Berks County Planning Commission

10/14/2026

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and PA Emergency Management Agency recently held a media briefing to outline plans for winter services, highlight job opportunities, and discuss how Pennsylvanians can prepare for the season. Some highlights include:

• PennDOT is expanding automated weather messaging corridors where roadside weather station readings are used to alert drivers of potential whiteout and slippery driving conditions ahead. The department piloted a corridor last winter on Interstates 79 and 90 in Erie County and will be expanding this technology to major interstate corridors throughout the state. On these corridors, when weather stations in the area indicate low visibility, high levels of snow intensity, and a decrease in the friction levels of the pavement, changeable message signs approaching the area are automatically updated with warning messages to inform drivers they are approaching dangerous driving conditions: “Whiteout conditions ahead, reduce speed.”
• As part of PennDOT’s data-sharing agreement with Waze (through which the department currently provides crash, work-zone, and other data for navigation purposes), beginning this winter PennDOT plow trucks and Freeway Service Patrol vehicles will appear within the navigation provider’s “Roadside Hazard” category. Waze users will hear and see alerts about the vehicles as they approach them, providing enhanced safety and information for the public and those working on the roads.
• PennDOT is partnering with Fleetworthy (formerly Drivewyze) – a trucking information application – to provide vehicle restriction information to truck drivers when they’re in effect during the winter season. Truck drivers using the service will receive an alert in their vehicle when approaching an interchange with a road where a restriction is in effect, providing an additional, advance notice when inclement weather requires these restrictions. Through the same partnership, PennDOT and the PA Turnpike provide work-zone truck-specific alerts through this service.

To learn more, and stay updated on news and announcements, visit PennDOT's Winter Webpage at the link below:

Winter Driving

10/09/2026

The Berks County Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14th, at 3:00 PM. This will be an in-person meeting held at the County of Berks South Campus, 1st Floor Large Conference Room, 400 E. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton.
Information on how to participate in the meeting, provide comments, and access meeting materials is available through the agenda at the link below:
Agenda: https://bit.ly/BCPCMeeting_Oct26

10/09/2026

𝐁𝐂𝐏𝐂 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐.
We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, October 13

10/09/2026

Traffic Alert!

Beginning October 12, 2026, Route 143 will be closed and detoured from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM Monday night through Friday night, for approximately 2 weeks, weather permitting. These nighttime closures are required to allow the contractor to complete bridge beam er****on associated with the bridge replacement.

Motorists traveling through the area should follow the posted detour signs, expect changes in traffic patterns, and use caution while traveling through the work zone.

Detours:

Route 143 Northbound:
Take I-78 east to Exit 40 – Krumsville. Follow I-78 west to Exit 35 – Lenhartsville, then return to Route 143 northbound.

Route 143 Southbound:
Take I-78 west to Exit 30 – Hamburg. Follow I-78 east to Exit 35 – Lenhartsville, then return to Route 143 southbound.

I-78 Eastbound to Route 143 Northbound:
Follow I-78 east to Exit 40 – Krumsville. Follow I-78 west to Exit 35 – Lenhartsville, then take Route 143 north.

I-78 Westbound to Route 143 Southbound:
Follow I-78 west to Exit 30 – Hamburg. Follow I-78 east to Exit 35 – Lenhartsville, then take Route 143 south.

10/08/2026

We NEED YOUR HELP! If you live, work, or play in Albany, Greenwich, Maxatawny, Lenhartsville, or Kutztown, please consider adding your voice here: https://bit.ly/nebjcpsurvey

Albany, Greenwich, and Maxatawny Townships and Lenhartsville and Kutztown Boroughs have teamed up to develop the Northeastern Berks Joint Comprehensive Plan of 2027. A joint comprehensive plan is a long-term document that guides the community's goals and a vision for its future. It is a roadmap that will provide framework for communities for policy, land use, and infrastructure decisions, balancing development with the natural environment surrounding us. We want to hear from you! Your participation will make the community even stronger!

10/05/2026

Reminder: Our building is closed today, but the Planning Department is still open and ready to assist you. Plan endorsements will not be available. If you need to contact the office, please email [email protected]

09/29/2026

Share your thoughts on PennDOT construction and maintenance activities by 10/20!

Your feedback in this annual customer satisfaction survey helps us find ways to learn and improve.

Take the 17-question survey here: https://qualtrics.pa.gov/jfe/form/SV_aeYJqUIiLcq4xuu.

09/29/2026

Our building will be closed on Monday, but the Planning Department is still open and ready to assist you. Plan endorsements will not be available. If you need to contact the office, please email [email protected]

09/28/2026

Traffic Notice!

Following the final inspection held on September 24, 2026, Kinsley Construction has completed all work on the SR 645 Camp Swatara Road over Little Swatara Creek Bridge Replacement Project, and Camp Swatara Road has been reopened to traffic. The subcontractor will begin removing the detour signage on Monday, September 28, and removal will take multiple days. Disregard any detour signs that remain in place during this time.

09/18/2026

Please see the proposed route and schedule changes for BARTA Transportation in the post below.

‼ BARTA has announced Proposed Schedule Changes to go into effect Monday, January 4, 2027.

Customers & the Public have 30 days to make any comments about the Proposed Route and Schedule Changes. Comments may be sent via email or mail.

For details of the Proposed Changes and 30-Day Comment Period visit: https://www.bartabus.com/bartas-proposed-route-schedule-changes-for-monday-january-4-2027