LANTA
Encyclopedia
The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (known as LANTA), is a transit agency that provides public, fixed-route bus service throughout Lehigh County
and Northampton County
, in Pennsylvania
, United States
. The primary area that LANTA serves is the Lehigh Valley
region of Pennsylvania
, serving the cities of Allentown
, Bethlehem
, and Easton
.
The agency was created in March 1972 in response to the transportation crisis that was occurring in Lehigh
, and Northampton
. The solution was to create a bi-county, municipal Authority that would operate all public transit services in the two counties. Lehigh Valley Transit Company, a private for-profit entity, formally operated transit services in the Valley.
The Authority's main service is in the urbanized area of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton and surrounding boroughs and townships. About 380,000 people live within 3/4 mile of a fixed-route bus line.
About 15,000 trips are taken daily on the Metro city transit system.
In 1973, the Authority replaced the entire 65-vehicle fleet with modern air-conditioned city transit coaches. In 1974, LANTA added 30% more service hours and established a peak/off-peak fare structure offering discounts in the off-peak hours and Saturdays to encourage ridership. Seniors, through a state lottery funded program, were offered free fare access during off-peak hours and weekends in 1975.
In the mid-1980s, as the community transformed from a manufacturing based economy to a service and retail based economy, was completely revamped and a new "Metro" system was introduced in 1985. A color-coded route information system was introduced at the same time to make riding transit more 'user-friendly.' The following year, 'deep-discount' fares were introduced as LANTA raised the case fares but kept ticket and pass prices the same and providing frequent riders with a 25% discount.
In 1988 Metro Plus services for the elderly and people with disabilities were introduced. Fully accessible vans are available through contracts with private operators to take people to destinations door-to-door for a higher, zoned fare.
About 2,000 trips are taken each weekday on the Metro Plus paratransit system.
A transportation center was established in Bethlehem and centers in Allentown and Easton are on the drawing board.
As the years went on, the agency grew adding more and more bus routes around the Lehigh Valley
. Ridership has grown 75% since LANTA's inception. On October 21, 2001 that LANTA started offering Sunday bus service to further increase access to public transit. The Authority is funded through revenues from the farebox; a grant from the Pennsylvania Lottery
program with revenue generated by rides taken on the system by seniors 65 and older, grants from Lehigh and Northampton counties, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. Combined these grants pay approximately 60% of the cost of operation; the remaining funds come through the lottery program and passenger fares.
Eighty buses are in the Metro city transit fleet; 118 vans are used to provide the Metro Plus door-to-door van services. The Authority owns all vehicles. LANTA has two operating facilities: the main office, garage and maintenance building is at 1060 Lehigh Street Allentown Lehigh County and there is a satellite facility located at 3610 Nicholas Street in Easton, Northampton County.
LANTA has three operating divisions:
LANTA is also involved with these services:
and Palmer Park Malls to various neighboring shopping strips and centers, serve as the final daily fixed routes. In the evening, LANTA operates the Starlight service made of seven fixed routes which service center city Allentown
, the Lehigh Valley Mall
and Palmer Park Mall
, Whitehall
, and Emmaus
. There is also the Night Owl service that runs late-night from center city Allentown to the Lehigh Valley Hospital
. Metro also operates the Silverline Express which is an express bus that serves the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton areas via Route 22
, as well as The Bethelem Loop, which serves as a shuttle for that city's downtown core.
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
-Climate:Most of the county's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year....
and Northampton County
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
, in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The primary area that LANTA serves is the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
region of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, serving the cities of Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
, and Easton
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
.
History
The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) has ten voting and two non-voting members appointed by the County Executives.The agency was created in March 1972 in response to the transportation crisis that was occurring in Lehigh
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
-Climate:Most of the county's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year....
, and Northampton
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
. The solution was to create a bi-county, municipal Authority that would operate all public transit services in the two counties. Lehigh Valley Transit Company, a private for-profit entity, formally operated transit services in the Valley.
The Authority's main service is in the urbanized area of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton and surrounding boroughs and townships. About 380,000 people live within 3/4 mile of a fixed-route bus line.
