West Reading Avenues Summer 2021 - 18

In the Community
Fourth Street
Extension Project
T
he Wyomissing Borough has begun a segment of
the multi-modal project; the Fourth Street Extension
project. This will allow motorists to travel the North
Wyomissing Boulevard safely and efficiently, Fourth Street, and
North Park Road sections of the Borough. Included in this
project is a traffic circle on Innovation Way that will connect to
Fourth Street. Over the last few years, you have witnessed The
Knitting Mills property flourish into a mixed-use commercial
property featuring restaurant space, office space, and medical
suites. At the time of publication, the Borough is only 4 or 5
months away from welcoming the first class of 40 students
to the new Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower
Health facility.
This new state-of-the-art facility is situated on the north side of
The Knitting Mills property, and upon completion, will provide
students with an optimal educational experience focusing on
not only patient health, but also the students' health and wellbeing.
Students will have the opportunity to learn and apply their
skills in simulation labs, anatomy labs, and simulation patient
rooms, and as they advance in their curriculum, students will
gain hands on experiences at Tower Health Hospital in West
Reading. The new campus will also feature study and lounge
areas, library, recreation spaces, and a café. Of course, students
are encouraged to visit our parkland system, and enjoy the many
local eateries and retail locations offered in Wyomissing, West
16
Avenues Summer 2021
Reading, and Spring Township. The second part of the multimodal
project does just that; includes improved pedestrian and
bicyclist access to sections of Wyomissing and West Reading.
As an initial step to make this happen, the Borough purchased
a vacant parking lot located on the southwest side of the
intersection of Fourth Street and North Wyomissing Boulevard.
A bike share station, bike rack, striped parking spaces, a bench
and a BARTA bus stop will be located on this lot. A second
bike share station and bike repair station will be installed in the
Borough parklands adjacent to the quarry soccer field parking
lot and a third installed mid-block on Reading Avenue in West
Reading, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Arrows and route
signs will be installed on the roadways shown on the Borough's
bicycle and pedestrian trail map. The route provides access to
all areas of Wyomissing Borough, to multiple recreation areas,
to the Wyomissing Area School District and Wilson School
District, and to Spring Township and Shillington Borough.
Continuing through West Reading, a cyclist can pedal down
Reading Avenue to the Buttonwood Street bridge for access
into the City of Reading, or down Seventh Avenue to Parkside
Drive North and continue to the Schuylkill River Trail. The
route also provides access to existing bike share stations on
The Knitting Mills property, Tower Health's main campus in
West Reading, and a station to be installed at the medical school.
Pedestrian improvements will be made to Fourth Street to install
West Reading Avenues Summer 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of West Reading Avenues Summer 2021
