READING, Pa. – Officials are giving the public the chance to comment on proposed route and schedule changes for the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA).

A 30-day comment period is being held for the public to provide any comments about the proposed changes, the South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) said in a news release.

SCTA said comments can be submitted at any time during the 30-day comment period by email, by mail or by phone.

Email: barta@bartabus.com Mail: BARTA Route & Schedule Changes 1700 N. 11th Street Reading, PA 19601

An in-person public hearing will be held Monday, Oct. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. at BARTA’s administrative offices, 1700 North 11th Street, Reading, Pa., to hear comments on the proposed route and schedule changes, SCTA said.

A virtual option will be available. People can visit www.bartabus.com for the login details.

SCTA provided a route-by-route description of the proposed changes:

Route 1 – Temple via 5th Street:

Propose to extend the route to the new Deka location, 8697 Allentown Pike, Blandon on the last outbound trip at 11 PM on weekdays.

Route 2 – Fairgrounds Square Market:

Propose to eliminate route due to low ridership.

Route 3/Temple via Kutztown Road:

Propose to extend the route to the new Deka location, 8697 Allentown Pike, Blandon on two trips during weekdays.

Route 4 – Temple via Kutztown Road:

Propose to add 10 minutes on each trip on Sundays to help with on-time performance.

Route 9/Grill/Kenhorst:

Propose to add service to Brentwood Industries, 621 Brentwood Drive, Reading. Propose to add time to schedule to serve the location

Route 11/Mohnton via Shillington:

Propose to serve Ollie’s on the outbound direction only. Propose to modify route in the inbound direction to serve area along Lancaster Avenue in Shillington.

Route 17 – Glenside/Airport/Berks Heim:

Propose to add service to Berks Industrial Park (near Reading Airport) on the 6:45 AM and 3:45 PM trips.

Route 18 – Schuylkill Avenue:

Propose to add time to weekday trips to improve on-time performance.

Route 22 – Lyon Station/East Penn – Deka:

Propose to add three trips at 6:30 AM, 9 AM and 3:30 PM leaving the BARTA Transportation Center (BTC).

Reading School District Service

Propose to add service to current school trips leaving the BARTA Transportation Center (BTC) and serve Reading High Innovation Academy (9th & Douglass Streets). Route 8/Reiffton will designate three bus stops @

• 19th Street & Perkiomen Ave.

• 17th Street & Perkiomen Ave.

• 15th Street & Perkiomen Ave.

to serve students in the Mount Penn area.

SCTA said the proposed changes are based on customer comments collected via phone, email, social media comments, and outreach events.

SCTA said the proposed changes were developed during meetings of the 2026 Route and Schedule Team, which included operations, maintenance and administrative staff representation, the SCTA said.