A multi-million dollar project to improve Erie’s Bayfront Parkway gets a big boost from Washington in the form of 21-million in federal funding recently. This is a project that has been in the works since 2015 and the plans call for improved travel along the highway as well as better pedestrian access.

 Not everybody is on board for this project. Jasmine Flores, the leader of the “Don’t Give Up the Bayfront” march and member of Equity Coalition of Erie says the major message she is trying to get out is to save the Bayfront. The coalition marched Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week leading up to the City Council public hearing on the issue on Thursday.

The protestors are concerned they are in danger of losing major accessibility to the Bayfront from the lower east side with the city’s pending decision to reconstruct the Bayfront Connector at the bottom of Holland Street into a roundabout. 

“I don’t believe Erie drivers are safe and aware how to drive under roundabouts,” Flores says. “We don’t have very many in the state. I have been a bus-rider all my life and sit at the corner and watch people drive and I know it is dangerous.”

PENNDOT has a differing opinion. Tom McClelland, the Design Services Engineer for PENNDOT says roundabouts slow traffic and says they have received several complaints from drivers about people speeding on the Bayfront Parkway. He says the roundabouts will reduce these issues.

“Roundabouts are actually a real nice safety feature,” he says. “They help to slow and calm traffic which is what we’re trying to do.”

Equity Coalition also brought up the concern for equal accessibility to the Bayfront.

 “Currently right now we don’t have a Holland sidewalk,” Flores says. “We don’t want our Bayfront Connector to run out of money like it did before.”

 PENNDOT says that won’t be an issue.

“We’re looking at a pedestrian bridge which is part of the first phase,” McClelland says. “There’s funding available for that crossing to help the east side residents.”

He says in a nutshell, at the Sassafras Street entrance they are putting a roundabout and pedestrian bridge on the west side, as well as replacing a traffic signal. At Holland Street they will do the same for the east side. At the State Street intersection, thru traffic on the Bayfront Parkway will stay below, where the railroad bedding is. There will be ramps coming up to State Street and McClelland says that instead of 86 feet of pavement, pedestrians will only have to cross 40 feet on State Street because majority of the traffic will be below and they won’t have to cross in front of as many vehicles.

McClelland says all of these plans, including photos and Frequently Asked Questions can be found at BAYFRONTPARKWAYPROJECT.COM.

“PENNDOT is looking at not only the vehicular needs of the corridor but addressing also pedestrian and cycling needs,” McClelland says.

To register for the City council webinar, click here .