About 15,000 trips are taken daily on the Metro city transit system.
In 1973, the Authority replaced the entire 65-vehicle fleet with modern air-conditioned city transit coaches. In 1974, LANTA added 30% more service hours and established a peak/off-peak fare structure offering discounts in the off-peak hours and Saturdays to encourage ridership. Seniors, through a state lottery funded program, were offered free fare access during off-peak hours and weekends in 1975.
In the mid-1980s, as the community transformed from a manufacturing based economy to a service and retail based economy, was completely revamped and a new "Metro" system was introduced in 1985. A color-coded route information system was introduced at the same time to make riding transit more 'user-friendly.' The following year, 'deep-discount' fares were introduced as LANTA raised the case fares but kept ticket and pass prices the same and providing frequent riders with a 25% discount.
In 1988 Metro Plus services for the elderly and people with disabilities were introduced. Fully accessible vans are available through contracts with private operators to take people to destinations door-to-door for a higher, zoned fare.
About 2,000 trips are taken each weekday on the Metro Plus paratransit system.
A transportation center was established in Bethlehem and centers in Allentown and Easton are on the drawing board.
As the years went on, the agency grew adding more and more bus routes around the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
. Ridership has grown 75% since LANTA's inception. On October 21, 2001 that LANTA started offering Sunday bus service to further increase access to public transit. The Authority is funded through revenues from the farebox; a grant from the Pennsylvania Lottery
Pennsylvania Lottery
The Pennsylvania Lottery is operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The lottery was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly on August 26, 1971; two months later, Henry Kaplan was appointed as its first executive director...
program with revenue generated by rides taken on the system by seniors 65 and older, grants from Lehigh and Northampton counties, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. Combined these grants pay approximately 60% of the cost of operation; the remaining funds come through the lottery program and passenger fares.
Eighty buses are in the Metro city transit fleet; 118 vans are used to provide the Metro Plus door-to-door van services. The Authority owns all vehicles. LANTA has two operating facilities: the main office, garage and maintenance building is at 1060 Lehigh Street Allentown Lehigh County and there is a satellite facility located at 3610 Nicholas Street in Easton, Northampton County.
LANTA has three operating divisions:
- Metro: The main transit service that is made up of 28 core, fixed bus routes in the Lehigh Valley. Special service routes add another 17 routes to the total.
- Metro Plus: A special door-to-door transportation service for people with disabilities and the elderly.
- CCCT (Carbon County Community Transit): A service the Authority agreed to manage in 1996 for the County of Carbon. Shared ride van services and a fixed-route bus line comprise the Carbon County Community Transportation service.
LANTA is also involved with these services:
- Starlight Evening Service
- Night Owl Service
- The Slater Express Van
- The 400 Routes
- The Lynx
- Silverline Express
- The Bethlehem LoopThe Bethlehem LoopThe Bethlehem Loop is a shuttle bus service in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It was implemented to loop between the City's two downtown business districts and the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, a newly built casino and resort on the city's South Side...
Routes
LANTA currently operates 35 fixed bus routes in its Metro service. Seventeen lettered routes serve the inner city areas of the Lehigh Valley, while five numbered routes serve the surrounding areas. Two shuttles named "The Rover" and "The Whirlybird", that operate from the Lehigh Valley MallLehigh Valley Mall
The Lehigh Valley Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is the largest shopping mall in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania....
and Palmer Park Malls to various neighboring shopping strips and centers, serve as the final daily fixed routes. In the evening, LANTA operates the Starlight service made of seven fixed routes which service center city Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, the Lehigh Valley Mall
Lehigh Valley Mall
The Lehigh Valley Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is the largest shopping mall in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania....
and Palmer Park Mall
Palmer Park Mall
The Palmer Park Mall is an indoor one-story shopping mall of located in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. The mall is located at the intersection of PA Route 248 and Park Avenue in Palmer Township, Northampton County.The mall has over 50 stores and is anchored by...
, Whitehall
Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
Whitehall Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Whitehall Township was 24,896 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, and Emmaus
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Emmaus is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is located five miles southwest of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Emmaus was 11,313 at the 2000 census...
