In 1973, milk cost $1.31. Bread cost $0.27. Gas per gallon cost $0.36. Bus fare on a BARTA bus cost $0.25. Fifty years later, in 2023, the BARTA bus fare is $1.80.
This October, BARTA will celebrate 50 years. On Oct. 8, 1973, Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority (BARTA) began operations as the City of Reading and Berks County’s public transit system. BARTA began operations using the Reading Bus Company’s bus fleet until BARTA was able to purchase and order 44 of their own BARTA buses in 1975.
“SCTA is proud to oversee BARTA’s transportation services for Berks County these past 50 Years,” Greg Downing, SCTA’s Executive Director, said. “Berks County and BARTA have been through a lot of changes within those 50 years providing vital transportation.”
BARTA carries over 2 million passengers each year on the 19 bus routes available for the Berks County community. BARTA’s Special Services division performs approximately 150,000 trips for senior citizens and persons with disabilities on the shared-ride transportation system BARTA also operates.
BARTA’s bus fleet has changed over the years, from diesel buses to CNG buses to hybrid electric buses, with BARTA constantly looking at ways to improve the environmental impacts these vehicles have while operating the service. BARTA continues to strive to stay current with the advancement in technologies regarding fare collection. BARTA has gone from using tokens to paper tickets to magnetic strip paper/card stock passes to mobile phone and smart card payments. Facility changes are another way BARTA has continued its vision of being a leader in providing environmentally conscious, safe, and efficient service. This included transitioning BARTA bus stop and shelter locations from Penn Street between 4th and 6th Street in 1993 to the BARTA Transportation Center (BTC), which opened in 2002. Also part of this movement included the rehabilitation of the Franklin Street Station in 2013.
BARTA has many activities planned for employees and customers throughout the week to commemorate the 50-year anniversary, which includes:
- Sunday, Oct. 1 – BARTA participated in the City of Reading’s 275th Anniversary Parade.
- Wednesday, Oct. 4 – BARTA will participate in Berks Encore’s Senior Expo at First Energy Stadium. BARTA and Berks Encore are partnering together to Stuff a BARTA bus during the event. BARTA and Berks Encore are encouraging attendees to bring non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items to the event to benefit and help seniors in Berks County.
- Friday, Oct. 6 – BARTA will offer 50% off BARTA 31-day passes for one day only. Regular adult 31-day passes are $45. On Friday, Oct. 6, BARTA customers can get an adult 31-day pass for $22.50. Student 31-day passes also apply for the discount offer and will be $10 on Friday.
Bus pass drawings and anniversary giveaways for customers are planned throughout the week.
“50 years of providing transportation services for the people of Berks County is a huge accomplishment, thus, celebrating the history of BARTA is very important. Now, though, in order to continue to meet the needs of the public with our services, it is important to have initiatives that foster growth happening in the County, promote modern technologies designed to increase efficiency and access for all, and be mindful of decision-making that considers environmental impacts. These are the important challenges we have met over the last 50 years, and now look forward to continuing the movement and positioning of BARTA to answer those challenges for the next 50 years,” said Downing.
For more information about BARTA services, visit www.bartabus.com.
