Detour & Service Alerts 1

Regular BARTA Sunday Service on Easter Holiday

BARTA Bus Service and BARTA Special Services will operate normal Sunday service on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024.

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ADA Program

Americans with Disabilities Complementary Program

Individuals who have a qualifying disability may be eligible for shared-ride transportation with BARTA Special Services if their disability prevents them from independently boarding a BARTA bus or they must live or travel within 3/4 of a mile of a bus route.  This service operates during the same days and same hours as the fixed-route service.  This type of transportation can be used for any kind of trip: medical appointments, shopping, recreation, senior centers, and more.  The cost of a one-way ADA trip on the door-to-door service is typical twice the amount of the current fixed-route bus fare.


What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

The American Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law.  The intent of the ADA is to remove barriers that have prevented people with disabilities from fully participating in life.  Under the ADA, fixed-route service (regular city buses) is to be the primary means of public transportation for everyone, including people with disabilities.


Eligibility

You are eligible for the ADA Shared Ride service if because of a disability:


Applying for the ADA Shared-Ride Program

An application must be completed to be approved for the ADA Program.  Applications can now be completed online through Find My Ride Apply.

Or to receive an application please call (610) 921-2361 and one will be mailed to you. Or print out a copy from the link below.

ADA Application

Applications can be picked up and completed at The BARTA Special Services Office, 1700 N. 11th Street, Reading.

BARTA will make a determination of eligibility within 21 days of receiving your application for service. If approved, BARTA will issue a letter of approval, which will include instructions on how to use the service. Anyone denied eligibility has the right to file an appeal with BARTA within 60 days of receiving a notice of denial.


Scheduling Your Trip

Call 610-921-2361 or Toll-Free at 1-800-383-2278

For individuals who are hearing impaired, BARTA encourages customers to use the PA Relay Service.  The service can be accessed by calling 711, free of charge.

BARTA provides several options to assist in communicating with individuals who do not speak English. BARTA contracts with LanguageLine Solutions to provide translation services. Customers should identify their needs upon calling BARTA and BARTA will conference call the interpreter.

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

BARTA uses an answering machine device to take “ADA eligible” trip requests on Saturdays and Sundays and Holidays.  Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday trip requests must be called into the answering machine between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.  Calls received outside of those hours will not be scheduled.  It is important to remember that you must be certified as being “ADA eligible” and be taking an “ADA eligible” trip BEFORE you can take advantage of the previous-day advance reservation request.

When calling to schedule a trip, please have the following information ready:


General Policies

BARTA offers a safe, reliable and efficient way for people with disabilities to get around.  BARTA’s website does offer an Accessibility Menu at the bottom left corner of the website to offer assistance for persons with disabilities.  Click on the blue icon at the bottom of the page to help with navigation.  BARTA also offers materials and forms in other accessible formats if they are needed.  If you need materials or forms in a different format please contact us.

Limited Mobility
If you use a wheelchair, scooter or other mobility device, BARTA Special Services vans are equipped with lifts.

Mobility Devices/Aids
All passengers who utilize wheelchairs must be properly secured before the vehilce may move.

If a passenger has an oxygen tank or other medical aid, all items must be secured and kept out of the aisles.  Customers are responsible for ensuring they have sufficient aid to last the duration of their trip.  At times, our vehicles are delayed due to traffic, auto accidents or other unusual circumstances.

Personal Care Attendant
You may require the assistance of a personal care attendant to meet your mobility needs. Your attendant will ride for free of charge only if you are certified in advance to travel with an attendant. A companion may travel with you and will pay the same fare as you for each ride. Companions will be allowed to ride if space is available.

Service Animals
Service animals are welcome on our vehicles. For the comfort of other passengers and for health reasons, we cannot allow pets in vehicles.

Cancellations and No Shows
We understand that sometimes circumstances occur which prevent you from using your trip. Please call and cancel your trip at least one hour before your scheduled pickup. If you fail to call and cancel your trip and do not take your trip as scheduled, it may be necessary for BARTA to charge you a no-show.

Out of Town Visitors for ADA

If a visitor does not have ADA eligibility documentation from another jurisdiction, we will still provide service.  We may request proof of residency, and if the disability is not apparent, documentation of the individual’s disability.  We will accept a certification by the visitor that he or she is unable to use fixed route transit.  This means that we cannot require documentation beyond the visitor’s “say so” that he or she cannot use the fixed-route system.  Services are provided for any combination of 21 days during any 365-day period beginning the visitor’s first use of the service during that 365-day period.  Reservations can be made using the same process as approved shared-ride riders.


ADA Appeals Process

BARTA has established an administrative appeals process through which an individual who has been denied ADA paratransit eligibility can obtain review of the denial.  Click here for information about the process.

Form for ADA Appeals for Non Approved Applications


Complaint Process

A complaint is any issue or dispute or objection you express to us about our agency or about the coverage, operations, or policies.  If you have a complaint or compliment about our services, about how you were treated by our staff or a driver, or about our policies and procedures, please tell us.  If you feel you have been discriminated against for transit services under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) please use the ADA Complaint Forms listed below or call the BARTA Director of Operations at 610-921-2361 or email at barta@bartabus.com.  We will record your complaint, investigate it and respond to you within five (5) days.  Copies of the complaint, agency responses/resolutions, and corrective action plans will be kept on file.

BARTA ADA Complaint Form
BARTA Spanish ADA Complaint Form