South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) has announced Route & Schedule changes for Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) to be implemented on Monday, January 5, 2026. The proposed changes are being presented based off compiled customer comments submitted through phone calls, emails, social media comments and outreach events. The proposed changes have been discussed and proposed from meetings with the 2025 Route and Schedule Team, consisting of Operator, Maintenance and Administrative Staff representation.
A route-by-route description of the proposed changes is as follows:
Route 1 – Temple via 5th Street:
Propose to eliminate time point outbound & inbound at 5th Street & Crescent Avenue. Propose to adjust time points to improve on-time performance.
Route 8 – Reiffton/Shelbourne Square/Birdsboro:
Propose to add 4 trips to Birdsboro in afternoon between 12:50 PM and 5 PM. Propose to not serve Boscov’s Distribution Center on the 5:15 AM trip, instead serve it on the 7:15 AM trip to better serve employee shifts. Propose to adjust time points to improve on-time performance.
Route 9 – Grill/Kenhorst:
Propose to provide service to Berks Nature, 575 St. Bernardine Street, Reading inbound and outbound.
Route 10 – Brookline:
Propose to serve Shillington Plaza in evenings after 6:30 PM, inbound only
Route 14 – Wernersville via Sinking Spring:
Propose to not serve Wernersville State Hospital from Womelsdorf on trips marked with “A” note on schedule.
Route 15 – Berkshire Mall:
Propose to adjust time to improve on time performance. Propose to change route at Park Road & Hill Avenue to improve safety for customers and drivers. Propose to travel Hill Avenue to Reading Avenue to Penn Avenue.
Route 16 – Broadcasting Square:
Propose to change route at Park Road & Hill Avenue for safety. Propose to change route at Park Road & Hill Avenue to improve safety for customers and drivers. Propose to travel Hill Avenue to Reading Avenue to Penn Avenue. Propose to add service to R. M. Palmer Company on last trip at 11:05 PM.
Route 17 – Glenside/Airport/Berks Heim:
Propose to serve Tower Behavioral Health on inbound trips only.
Route 22 – Lyon Station/East Penn – Deka:
Propose to extend route from Deka to Kutztown University for 3 midday trips.
A 30-Day comment period is being held for the public to provide any comments about the proposed changes. Comments can be submitted at any time during the 30-Day comment period via email, mail in letters or phone calls. Email: barta@bartabus.com. Mail – BARTA Route & Schedule Changes: 1700 N. 11th Street Reading, PA 19601
Two in-person, public hearing sessions will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025 from 10:00 AM – Noon and 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at BARTA’s Administrative Offices, 1700 North 11th Street, Reading, PA to hear comments on the proposed route and schedule changes. Copies of the proposed schedules are available for review at www.bartabus.com or by calling 610-921-0601.
