Berks Area Reading Transit Authority

Infobox Bus transit
name = Berks Area Reading
Transit Authority

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logo_size =


image_size =
image_caption =
company_slogan = More than a Ride!
parent =
founded = 1973 [http://www.bartabus.com/aboutFrame.htm About Barta] . BARTA. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.]
headquarters = Reading, Pennsylvania
locale =
service_area = Berks County, Pennsylvania
service_type = public transit
alliance =
routes =
destinations =
stops =
hubs = BARTA Transportation Center
Reading, Pennsylvania
stations =
lounge =
fleet = 63 buses
ridership =
fuel_type =
operator =
ceo =
website = [http://www.bartabus.com www.bartabus.com]

Berks Area Reading Transit Authority (BARTA) is a public transportation system which operates in Berks County, Pennsylvania, mainly in the city of Reading. The fleet consists of 63 buses.

BARTA Transportation Center

The BARTA Transportation Center is the center location in downtown Reading where all routes except route 6 operates. An automated voice announcement system is used to announce bus departures and what stop the bus is departing from also. [ [http://www.bartabus.com/TransCenter.htm BARTA Transportation Center] . BARTA. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.]

BARTA's fleet

BARTA's fleet consists of 63 buses with a fleet age as old as 1989. The only two buses left running from 1989 are 8901 and 8905 which are 35 foot Orion I models. Some 1990 Orions are still running and some are not. Both 35 foot and 40 foot models. As well as the same with the 1991 Gillig Phantom buses which are all 35 foot models. BARTA was mostly a fleet of buses powered by Detroit Diesel engines until the production of the Detroit Diesel Series 50 was cut in late 2004. Then BARTA ordered their 05 and 07 Gillig BRTs with Cummins ISL. The first 2 digits of the bus numbers indicate the year the bus was ordered. Even in the 2000s. The fleet consists of both 35 foot buses and 40 foot buses. All of BARTA's fleet is equipped with Allison Transmissions.

The current fleet

*1989: 2 35 foot Orion Is powered by Detroit Diesel 6V92 (8901-8905)

*1990: 7 35 foot Orion Is (9005-9011) and 5 40 foot Orion Is (9012-9016). Powered by Detroit Diesel 6V92 (9005, 9008, 9010, 9011, and 9015 already retired)

*1991: 12 Gillig Phantoms powered by Detroit Diesel 6V92. (9101-9112) (9101, 9103, 9104, 9108, 9109, and 9111 already retired)

*2003. 10 35 foot Optima Opus's powered by Cummins ISB (0301-0310) 0304 was lost due to a fire in January of 08. 3 New Flyer D40LFs powered by Detroit Diesel Series 50 (0321-0323).

*2004: 10 35 foot Optima bus Opus' powered by Cummins ISB (0401-0410) 2 40 foot Gillig Advantages powered by Detroit Diesel Series 50 (0431-0432)

*2005: 17 35 foot Gillig BRTs powered by Cummins ISL (0533-0549)

*2007: 7 35 foot Gillig BRTs powered by Cummins ISL (0750-0756)

*2008: BARTA is due for 10 more Gillig BRTs. 5 of them will be the 35 foot model and the other 5 will be the 40 foot model.

References

* [http://www.bartabus.com BARTAs official website]
* [http://www.philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/multimedia/index.php?cat=13 BARTA photo gallery]