Jump to content
Main menu
Main menu
move to sidebar
hide
Navigation
Main page
Recent changes
Random page
Help about MediaWiki
Special pages
Niidae Wiki
Search
Search
Appearance
Create account
Log in
Personal tools
Create account
Log in
Pages for logged out editors
learn more
Contributions
Talk
Editing
Reading, Pennsylvania
(section)
Page
Discussion
English
Read
Edit
View history
Tools
Tools
move to sidebar
hide
Actions
Read
Edit
View history
General
What links here
Related changes
Page information
Appearance
move to sidebar
hide
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
==Infrastructure== ===Roads and highways=== [[File:2022-08-24 11 42 31 View west along U.S. Route 422 (West Shore Bypass) just east of the exit for U.S. Route 222 Business in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|[[U.S. Route 422|US 422]] westbound in Reading]] As of 2013, there were {{convert|157.48|mi}} of public roads in Reading, of which {{convert|25.33|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|132.15|mi}} were maintained by the city.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/06301.pdf|title=Reading City map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref> A number of federal and state highways allow entry to and egress from Reading. [[U.S. Route 422]], the major east–west artery, circles the western edge of the city and is known locally as The West Shore Bypass. Various interchanges allow for vehicles on US 422 to enter the City of Reading and vice versa, with the most notable interchange bringing vehicles on and off of the [[Penn Street Bridge]], a historic bridge considered to be the primary gateway to downtown Reading. US 422 leads west to [[Lebanon, Pennsylvania|Lebanon]] and east to [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania|Pottstown]]. [[U.S. Route 222]] bypasses the city to the west, leading southwest to [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] and northeast to [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]]. [[Interstate 176]] heads south from US 422 near Reading and leads to the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]] ([[Interstate 76 (Ohio–New Jersey)|Interstate 76]]) in [[Morgantown, Pennsylvania|Morgantown]]. [[Pennsylvania Route 12]] is known as the [[Warren Street Bypass]], as it bypasses downtown Reading to the northwest. PA 12 begins at US 422/US 222 in [[Wyomissing, Pennsylvania|Wyomissing]] and heads northeast on the Warren Street Bypass before becoming Pricetown Road and leading northeast to [[Pricetown, Pennsylvania|Pricetown]]. [[Pennsylvania Route 10]] is known as Morgantown Road and heads south from Reading parallel to I-176 to Morgantown. [[Pennsylvania Route 61]] heads north from Reading on Centre Avenue and leads to [[Pottsville, Pennsylvania|Pottsville]]. [[Pennsylvania Route 183]] heads northwest from Reading on Schuylkill Avenue and Bernville Road, leading to [[Bernville, Pennsylvania|Bernville]]. [[U.S. Route 222 Business (Reading, Pennsylvania)|U.S. Route 222 Business]] is designated as Lancaster Avenue, Bingaman Street, South 4th Street, and 5th Street through Reading. [[U.S. Route 422 Business (Reading, Pennsylvania)|U.S. Route 422 Business]] is designated as Penn Street, Washington Street (westbound), Franklin Street (eastbound), and Perkiomen Avenue through Reading.<ref name=PennDOTBerks>{{cite map|publisher=[[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|PennDOT]]|title=Berks County, Pennsylvania Highway Map|url=http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/Berks_GHSN.PDF|year=2014|access-date=December 22, 2014|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016165520/http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/berks_GHSN.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Public transportation=== [[File:Reading BARTA bus.jpg|thumb|A [[Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority|BARTA]] bus in downtown Reading]] [[File:Franklin Street bus terminal (3).jpg|thumb|[[Franklin Street station (Pennsylvania)|Franklin Street station]] at Franklin and 7th streets]] Public transit in Reading and its surrounding communities has been provided since 1973 by the [[Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority]] (BARTA). BARTA operates a fleet of 50 buses (all [[hybrid electric bus]]es) serving 20 routes, mostly originating at the [[BARTA Transportation Center]] in Downtown Reading. BARTA also provides [[paratransit]] service in addition to fixed route service. The former [[Reading Railroad Franklin Street Station]] was refurbished and reopened to bus service on September 9, 2013, with buses running the express route back and forth to [[Lebanon Transit]]. The route to Lebanon was discontinued after a short period, resulting in the refurbished station sitting vacant. [[Klein Transportation]] provides bus service to Reading from a stop in downtown Reading and a stop at the [[Boscov's]] at the former [[Fairgrounds Square Mall]] to [[Douglassville, Pennsylvania|Douglassville]], [[Kutztown, Pennsylvania|Kutztown]], [[Wescosville, Pennsylvania|Wescosville]], [[Hellertown, Pennsylvania|Hellertown]], and [[Midtown Manhattan]] in New York City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/berks/klein-transportation-and-ourbus-announce-introductory-schedule-and-rates/1010024952|title=Klein Transportation and OurBus announce introductory schedule and rates|date=February 10, 2019|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|access-date=February 10, 2019}}</ref> Transport Azumah provides bus service from the InterCity Bus Terminal to New York City.