Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Project

Creating a Stronger Connection between Downtown Erie and the Waterfront

October 2020

Project Receives Federal Grant Funding

PennDOT District 1’s Bayfront Parkway Improvement Project received a huge boost when the project was selected to receive $21 million in federal grant funding.

One of the major tasks in designing and planning the Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Project has always been funding. The construction estimates for the project range from $74 to $82 million with work to be done in phases over several years.

In 2018, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania DCED committed a combined $30 million to complete enhancements to the Bayfront Parkway between Sassafras Street Extension and Holland Street.

Additional money, including $6 million in multi-modal funding, was later identified and PennDOT has worked alongside its planning partner to apply for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. The application was successful and $21 million was awarded to the project.

The approximately $60 million in dedicated funding means the project planning process can now include a more detailed timeline of how the work will be phased for completion over multiple years and ensures more work can be included in the first years of construction.

Tentative plans for Phase 1 of the project includes:

Pedestrian bridge at Holland Street;
Pedestrian and bicyclist trail improvements;
Roundabouts at Holland Street and Sassafras Street Extension; and
Grade separation at State Street as well as street level improvements; and
Multi-use bridge near the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home and the CSX track modifications

Complementary projects to make pedestrian improvements along Sassafras Street and realignment of West Front Street are being led by the Port of Erie.

Construction on the Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Project will get underway until work is complete on the supplemental projects planned for 2021, including:

Traffic signal timing upgrades and safety improvements at 23 intersections along 12th Street from the northbound off ramp of Interstate 79/ Lincoln Street to Wayne Street; and
Pedestrian and roadway improvements along the East Bayfront

The completion of this work will make it possible to start work on the Bayfront Parkway itself in 2022 with an anticipated completion date for Phase 1 in 2024.

More information on the selected alternative, go online to www.BayfrontParkwayProject.com or the Facebook group Bayfront Parkway Project.

Important Project Dates

Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Virtual Public Meeting: Fall 2020
12th Street Traffic Signal Project (Supplemental Project): Construction in 2021
East Bayfront Project (Supplemental Project): Construction in 2021
Access Improvements at Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home: Construction in 2021
Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Project Phase 1: Anticipated start of construction in 2022

The Purpose of the project is to improve the pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and passenger vehicle connection of the Erie Central Business District and adjacent neighborhoods to the waterfront property north of the Bayfront Parkway, reduce crashes as much as practical on the Bayfront Parkway, improve future congestion to an acceptable level of service or delay, and improve traffic operations and efficiency.

improvement-overview

PennDOT Data Shows Roundabouts Reduce Number of Injuries, Crashes

A PennDOT review of crash data from 22 roundabouts showed the improvements decreased fatalities, injuries and crashes at 19 locations throughout the state.

The results of the annual review were announced in September and included roundabouts that were open for at least three years and were built at intersections that were previously stop or signal controlled.

Department data based on police- submitted crash reports spanning the years 2000 through 2019 shows that fatalities at these locations were reduced by 100 percent and the total number of crashes decreased by 24 percent.

Suspected serious injuries were reduced by 78 percent;
Suspected minor injuries were reduced by 62 percent;
Possible/unknown severity injuries were reduced by 82 percent; and
Property damage-only crashes increased by 20

Roundabouts are frequently installed to address intersections with safety issues but may also be installed to improve traffic flow as

well as other reasons such as traffic calming, and to facilitate pedestrian mobility.

The full announcement and break down of roundabouts included in the review is available to read online at www.penndot.gov.

National statistics show roundabouts increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists as well.

Bicycle related crashes are reduced by 10 percent; and
Pedestrians-related crashes are reduced by 30-40

PennDOT also offers numerous safety resources to help pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists understand how to correctly navigate a roundabout.

This includes a video on how to use both single and multi-lane roundabouts whether in a vehicle, on a bicycle or on foot. The video can be accessed by visiting the roundabout page on www.penndot.gov or by visiting the department’s YouTube channel.

DYK

Did you know the Bayfront Parkway Project website, now features a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section?

Customers can find answers to a variety of questions about the project, the environmental process, public involvement efforts, and pedestrian and bicycle upgrades.

The section was built based on inquiries from customers and will be updated as needed and based on trending topics and questions from the public.

Can’t find an answer in that section? Contact PennDOT Project Manager Tom McClelland at thmcclella@pa.gov.

Tell us what you like about the project or about concerns you may have by going online to www.BayfrontParkwayProject.com or www.PennDOT.gov/District1 or contacting PennDOT Project Manager Tom McClelland, P.E., at 814-678-7081 or thmcclella@pa.gov.