LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) announced changes to its bus routes starting June 30. This includes the closure of the Lehigh Valley Mall Transit Center in Whitehall.
The adjustments are part of a broader service reorganization aimed at improving efficiency and responding to evolving rider needs.
LANTA will relocate its bus services off the mall property at the mall’s request. New stations will be added in Whitehall, including stops at Grape Street, Schadt Avenue, Whitehall Shopping Center and MacArthur Road.
Whitehall’s transit landscape is shifting due to a combination of factors. In 2024, Whitehall Mall removed bus access, and the Lehigh Valley Mall transfer center is set to close in June, though a temporary stop will remain.
Changing shopping habits have affected local ridership, and PennDOT projects on U.S. Route 22 are impacting bus stop reliability. The Whitehall School District has requested service to Fullerton, and access to several residential areas — including Willow Crest, Parkview, Presidential Village and Olympic Gardens — is becoming more difficult due to limited access at the MacArthur Road stop.
Route adjustments include:
- Route 103: Will serve Cherryville, Whitehall Central, Schadt, Whitehall Square, Mickley, Grape at Whitehall Mall, FedEx Willowbrook and Lehigh Valley International Airport.
- Route 210: Adjusted to include South Mall, Parkway Shopping Center, Allentown Library, ATC-Allentown, 7th Street District, Jordan Heights, 6th Ward, Lehigh Valley Mall, Grape at Whitehall Mall, Mickley, Schadt and Whitehall Central.
- Route 211: Will serve Parkway Shopping Center, ATC-Allentown, Sacred Heart, Jordan Heights, 7th Street District, Allen at 14th, Crest Plaza and LCCC Schnecksville.
New early morning trips will also be added to both the Green and Blue Lines to enhance service during peak hours.
Community feedback
“The Lehigh Valley continues to add population and jobs along with new land development or redevelopment,” LANTA Executive Director Owen O’Neil said in a statement. “All resulting in more people going to more places at more times throughout the day.”
LANTA used feedback collected through public meetings and surveys to adjust routes. The proposed changes represent an overall service reduction of about 4% for June.
“We are starting to make adjustments to the overall service level to put LANTA in the position of being able to address different funding scenarios going forward,” LANTA leadership said in a March presentation. “It is possible that additional service reductions will be necessary next fiscal year and will depend on the funding situation.”
An updated map is available for download on LANTA’s website.