Editing Ephrata, Pennsylvania (section)

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
The [[U.S. Route 222]] freeway passes {{convert|2|mi|0}} southeast of Ephrata, heading southwest to [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] and northeast to [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] and [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]]. US 222 meets the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]] ([[Interstate 76 (east)|Interstate 76]]) at the Reading interchange {{convert|6|mi|0}} northeast of Ephrata. [[U.S. Route 322 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 322]] passes northwest–southeast through Ephrata along Main Street, with an interchange at US 222 east of the borough. Said interchange was converted to a [[diverging diamond interchange]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://local21news.com/news/local/pas-second-diverging-diamond-interchange-opens-ahead-of-schedule-in-ephrata|title = PA's second diverging diamond interchange opens ahead of schedule in Ephrata|date = 17 May 2021}}</ref> [[Pennsylvania Route 272]] passes southwest–northeast through Ephrata along Reading Road, heading through the western part of the borough.<ref name=PennDOTLancaster>{{cite map|publisher=[[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|PennDOT]]|title=Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Highway Map|url=http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/Lancaster_GHSN.PDF|year=2015|access-date=February 10, 2016|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005151238/http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/Lancaster_GHSN.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Red Rose Transit Authority]] (RRTA) provides bus service to Ephrata along Route 11, which operates from the [[Walmart]] in Ephrata through the downtown area and south to downtown Lancaster. There is a [[park and ride]] lot at the now former [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]] in Ephrata that is served by RRTA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Route 11 schedule|publisher=RRTA|url=http://www.redrosetransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Route-11-all-8-28-17.pdf|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005100851/http://www.redrosetransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Route-11-all-8-28-17.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Reading Company|Reading and Columbia Railroad]] operated passenger service through downtown Ephrata until 1952. The [[East Penn Railroad]] continues to operate freight service from Ephrata north to Reading on the Lancaster Northern line, while the line between Ephrata and [[Lititz, Pennsylvania|Lititz]], to the southwest, has been converted into a [[rail trail]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lueders |first1=Andrew |title=The Reading and Columbia |url=http://www.abandonedrails.com/Reading_and_Columbia_Railroad |website=Abandoned Rails |access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>

===Utilities===
The Borough of Ephrata Electric Division provides electricity to most of Ephrata, with [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]]-based [[PPL Corporation]] providing electricity to part of it.<ref name=electric/><ref>{{cite web|title=Service Area|publisher=PPL Electric Utilities|url=https://www.pplelectric.com/utility/about-us/about-ppl-electric-utilities/service-area.aspx|access-date=August 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=General Tariff|publisher=PPL Electric Utilities|date=June 20, 2017|page=4|url=https://www.pplelectric.com/-/media/PPLElectric/At-Your-Service/Docs/Current-Electric-Tariff/master.pdf|access-date=August 20, 2017}}</ref> The Borough of Ephrata Electric Division dates back to 1902, when the borough purchased it from the Lancaster Valley Electric Company for $7,000. The borough operated a small generating plant on South State Street before the Ephrata Borough Electric Plant was built on Church Avenue in 1924.

The electric plant operated until 1965, when increased demand for electricity led the borough to purchase power from outside sources. The Borough of Ephrata Electric Division provides 140 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and has $18.6 million in sales.<ref name=electric>{{cite web|title=Electric – Description of System|publisher=Borough of Ephrata|url=http://www.ephrataboro.org/2168/Description-of-System|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005151501/http://www.ephrataboro.org/2168/Description-of-System|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Ephrata Area Joint Authority (EAJA) provides water to Ephrata along with [[Ephrata Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Ephrata Township]] and [[Clay Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Clay Township]], serving 8,222 customers. The agency provides 700 million gallons of water annually, with water coming from the [[Cocalico Creek]] and groundwater wells. The EAJA operates a filtration treatment plant and has three wells and four storage tanks to store water.<ref>{{cite web|title=Water – Description of System|publisher=Borough of Ephrata|url=http://www.ephrataboro.org/2177/Description-of-System|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref> Trash and recycling collection in Ephrata is provided by the borough through a contract with Eagle Disposal or residents may choose to have a contract with another trash hauler.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sanitation – Description of Services |publisher=Borough of Ephrata|url=http://www.ephrataboro.org/2183/Description-of-Services|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref> Natural gas service in Ephrata is provided by [[UGI Utilities]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Geographic Footprint|publisher=UGI|url=https://www.ugi.com/about-us/geographic-footprint/|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gas Tariff|publisher=UGI Utilities|date=July 7, 2017|pages=5–6|url=http://gasmngmt.ugi.com/UGIU/doc/tariff/GStariff6.pdf#page=1|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010215346/http://gasmngmt.ugi.com/UGIU/doc/tariff/GStariff6.pdf#page=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Health care===
[[WellSpan Health]] operates the WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital in Ephrata, which serves the borough and surrounding areas in northern Lancaster County. The hospital has 133 acute care beds and eight acute rehabilitation beds and offers an [[emergency room]], a cancer center, and a [[maternity unit]], among other inpatient and outpatient services.<ref>{{cite web|title=WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital|publisher=WellSpan Health|url=http://www.wellspan.org/offices-locations/hospitals/wellspan-ephrata-community-hospital/|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>