Month: August 2026

Berks County pedestrians and cyclists have a chance to be part of a Steering Committee that will update the County’s “Active Transportation Plan.”

Interested in representing the Pacers on this committee? Reach out to Newsletter Editor Matt Brophy for more information (Matthew.L.Brophy@gmail.com).

Below is an overview of the committee, and the important work it will be doing, from the Berks County Planning Commission:

Every person that lives, works, or visits Berks County depends on the transportation system to get around.  They travel not only by motor vehicle but also by walking, rolling, riding, or using public transportation. The Reading Area Transportation Study (RATS), the federally designated Metropolitan PIanning Organization (MPO) for Berks County, recognizes these various modes and has initiated work to update the 2020 Berks County Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan with a completely new Active Transportation Plan.  This Plan will examine issues related to bicycle, pedestrian, and accessible transportation and how they integrate with safety, community health and movement.  It also serves as the non-motorized component of the county’s Long Range Transportation Plan.

As a vital part of the process, we are looking to establish a Steering Committee composed of community members who represent constituencies with interests in the issues to be covered by this Plan.  Based on your demonstrated commitment to local planning or your interest in bicycle, pedestrian, accessibility, and safety issues, you have been named as a possible candidate to serve on the Active Transportation Plan Steering Committee.  If a representative of your organization elects to participate in this process, we estimate that your commitments to this task would be limited to one meeting quarterly scheduled over a 15-month period that would culminate with Plan adoption in November 2027.

A kickoff meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, September 29, 2026, beginning at 1:30 p.m.  This meeting (and all subsequent meetings) will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.  Please let us know if you or a representative are willing to participate in this effort no later than Monday, September 21, 2026.  During our initial meeting, we will determine a coordinated meeting schedule for the rest of the project duration.