Bethlehem Connect, in brief (v1.2, 21 October 2026)
Planning phase. An independent plan; nothing is funded or built yet.

Bethlehem Connect is an independent plan for frequent electric transit linking the Saucon Valley, Lehigh University's three campuses, the Southside, Downtown Bethlehem, Moravian University and North Bethlehem. No agency or institution has reviewed, adopted, endorsed or funded it.

Phase 1, in and around Bethlehem and Hellertown, would extend and electrify LANTA's Enhanced Bus Service as two lines on existing streets: the Connect Spine, about 16.5 km with 9 station areas and about 35 minutes end to end, and the River Line, a 2.5 km core from Downtown to Farrington Square and Third Street: 10 station areas in all. Buses would come about every 10 minutes. Every station would get level boarding, shelter, lighting, real-time screens and a recycling, compost and trash point. Phase 1 also has options to study, such as a gondola for the steep climb to Lehigh's Mountaintop campus, and extensions if demand supports them. Phase 2 would add bus corridors past Bethlehem, toward Allentown, Easton, Nazareth, Bath, Saucon Valley south and Coopersburg, only if LANTA agrees.

Phase 1 by 2029 and Phase 2 by 2030 are conditional targets, not commitments. They depend on a public sponsor adopting the route, operating funds and approvals.

The next step would be conversations with LVPC, LANTA, Lehigh University and the City of Bethlehem about data, fit with existing plans, and who could fund the service.

More: the two-page summary (https://website-five-tau-72.vercel.app/files/two-page-summary.pdf) and the website (https://website-five-tau-72.vercel.app).