. There is also the Night Owl service that runs late-night from center city Allentown to the Lehigh Valley Hospital
Lehigh Valley Hospital
Lehigh Valley Hospital, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is the largest hospital in the Lehigh Valley and the flagship hospital of the Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network .-Lehigh Valley Health Network:...
. Metro also operates the Silverline Express which is an express bus that serves the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton areas via Route 22
U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William...
, as well as The Bethelem Loop, which serves as a shuttle for that city's downtown core.
List of Metro Lettered Routes
| Route | Terminals | Major streets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village West Shopping Center | Broad & Guetter Streets (Bethlehem) | Cedar Crest Blvd., Tilghman St. State Route 1002 (Lehigh County, Pennsylvania) State Route 1002 ', locally known as Tilghman Street and Union Boulevard, is a major long east–west road in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The majority of the roadway is the former alignment of U.S... , Hanover Ave. |
|
| East Hills/Fountain Hill | Freemansburg Ave. | Stefko Blvd., Freemansburg Ave. | |
| Broad & Guetter (Bethlehem) | Center Square (Easton) | Freemansburg Ave. | |
| Northampton | Emmaus | Lehigh St. Lehigh Street Lehigh Street is a major road that connects Emmaus, Pennsylvania in the west to Allentown, Pennsylvania in the east, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States... , MacArthur Rd. Pennsylvania Route 145 Pennsylvania Route 145 , unofficially known as "the gateway to Allentown", is a long north–south state highway in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania... |
|
| Easton | Allentown | Hanover Ave., William Penn Highway | |
| Westgate Mall Westgate Mall (Bethlehem) Westgate Mall is an indoor shopping mall in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Lehigh Valley. It is located near US Route 22 on Schoenersville Road.-History:... |
Creekside Shopping Center (Hellertown) | Schoenersville Rd, W. Broad St. | |
| Union Blvd. | Susquehanna St. | Broadway, E. 4th St. | |
| Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American amusement and water park located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The park features nine roller coasters, other adult and children's rides, and a waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom.... |
Fullerton Ave. | Hamilton Blvd., Fullerton Ave. | |
| Boroline | Crest Plaza | E. Emmaus Ave., N. 19th St., Walbert Ave. | |
| Lehigh Valley Hospital Lehigh Valley Hospital Lehigh Valley Hospital, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is the largest hospital in the Lehigh Valley and the flagship hospital of the Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network .-Lehigh Valley Health Network:... |
Presidential Village | S. 24th St., Hamilton St., MacArthur Rd. Pennsylvania Route 145 Pennsylvania Route 145 , unofficially known as "the gateway to Allentown", is a long north–south state highway in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania... |
|
| Lehigh Valley Mall Lehigh Valley Mall The Lehigh Valley Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is the largest shopping mall in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.... |
Parkway Shopping Center | MacArthur Rd. Pennsylvania Route 145 Pennsylvania Route 145 , unofficially known as "the gateway to Allentown", is a long north–south state highway in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania... , Allen St., 15th St. |
|
| Palmer Park Mall Palmer Park Mall The Palmer Park Mall is an indoor one-story shopping mall of located in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. The mall is located at the intersection of PA Route 248 and Park Avenue in Palmer Township, Northampton County.The mall has over 50 stores and is anchored by... |
Berwick St./Line St. | Northampton St., S. 3rd St. | |
| Stones Crossing | Berwick St./Line St. | Freemansburg Ave. | |
| West Easton | Harlen House | Northampton St., Freemansburg Ave. | |
| Slate Belt | Broad & Guetter Streets (Bethlehem) | Route 512 Pennsylvania Route 512 Pennsylvania Route 512 is a long state route in eastern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 22 north of Bethlehem. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 611 in Upper Mount Bethel Township.-Route description:... , Route 115 Pennsylvania Route 115 Pennsylvania Route 115 is a north–south state highway in eastern Pennsylvania. It stretches from U.S. Route 209 in Brodheadsville to Interstate 81 and Pennsylvania Route 309 near Wilkes-Barre. The road originated as the Sullivan Trail which later became known as the Easton and Wilkes-Barre... , Route 248 Pennsylvania Route 248 Pennsylvania Route 248 is a long state highway in eastern portions of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 209 in Weissport. The eastern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 611 in Easton.... |