<ref name=wfmz2819>{{cite web|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/berks/bieber-cancels-all-bus-service-until-further-notice/1006707700|title=Berks-based Bieber bus line out of business after 72 years|date=February 8, 2019|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|access-date=February 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name=wfmz21119>{{cite web|last=Rader|first=Tom|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/berks/2-bus-companies-launch-service-from-berks-to-new-york-city/1013022480|title=2 bus companies launch service from Berks to New York City|date=February 11, 2019|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref> [[Amtrak Thruway]] bus service operated by [[Krapf Coaches]] runs from the BARTA Transportation Center in Reading to [[30th Street Station]] in Philadelphia, with an intermediate stop in [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania|Pottstown]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Amtrak launches bus service from Philadelphia to Reading, Pottstown|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|date=June 3, 2022|url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/amtrak-launches-bus-service-from-philadelphia-to-reading-pottstown/article_a3b3bf9c-e35c-11ec-a517-876a2e93a7f4.html|accessdate=June 3, 2022}}</ref> Reading and the surrounding area is serviced by the [[Reading Regional Airport]], a general aviation airfield. The three-letter airport code for Reading is RDG. Scheduled commercial airline service to Reading ended in 2004, when the last airline, [[USAir]] stopped flying into Reading.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=32287|title=Reading Regional Airport still flying high|website=[[Reading Eagle]]|date=July 22, 2004|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326202549/http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=32287|url-status=dead}}</ref> Freight rail service in Reading is provided by the [[Norfolk Southern Railway]], the [[Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad]], and the [[East Penn Railroad]].<ref name=PennDOTBerks/> Norfolk Southern Railway serves Reading along the [[Harrisburg Line]], which runs east to [[Philadelphia]] and west to [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], and the [[Reading Line]], which runs northeast to Allentown. Norfolk Southern Railway operates the Reading Yard in Reading.<ref name=PennDOTBerks/><ref name=NStimetable>[http://www.multimodalways.org/docs/railroads/companies/NS/NS%20ETTs/NS%20Harrisburg%20Div%20ETT%20%231%208-4-2008.pdf#page=8 Norfolk Southern Harrisburg Region Timetable 1, August 4, 2008]</ref> The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad operates the [[Reading Division]] line from an interchange with the Norfolk Southern Railway in Reading north to [[Port Clinton, Pennsylvania|Port Clinton]] and [[Packerton, Pennsylvania|Packerton]].<ref>{{cite map|title=Reading & Northern Railroad System Map|publisher=Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad|url=http://www.rbmnrr.com/system-maps/|access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> The East Penn Railroad operates the Lancaster Northern line from [[Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania|Sinking Spring]] southwest to [[Ephrata, Pennsylvania|Ephrata]], using trackage rights along Norfolk Southern Railway east from Sinking Spring to an interchange with the Norfolk Southern Railway in Reading.<ref name=espnmap>{{cite map|url=http://www.eastpennrr.com/images/espn-map.pdf|title=East Penn Railroad Map|date=2011|publisher=DeskMap Systems|access-date=December 12, 2011|archive-date=March 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301134220/http://www.eastpennrr.com/images/espn-map.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Passenger trains ran between Pottsville, Reading, Pottstown, and Philadelphia along the [[Pottsville Line]] until July 27, 1981, when transit operator [[SEPTA]] curtailed commuter service to electrified lines. Since then, there have been repeated calls for the resumption of the services. In the late 1990s and up to 2003, SEPTA, in cooperation with Reading-based BARTA, funded a study called the [[Schuylkill Valley Metro]] which included plans to extend SEPTA's [[Manayunk/Norristown Line|R6 passenger line]] to [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania|Pottstown]], Reading, and [[Wyomissing]], Pennsylvania. The project suffered a major setback when it was rejected by the [[Federal Transit Administration]] New Starts program, which cited doubts about the ridership projections and financing assumptions used by the study. With the recent surge in gasoline prices and ever-increasing traffic, the planning commissions of [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]] and [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks County]] have teamed to study the feasibility of a simple diesel shuttle train between the [[Manayunk/Norristown Line]] and Pottstown/Reading.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.r6extension.com|title=r6extension.com|website=r6extension.com|access-date=October 23, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701152207/http://www.r6extension.com/|archive-date=July 1, 2008}}</ref> In 2018, a panel led by the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance pushed for an extension of the Manayunk/Norristown Line to Reading along existing Norfolk Southern freight railroad tracks, with service terminating either at the Franklin Street Station in Reading or in Wyomissing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brelje|first=Beth|title=Panel hopes to revive Reading to Norristown passenger train service|work=Reading Eagle|date=August 21, 2018|url=http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/panel-hopes-to-revive-reading-to-norristown-passenger-train-service|access-date=August 26, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825133117/http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/panel-hopes-to-revive-reading-to-norristown-passenger-train-service|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2020, the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] conducted a feasibility study on passenger train service from Reading to Philadelphia.<ref name=wfmz11121>{{cite news|last=Vasil|first=Jim|title=Reading to Philly rail study shows idea gaining steam|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|date=January 11, 2021|url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/reading-to-philly-rail-study-shows-idea-gaining-steam/article_d8c651b4-545f-11eb-8dd5-13a1ae1e4143.html|access-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref><ref name=readingphillyreport>{{cite web|title=Reading to Philadelphia Passenger Rail Analysis|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|date=December 2020|url=https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wfmz.