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. South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) oversees BARTA and the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA). In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of .
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.BARTA Express Reading Lebanon Harrisburg 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.David W. Kilmer Faces in the News 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. 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.
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.
Effective January 5, 2026
RouteLine NameTerminalsPlaces ServedNotes1Temple via Fifth StreetBARTA Transportation CenterWalmart at North Reading Plaza5th Street, 5th Street Highway, Fairgrounds Square Mall, Penn Plaza, Plaza 222, Muhlenberg Shopping Center, Target, Templeoperates Monday-Sunday2Fairgrounds Square MarketBARTA Transportation CenterFairgrounds Square Market9th Street/10th Street, Exeter Street, 11th Street, Rockland Street, Kutztown Road, Madison Avenue, 5th Street Highway, Fairgrounds Square Malloperates Friday-Saturday3Temple via Kutztown RoadBARTA Transportation CenterWalmart at North Reading Plaza8th Street/9th Street, Kutztown Road, Templeoperates Monday-Saturday410th/11th StreetsBARTA Transportation Center10th and Exeter streetsPenn Street, 11th Street, Rockland Plaza, 10th Streetoperates Monday-Sunday5Albright CollegeBARTA Transportation CenterReservoir Road and Hampden Boulevard12th Street/13th Street, Reading Senior High School, Weis Market, Albright College, Hampden Boulevard, Elite Sportswear, U.S. Post Officeoperates Monday-Saturday7PennsideBARTA Transportation CenterStony Creek Towne HousesPenn Street, Perkiomen Avenue, 23rd Street, Carsonia Avenue, Hollywood Court Apartments, Pennside, Butter Laneoperates Monday-Saturday8Reiffton/Shelbourne Square/BirdsboroBARTA Transportation CenterWalmart at Exeter Square or BirdsboroPenn 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 Roadoperates Monday-Sunday, limited weekday service to Birdsboro9Grill via KenhorstBARTA Transportation CenterRedner's at Kenhorst Plaza4th Street, South Reading, KVP Factory, Alvernia University, Sencit Towne House Apartments, Kenhorst, Grilloperates Monday-Saturday10BrooklineBARTA Transportation CenterEast Wyomissing Boulevard and Margaret Street4th Street/6th Street, South Reading, Lancaster Avenue, Brookline Plaza, Hancock Boulevard, Shillington Plaza Shopping Centeroperates Monday-Sunday11Mohnton via ShillingtonBARTA Transportation CenterMain and Church streets in Mohnton4th Street, South Reading, Lancaster Avenue, Shillington Shopping Center, Shillington, Ollie's Bargain Outlet/Fulton Bank, Wyomissing Avenueoperates Monday-Saturday12Lincoln Park via Reading HospitalBARTA Transportation CenterBerkshire HillsPenn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, Reading Hospital, Reading Boulevard, The Highlands at Wyomissing, Lincoln Plaza Shopping Center, Spring Towne Centeroperates Monday-Saturday14Wernersville via Sinking SpringBARTA Transportation CenterWernersville State Hospital or McDonald's Park and Ride in WomelsdorfPenn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, Sinking Spring, Redner's at Sinking Spring Plaza, U.S. Route 422, Phoebe Berks Village, Wernersvilleoperates Monday-Saturday, limited service to Womelsdorf15Berkshire MallBARTA Transportation CenterWalmart at Berkshire Square or Giant on State Hill RoadPenn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, State Hill Road, Berkshire Mall, Walmart at Berkshire Squareoperates Monday-Sunday, most Sunday service terminates at Walmart at Berkshire Square16Broadcasting SquareBARTA Transportation CenterTarget at Broadcasting SquarePenn Street, Penn Avenue, West Reading, Park Road, Penn State Berks, R.M. Palmer Companyoperates Monday-Sunday17Glenside/Airport/Berks HeimBARTA Transportation CenterPenn State Health St. Joseph or Berks HeimSchuylkill Avenue, Bernville Road, Reading Regional Airport, MacArthur Roadoperates Monday-Saturday, limited service to Berks Heim18Schuylkill AvenueBARTA Transportation CenterWindsor Street and Schuylkill Avenue or Penn State Health St. JosephDowntown Reading, Penn Street, Front Street, Windsor Street, Schuylkill Avenueoperates Monday-Sunday, limited evening service to Penn State Health St. Joseph19Riverside/FirstEnergy Stadium/Cotton Street19th and Cotton streetsFirstEnergy Stadium Park and RideCotton Street/Perkiomen Avenue, Downtown Reading, BARTA Transportation Center, 6th Street/8th Street, PriceRite, Spring Street, Riverside School, Centre Avenue, Amazon Fulfillment Centeroperates Monday-Sunday, no Sunday service between BARTA Transportation Center and FirstEnergy Stadium20Route 61/HamburgBARTA Transportation CenterCabela'sCentre Avenue, Pennsylvania Route 61, Redner's Leesport Park and Ride, Leesport, Shoemakersville, Redner's Hamburg Park and Ride, Hamburgoperates Monday-Saturday22Lyon Station/East Penn-DekaBARTA Transportation CenterEast Penn Manufacturing Company-Deka in Lyons8th Street/9th Street, Kutztown Road, U.S. Route 222 Business, Park Road, Blandon, Fleetwood, Fleetwood-Lyons Road, Kutztown, Kutztown Universityoperates Monday-Friday
Inactive Routes
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
Berks Area Pocket Route Guide - 1984
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)