(Reading, PA – – -) The South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) Board approved changes for BARTA bus fares at its October 21, 2020 Board Meeting. The effective date will be January 4, 2021. SCTA is simplifying the BARTA fare structure and eliminating the fare zones. The new, approved fare structure will only have a base zone fare. The cash fare will increase $0.10 to $1.80. The student cash fare will change to $1.00 per ride. The Half Fare Cash Fare for eligible persons with disabilities will increase to $0.90.
Transfers will change to no charge. Customers will still need to request a transfer slip to use on their second bus when completing their trip. If customers do not have the transfer slip, they will be charged full fare on the second bus.
The All Day Pass will change from $3.00 to $3.70. The Adult 10 Ride Pass price will be adjusted to $13.50. The Adult 31 Day Pass will be adjusted to $45.00. The Park-N-Ride Pass has been approved to be eliminated due to low usage. A newly created Half Fare 10 Ride Pass has been approved for Persons with Disabilities to purchase.
BARTA Route and Schedule Changes were also presented and approved at the October Board Meeting. The approved Route and Schedule changes will also go into effect on January 4, 2021. A route by route description is as follows:
Route 8 – Reiffton/Shelbourne Square/Birdsboro: Approved to modify route to serve Godiva on Neversink Road on certain trips. Approved to adjust Saturday and Sunday schedule to improve on-time performance.
Route 16 – Broadcasting Square: Approved to modify route to serve the VA Outpatient Clinic on all trips and eliminate the “By Request Only” option. The bus route will serve the VA Outpatient Clinic on weekdays and on trips from 7:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. when the clinic is open.
Route 18 – Schuylkill Avenue: Approved to serve Tower Behavioral Health Center during the evenings when the Route 17-Glenside/Airport/Berks Heim bus route ends service to the health center. Trips to service Tower Behavioral Health Center on Route 18 will be available in the evenings during weekdays only.
A Public Hearing was held Tuesday, October 13, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the BARTA Administrative Offices, 1700 North 11th Street, Reading, PA 19601 to receive comments about the fare changes and route and schedule changes.
For more information, please call BARTA at 610-921-0601.
