PennDOT’s vision for Bayfront and Holland Street.
Charles Buki’s 2015 Erie Refocused Comprehensive Plan advised us to prioritize the needs and preferences of people walking and biking over the desires of drivers. In a bizarre statement in his Sunday op-ed, Brian A. McNulty claims that PennDOT’s $100 million dollar roadway expansion plan is “consistent with the Erie Refocused comprehensive plan.” He correctly states that “the heart of the project seeks to better connect travelers . . . to the Bayfront.” The reality is that PennDOT’s plan is a roadway for suburban commuters, tourists and tractor-trailers to speedily get to work or to “cut through” the city along the waterfront as shown in their Bayfront Project animation.
Despite PennDOT’s own statements that traffic will rise from 16,000 a day to 2,900 a day, McNulty states, that PennDOT’s project “is not increasing traffic.”
Despite McNulty’s long list of public meetings, workshops, etc. PennDOT filed paperwork in March 2020 to AVOID an on-the-record Public Hearing and Environmental Assessment.
Despite PennDOT’s recent “addition” of three pedestrian overpasses to their drawings, these bridges are unfunded, and, may never be built. If they are built, they may not be public 24/7. In addition, the proposed bridges are unattractive and indirect. It needs to be declared that three proposed pedestrian bridges do nothing to help the already difficult crossings at Cranberry, East 6th, East 10th, East 12th. Since PennDOT anticipates an additional 10,000 vehicles a day will be added to the Eastside Connector arterial highway, the already redlined neighborhoods harmed by the demolition of the Viaduct will be dealt blows of more noise, more pollution, more danger and less connectivity.
PennDOT’s vision for Bayfront and State Street.