SCTA Transit Development Plan (TDP) Update

Overview

The South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) is developing a Transit Development Plan (TDP) for the fixed-route bus and paratransit services in Berks and Lancaster Counties. The TDP will serve as a guide for meeting future demands for transit services and increasing the overall use of public transit. Development of the TDP involves:

Identifying demographics and travel trends
Evaluating current BARTA and RRTA service
Gathering input from riders and the public regarding existing services and future needs
Establishing goals and strategies to address unmet transit needs and service issues, such as connecting employees to their place of work
Identifying and evaluating opportunities for potential growth
Estimating the level of funding available to provide transit services over the life of the plan

Draft Service Recommendations

Draft service recommendations for BARTA and RRTA were unveiled to the public at open houses held on April 17^th and April 19^th. Overall, the draft service recommendations for BARTA and RRTA include:

Increases in the span of service with additional hours of evening and weekend service.
Increases in frequency of service.
Consistent headways (customers will know a bus will serve their stop at regular intervals).
Redesign routes to discontinue loops in order to provide more direct service and shorter travel times.
Routes connect at new major transfer centers in addition to the BTC in Reading and Queen Street Station in Lancaster.
In Reading and Lancaster, service will be consolidated along major streets to provide increased frequency of service.
Reading to Lancaster express service, providing connections to employment in northern Lancaster County.
General public demand response service to serve employment centers outside the cities.

The draft service recommendations for each route for both BARTA and RRTA are available for review by clicking on the links below.

BARTA Route Change Sheets

RRTA Route Change Sheets

Maps comparing existing and proposed service in the City of Reading and Berks County and the City of Lancaster and Lancaster County are available for review by clicking on the links below:

City of Reading and Berks County BARTA Service Maps

City of Lancaster and Lancaster County RRTA Service Maps

Maps showing the proposed frequency of service, evening service and weekend service are available for review by clicking on the links below:

Proposed Frequency – Reading Area

Proposed Frequency – Lancaster Area

Evening Service Proposed – Reading Area

Evening Service Proposed – Lancaster Area

Weekend Service Proposed – Reading Area

Weekend Service Proposed – Lancaster Area

Copies of the PowerPoint presentations shown at the Reading and Lancaster open houses are available for review by clicking on the links below.

BARTA Spring Public Meeting Presentation

RRTA Spring Public Meeting Presentation

After reviewing this information, if you have comments or questions, please email us at info@sctapa.com. We encourage you to have your comments and questions to us by May 4, 2018.