Transportation in Erie, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Erie, Pennsylvania, is a city where you can get around in many ways! You can travel by car, bus, train, taxi, airplane, or even by ship. The city also makes money from transportation. This includes building trains and managing its busy port.
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Streets and Highways in Erie
Erie is well connected to the big highway system called the Interstate Highway System. If you are traveling on Interstate 90 (I-90), there are six exits that lead to Erie. I-90 connects Erie to places like Boston, Massachusetts in the east and Cleveland, Ohio in the west.
If you are coming to Erie from the south on I-79, you can join I-90 or keep going north. I-79 has several exits for Erie and eventually leads right into the Bayfront Parkway in downtown Erie. If you are heading south from Erie on I-79, you can connect to I-80. I-80 can take you east to New Jersey or west to cities like Akron, Ohio. You can also stay on I-79 to reach Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Charleston, West Virginia.
Another highway, I-86, is also known as the "Southern Tier Expressway." It branches off I-90 near North East, Pennsylvania. This highway goes southeast through New York State to Binghamton.
Important City Roads
Erie has several important main roads. Pennsylvania Route 5 (12th Street), U.S. Route 20 (26th Street and Buffalo Road), and 38th Street are major roads that run east and west through the city. The city is divided into east and west by State Street, which is a big road in downtown Erie. U.S. Route 19 is a main road that goes southwest from downtown. It leads to a shopping area north of I-90, which locals call Upper Peach Street.
Bus Services in Erie
The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) runs local and regional bus services. These buses operate seven days a week, but not on holidays. A new city bus terminal opened in 2006. From this terminal, you can connect to water taxis, trains, and the airport.
The Intermodal Transportation Center opened in 2002 at the Holland Street Pier. This center includes a bus terminal for larger bus companies. Companies like Greyhound Lines and Fullington Trailways offer daily bus service. They have routes with stops between Erie and places like DuBois and Pittsburgh. From there, you can connect to many other destinations.
Train Travel in Erie
A major train line, once called the "Water Level Route" of the New York Central Railroad, goes right through Erie. This line is now part of the CSX railway system. Many trains use this main line every day.
The Norfolk Southern Railway used to have tracks running down the middle of 19th Street in the city. These tracks have recently been removed. Now, the trains that used 19th Street use the main line mentioned earlier.
An Amtrak passenger train stops in Erie twice a day at Union Station in downtown Erie. This train is called the Lake Shore Limited. It travels between New York, Boston, and Chicago. Amtrak recently changed the morning departure time to 8:30 AM. There have also been talks about adding more trains along the southern shore of Lake Erie. These trains would connect cities like Buffalo with Cleveland and other places.
Air Travel in Erie
Erie International Airport (IATA: ERI; ICAO: KERI) is located about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of the city. This airport handles private planes, charter flights, and regular airline services. Airlines that currently fly to Erie include United Airlines, American Airlines, and Northwest Airlines.
The airport, also known as Tom Ridge Field, was recognized as the fastest-growing airport in Pennsylvania in 2005. The US Department of Transportation also listed it as the 3rd fastest-growing airport in the United States in 2004.
Taxi and Ride Services
In Erie, you can use ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber. While the Erie Yellow Cab Company closed in 2019, other local services are available. These include Hansen's services and Rupp Limousine services.
Water Transportation in Erie
The Port of Erie is located inside Presque Isle Bay. This is a natural harbor on Lake Erie. It was formed by Presque Isle State Park. The The Erie–Western Pennsylvania Port Authority manages the Port of Erie. This authority helps plan, build, and run facilities to improve the port. It has received millions of dollars to help with port projects.
The Port Authority says that the port has the largest dry-dock and crane (200 tons) on the Great Lakes. It also has a full-service shipyard and a lot of warehouse space (300,000 square feet). The port also has a Foreign Trade Zone and a large area (80 acres) called a Keystone Opportunity Zone. There are also 6,000 feet of deep-water dock space and over 200 private docks.
Presque Isle Water Taxi
The Presque Isle Water Taxi is run by the Port Authority during the summer. It takes people between Dobbins Landing and Liberty Park in downtown Erie. It also goes to the Waterworks ferry landing on Presque Isle.
A channel on the east side of Presque Isle allows ships to travel between the bay and Lake Erie. Only one cruise service uses the port. This cruise does not dock at the main Cruise Terminal. Instead, it docks at Dobbin's Landing. A Great American Waterways cruise offers a 15-day trip from Chicago to Warren, Rhode Island. It includes a stop in Erie on its way east. The Great Lakes Cruise Company and the American Canadian Cruise Line both advertise this cruise.
Regional Transportation Planning
Erie's Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is in charge of planning transportation for the area. They work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority. There are fifteen MPOs in Pennsylvania. Members of the MPO include local elected officials, representatives from different types of transportation, and other important people.
Federal and State rules say that urban areas with 50,000 or more people must have an MPO. This group plans for transportation in the short-term (4 years) and long-term (20+ years).