|
| Riverside Road | Broad & Guetter Streets (Bethlehem) | Riverside Rd., New St. | |
| Allentown | Slatington | Route 309 Pennsylvania Route 309 Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles through Pennsylvania in the United States. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North... , Route 873 Pennsylvania Route 873 Pennsylvania Route 873 is a north-south, two-lane road mainly located in northern Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at PA 248 in the Lehigh Township hamlet of Weiders Crossing. It passes through Slatington as Main Street. Its southern terminus is at PA 309 in Schnecksville.... , Main St. |
|
List of Metro Suburban Routes
| Route | Terminals | Major streets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Catasauqua | Egypt | MacArthur Rd. Pennsylvania Route 145 Pennsylvania Route 145 , unofficially known as "the gateway to Allentown", is a long north–south state highway in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania... , Race St. |
|
| Fogelsville | Allentown | Route 100, Tilghman St. State Route 1002 (Lehigh County, Pennsylvania) State Route 1002 ', locally known as Tilghman Street and Union Boulevard, is a major long east–west road in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The majority of the roadway is the former alignment of U.S... |
|
| Trexlertown | Allentown | Route 100, Hamilton St. | |
| Stabler Center | Lehigh Valley College | S. 8th St., Mack Blvd., Interstate 78 Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania Interstate 78 is an east–west route stretching from Union Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania to New York City. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, I-78 runs for about 77 miles in Pennsylvania, from the western terminus at Interstate 81 to New Jersey state line; I-78 continues into New... |
|
| Forks Industrial Park | Palmer Industrial Park | Main St., Sullivan Trail, Cattel St. | |
| Route | Route Name | Service Area | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rover | West Easton, Palmer Park Mall | US$0.50 | |
| The Whirlybird | Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall Mall | US$0.50 | |
| The Bethlehem Loop | Downtown Bethlehem, Historic District, Sands Casino | US$2.50 | |
List of Metro Rapid Transit Routes
| Route | Terminals | Major streets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Valley Mall | Easton | MacArthur Rd. Pennsylvania Route 145 Pennsylvania Route 145 , unofficially known as "the gateway to Allentown", is a long north–south state highway in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania... , Route 22 U.S. Route 22 U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William... , N. 3rd St. |
|
List of Metro Starlight Evening Routes
- Starlight 1 - Lehigh Valley Mall/Allentown Loop
- Starlight 2 - Lehigh Valley Mall/Susquehanna St.
- Starlight 3 - Allentown/Easton
- Starlight 4 - Whitehall/Northampton Loop
- Starlight 5 - Allentown/Emmaus
- Starlight 6 - Palmer Park Mall/South Easton
- Starlight 7 - Dorney Park/Allentown
List of Other Metro Services
- The Slater Express Van - weekend mall shuttle
- The Lynx - Carbon County transit routes, which alternate depending on the day of the week
- The 400 Routes - school bus services
Metro
| Fare category | Description | Cash |
|---|---|---|
| One Ride Fare | One Ride Fare | US$2.00 |
| Day Pass | Unlimited rides all day | US$3.00 |
| Whirlybird Express | One Ride Fare | US$0.50 |
| The Rover | One Ride Fare | US$0.50 |
| Transfers | Valid 2 hours after purchase | US$0.25 |
| Senior Citizens (65+) | Free all day with ID | |
| People with disabilities | US$1.00 all day pass with ID | |
| Children (5 and under) | Free with paying adult | |
FareSaver Tickets
| Fare category | Description | Cash |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Ride Ticket | FareSaver Ticket | US$14.00 |
| 31 Day Pass | Good for 31 days after purchase or activation | US$50.00 |
Metro Plus
| Full Fare | General fare to access Metro Plus paratransit services - each way | US$22.50 |
| Subsidized Fare | Seniors (65+) and others subsidized by agencies - each way | US$3.40 |
| Ticket Books | 6 Tickets, good for 6 one-way trips or 3 round trips | US$18.20 |