The story
History
20th century
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.
21st century
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.
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. However, BARTA discontinued its service to Lebanon on January 31, 2014, due to low ridership.
Dennis D. Louwerse, the long-time executive director and 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. On December 1, 2014, the South Central Transit Authority was formed to oversee BARTA and the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) in Lancaster County.
Timeline
October 8, 1973: Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority was founded, after the City of Reading and the County of Berks purchased the failing Reading Bus Company.
1978: BARTA Special Services was founded, after Berks County Commissioners ordered 33 social service agencies in Berks County consolidated their transportation systems.
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May 1983: BARTA was facing financial difficulties. Dennis D. Louwerse had then became BARTA's executive director, and kept BARTA up and running for service.
1992: BARTA became the first small authority in the U.S. to use CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) buses.
1993: BARTA received a grant from the FTA (Federal Transportation Administration) to reconstruct the pedestrian mall, Penn Square, on Penn Street from 4th Street to 6th Street. BARTA had then added eight bus shelters, at 5th Street and Penn Street.
March 4, 2002: The BARTA Transportation Center (BTC) was opened, 0.1 miles away from the Franklin Street Station. This bus terminal had a waiting area, restrooms, a customer service/sales window, and a break area for bus drivers.
2005: BARTA decided to longer purchase CNG buses, as they were no longer cost-effective.These buses were then sold to EMTA and IndiGo.
August 27, 2005: The BARTA Park-n-Transit Facility was opened, a 350-space garage. BARTA also rebranded to a red, blue, and black scheme, along with a new logo, and new bus routes. BARTA also began investing into electric-diesel hybrid buses.
2009: BARTA purchased 5 HEV (Hybrid-Electric Vehicle) buses.
July 2010: BARTA had then became a county authority, and renamed to Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority.
2013: BARTA completed restoration to the former Franklin Street Street Station, planned to be used as a bus terminal.
September 5, 2013: The Executive Director of BARTA, Dennis D. Louwerse, had died. David W. Kilmer then became Executive Director of BARTA.
September 9, 2013: BARTA began trial service to Harrisburg, with connecting service with Lebanon Transit.
2014: BARTA began facing financial difficulties, and RRTA agreed to help BARTA.
January 31, 2014: BARTA had discontinued the trial route to Harrisburg via Lebanon, due to low ridership.
December 4, 2014: BARTA and RRTA became subsidiaries to South Central Transit Authority (SCTA). SCTA was founded by the County of Berks and the County of Lancaster.
1984 Routes (1984-???)
Route 2: Schuylkill Avenue
Route 2A: Ninth Street
Route 3: Mohnton
Route 3A: Kutztown Road
Route 3A: Laureldale
Route 4: Hampden Boulevard
Route 4A: Berkshire Heights
Route 6: Lincoln Park
Route 6A: Reading Hospital
Route 7: Glenside - Airport
Route 7A: Kenhorst-Grill
Route 8: Reiffton
Route 9: Brookline
Route 10: Jacksonwald
Route 12: Sinking Spring
Route 12A: Wernersville
Route 14: West Lawn
Route 14A: Berkshire Mall
Route 16: Stony Creek
Route 18: Pennside - Butter Lane
Route 18A: Pennside - Hollywood Court
Route 20: Cotton Street
Route 20A: Riverside
Route 20A: Riverview Park
Route 22: Eleventh Street
Route 22A: Albright College
Route 24: Birdsboro
Route 27: Green Hills
Route 28: Spring Township
Route 30: Fairgrounds Square via Madeira Plaza - Fairgrounds Market
Express - Giorgio Foods
Express - Berks Heim
Express - Western Electric
2004 Routes (Nov 30) (2004-Aug 27, 2005)
Route 1N: Temple/Kutztown Road/Laureldale
Route 1S: Shillington/Mohnton
Route 2E: Ninth Street
Route 2W: Schuylkill Avenue
Route 4E/W: Hampden Boulevard/Berkshire Heights
Route 6W: Lincoln Park/Reading Hospital
Route 7N: Glenside/Airport
Route 7S: Kenhorst/Grill
Route 8E: Reiffton/Reading Mall/Shelbourne Square
Route 9S: Brookline
Route 10E: Jacksonwald
Route 12W: Sinking Spring/Wernersville
Route 14W: Berkshire Mall
Route 16E: Stony Creek
Route 18E: Pennside/Butter Lane/Hollywood Court
Route 20N: Riverside
Route 20S: Cotton Street
Route 22N: Albright College/11th Street/12th Street
Route 28W: Spring Township
Spring Ridge Loop/Target
Berks Heim Express #3
Niteline
Park-N-Ride Shuttle - First Energy Stadium
Park-N-Ride Shuttle - Shelbourne Square
Park-N-Ride Shuttle - Womelsdorf
Route 61/Cabela's
Morgantown (Monday-Friday)
2005 Routes (August 27, 2025) (Aug 27, 2005 - Present)
Route 1: Temple via 5th Street (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 2: Fairgrounds Square Market (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 3: Temple via Kutztown Road (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 4: 10th/11th Streets (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 5: Albright College (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 6: Spring Street/Berkshire Heights Crosstown (Aug 27, 2005 - Aug 24, 2015)
Route 7: Pennside (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 8: Reiffton/Shelbourne Square (Aug 27, 2005 - Jan 1, 2012) Reiffton/Shelbourne Square/Birdsboro (Jan 1, 2012 - present)
Route 9: Grill via Kenhorst (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 10: Brookline (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 11: Mohnton via Shillington (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 12: Lincoln Park via Reading Hospital (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 13: Spring Township (Aug 27, 2005 - Feb 25, 2007)
Route 14: Wernersville via Sinking Spring (Aug 27, 2005 - Jan 1, 2012) Wernersville/Sinking Spring/Womelsdorf (Jan 1, 2012 - present)
Route 15: Berkshire Mall (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 16: Broadcasting Square/Berkshire Mall (Aug 27, 2005 - Aug 28, 2017) Broadcasting Square (Aug 28, 2017 - present)
Route 17: Glenside/Airport/Berks Heim (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 18: Schuylkill Avenue (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 19: Riverside/FirstEnergy Stadium/Cotton Street (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 20: Route 61/Hamburg (Aug 27, 2005 - present)
Route 21: Morgantown Express (Aug 27, 2005 - Jan 2, 2017)
Route 22: Lyon Station/East Penn-Deka (Feb 25, 2007 - present)
Route 23: Lebanon (Sep 9, 2013 - Jan 31, 2014)
From Wikipedia’s article on Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3