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/1c/c1c173ee-5460-11eb-88b2-b71a86748329/5ffcd898b752c.pdf.pdf|access-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> In 2021, [[Amtrak]] announced a plan to implement intercity train service from Reading to Philadelphia and New York City, mostly following the Norfolk Southern line between Reading and Philadelphia and the [[Northeast Corridor]] between Philadelphia and New York City.<ref>{{cite news|title=Amtrak reveals 'vision' for service between Reading, NYC|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|date=August 20, 2021|url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/amtrak-reveals-vision-for-service-between-reading-nyc/article_daed382e-01be-11ec-bd56-df36bf9bc6f6.html|accessdate=August 20, 2021}}</ref> In April 2022, the commissions of [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks]], [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester]], and [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]] voted to establish the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority to oversee the [[Schuylkill River Passenger Rail|restoration of Philadelphia-Reading passenger rail service]] on the former Reading Railroad right-of-way.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Urie |first1=Daniel |title=Rail service between Reading and Philadelphia could be restored after counties vote to create Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/schuylkill-river-passenger-rail-authority-reading-philadelphia-chester-berks-montgomery-counties-20220427.html |access-date=16 May 2022 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |agency=Tribune News Service |date=27 April 2022}}</ref> ===Utilities=== [[File:Lake Ontelaunee.JPG|thumb|[[Lake Ontelaunee]], a primary water supplier to Reading]] Electricity in Reading is provided by [[Met-Ed]], a subsidiary of [[FirstEnergy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Service Area|publisher=FirstEnergy|url=https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/customer/help/making_service_requests/our_service_area.html|access-date=October 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Electric Service Tariff|publisher=Met-Ed|date=July 17, 2017|pages=8–10|url=https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/dam/customer/Customer%20Choice/Files/PA/tariffs/ME-Tariff-52-Supp-43.pdf|access-date=October 10, 2017}}</ref> Natural gas service in the city 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> The Reading Area Water Authority provides water to the city, with the city's water supply coming from [[Lake Ontelaunee]] and the city's water treated at the Maidencreek Filter Plant. The Reading Water Company was founded in 1821 to supply water to the city. The Reading Area Water Authority was established on May 20, 1994, to take over the water system in the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Reading Area Water Authority|publisher=Reading Area Water Authority|url=https://www.readingareawater.com/about-us/|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> Sewer service is provided by the city's Public Works department, with a wastewater treatment plant owned by the city located on [[Fritz Island (Pennsylvania)|Fritz Island]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Waste Water Treatment Plant|publisher=City of Reading, PA|url=https://www.readingpa.gov/content/waste-water-treatment-plant|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-date=February 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222172245/https://www.readingpa.gov/content/waste-water-treatment-plant|url-status=dead}}</ref> The city's Public Works department provides trash and recycling collection to Reading.<ref>{{cite web|title=Residential Trash and Recycling|publisher=City of Reading, PA|url=https://www.readingpa.gov/content/trash-and-recycling|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-date=February 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222170731/https://www.readingpa.gov/content/trash-and-recycling|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Health care=== Hospitals serving the Reading area include [[Reading Hospital]] in [[West Reading, Pennsylvania|West Reading]] and Penn State Health St. Joseph in [[Bern Township, Pennsylvania|Bern Township]] and downtown Reading. Reading Hospital offers an [[emergency department]] with a [[Trauma center#Level I|Level I trauma center]] and various services including Cancer Care, Heart Center, Orthopedic Services, Pediatrics, Primary Care, and Women's Health.<ref>{{cite web|title=Services|publisher=Reading Hospital|url=https://reading.towerhealth.org/services/|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> Penn State Health St. Joseph offers an emergency department, heart institute, cancer center, stroke center, wound center, orthopedics, and primary care physicians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Home|publisher=Penn State Health St. Joseph|url=http://www.thefutureofhealthcare.org|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> ===Fire department=== {{Main|Reading Fire Department}} [[File:Liberty No 5 Reading PA.jpg|thumb|Reading Fire Museum]] The city of Reading is protected by the 135 firefighters and paramedics of the Reading Fire and EMS Department (RFD). The RFD operates out of seven fire stations throughout the city. The RFD operates a fire apparatus fleet of five Engine Companies, three Ladder Companies, one Rescue Company, brush unit, and four front-line Medic Ambulances. In 2018, fire units responded to 9,992 incidents. EMS responses totaled 19,505 calls for service.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} Department staffing is only two firefighters per apparatus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingpafire.com/news.html?view=1&id=38406|title=ReadingPaFire.com – News|work=readingpafire.com|access-date=January 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826150220/http://www.readingpafire.com/news.html?view=1&id=38406|archive-date=August 26, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Summary:
Please note that all contributions to Niidae Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see
Encyclopedia:Copyrights
for details).
Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Search
Search
Editing
Reading, Pennsylvania
(section)
Add topic