vehicle and the only way to get around Berks County is to travel on foot, by bicycle, or by using an assistive device. Also, increased health awareness and changes in transportation choices – including the rapid increased use of e-bikes and e-scooters – necessitate a review of the overall transportation system.
“Reducing the number of those short car trips and making non-motorized methods of transportation safer and more available would go a long way in improving roadway congestion, air quality, and the overall health of the community,” said Michael D. Golembiewski, a transportation planner with the Berks County Planning Commission.
Online surveys are available in both English (https://arcg.is/1zqXCH3) and Spanish (https://arcg.is/1jGm556) to measure the public’s perceptions and experiences in walking and bicycling in Berks County.
These surveys will be available until November 23, 2026, after which responses will be tallied and the Committee will begin drafting recommendations that will take survey responses into account. Paper surveys may be obtained from the Planning Commission by calling 610-478-6300 or by stopping by our offices at 400 E. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton, PA 19540. Links may also be found on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/berkscpc).
Additionally, two Public Meetings will be held on Monday, November 16, 2026. Registration is Required for either (https://arcg.is/119bDD1):
Virtual Meeting
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Held via Microsoft Teams
In-Person Meeting
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Berks County South Campus, Multi-Purpose Room
400 East Wyomissing Ave, First Floor, Mohnton, PA 19540
An Advisory Committee has been convened to represent users of the walking, bicycling, and accessible networks and includes representatives of Berks County Planning and Parks Departments, City of Reading and other municipal governments, South Central Transit Authority/BARTA, Schuylkill River Greenway National Heritage Association, Berks Nature, local law enforcement, health networks, and others.
The Steering Committee met for the first time in late September 2026 to kick-off the process to evaluate a range of options for improving and expanding the bicycle and pedestrian network throughout Berks County. The results of the Committee’s work will be incorporated into the draft Berks County Active Transportation Plan tentatively slated for adoption by RATS in November 2027.
The overall goal of this Plan, once adopted, is to make recommendations that will ultimately result in improvements to the County’s bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The adopted Plan will guide municipalities, developers, non-profit organizations, PennDOT and the public in developing, promoting and enhancing the bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure network in Berks County.
Throughout the process, an online Portal (https://bit.ly/4iqI4Mo) will be updated with Steering Committee meeting information, draft text and maps, and Public Input results.
The Reading Area Transportation Study (RATS) is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for Berks County. It is charged with assessing the transportation needs of our area (both highway and public transportation), preparing the Long-Range Transportation Plan and the Transportation Improvement Program.
Additionally, RATS prepares a variety of individual studies that help to formulate the Long-Range Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program. These plans then guide the activities of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and BARTA.
The current Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan can be found on the Berks County Planning Commission’s website (https://www.berkspa.gov/departments/planning-commission) or may be requested by phone at 610-478-6300 or email at planning@berkspa.gov.
