Cross-Cutting
Infrastructure
Accelerate community wide infrastructure and quality of life improvements
After decades of population stagnation and economic stress, Erie is experiencing the beginning of a revitalization, fueled by growth in the central business district. This new commercial, tech, and other businesses growth in downtown Erie and elsewhere is putting considerable strain on Erie’s aging infrastructure. Improvements to Erie’s roads, bikeways, power grid, fiber network, and other systems can ensure and even help accelerate the continued growth of Erie’s new economy. These large investments in Erie’s infrastructure are especially timely given the recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, which reserves substantial funding for many of the projects most important in Erie. Note that this Playbook also includes more specific infrastructure investments in subtracts or neighborhoods within Erie; this section primarily covers community-wide infrastructure investments.
3.1: Invest in complete broadband regionally
Investment Overview:
Based on data from 2018, Erie County had a broadband coverage rate of over 95% at a 25Mb / 3 Mb speed. However, due to the pandemic and inaccurate data from the FCC, many more residents than once thought do not have access to adequate broadband infrastructure to support teleworking, remote learning, and telehealth initiatives. With more employees working from home, broadband has become a critical component of economic development policy to attract and retain employees to a region. The goal of the investment in broadband infrastructure will be to provide Erie County and surrounding regions with a minimum of one broadband provider, promote and develop affordable options for those currently without access, and expand regional infrastructure to support economic development. This work could build on successful initiatives in neighboring Corry.
Goals and Benefits:
Create additional educational opportunities through remote and hybrid learning, especially for post-secondary education
- Increase competitiveness of region’s workforce
- Create additional opportunities for remote work in Erie County and surrounding regions
Relevant Examples:
- EPB, Chattanooga
- EDDC, VNET Fiber
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: TBD
Sources:
ARP, ARC Power, PA Broadband Authority, Infrastructure / Jobs Act, FCC ACP / ECF
Uses:
$50k –County broadband feasibility study
$2.3M –Corry Gig Fiber Network
TBD –Other
Progress and Next Steps:
Progress:
Secure funding for feasibility study
Begin rollout of Corry Gig Fiber Network
Identify opportunities to lay fiber during existing construction
Next Steps:
Identify full suite of funding sources
Expand Corry Gig Fiber Network county-wide
Ensure timeline for feasibility study and rollout aligns with infrastructure funding programs
3.2: Increase connection to Presque Isle via Millcreek Presque Isle Gateway District
Investment Overview:
The Millcreek Presque Isle Gateway District is an improved connection between Erie and Presque Isle that also serves as a cohesive multi-functional district. The Millcreek Presque Isle Gateway District builds a character and quality of place that drives economic development to serve residents and visitors. It serves as a visual cue to residents and visitors that while the State Park is a major destination, it is also a part of a network of recreation and retail sites in Millcreek that contribute to the District as a whole. The Gateway District would be a safe and inviting community for all users-pedestrians, bicyclists,and motorists and include a mix of uses in buildings that engage the street is a key ingredient in creating a lively street.
Goals and Benefits:
- Develop W 8th Street as Millcreek’s 'Main Street' Corridor
- Implement an identifiable theme that celebrates the District’s proximity to Presque Isle State Park but functions independently of it
- Improve walkability and bikeability throughout the District
- Allow for both vertical and horizontal mixed-use in buildings and sites
- A mix of uses in buildings that engage the street is a key ingredient in creating a lively street
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: $6.2M
Sources:
$500k –RACP
TBD-other
Users:
$6.2M –TBD
Process and Next Steps:
Progress to Date:
Inventory existing conditions and conduct feasibility of upgrades
Solicit, gather, and incorporate public input
Next Steps:
- Identify specific investments and projects within the plan
- Conduct additional round of stakeholder input
- Identify full funding needs and raise capital
3.3: Implement Active Erie Transportation Plan to create total pedestrian / biking experience
Investment Overview:
While Erie already has several bike paths throughout the city, Erie’s streets and infrastructure create considerable barriers for bicyclists and pedestrians, thereby restricting the flow of people throughout the city or encouraging residents to find less sustainable methods of transportation. Erie has already extensive planning on potential improvements to its pedestrian and biking infrastructure, as laid out in the Active Erie plan. These recommendations include: creating travel lanes along major bikeways across the city, investing in sign-posting and other improvements to low-stress routes along the waterfront, and creating select pedestrian bridges. With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, Erie now has the opportunity to implement most or all of these recommendations in swift order.
Goals and Benefits:
- Increase public health by promoting transportation by foot or bike and limiting local emissions
- Increase mobility in the city, creating additional economic opportunities for recreation businesses
- Provide greater connectivity between neighborhoods, increasing neighborhood and civic engagement
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: $14,613,960
Sources:
RAISE Grant Program, TASA, PennDOT and DCED Multimodal, CDBG, MPO TIP funds
Uses:
$6,969,402 -6th St from Pittsburgh Ave to Franklin Ave
$1,198,560-19th St/21st St
$93,403 -10th from Bayfront Parkway to Bayfront Conn.
$42,174 -Bird Drive from Fairmount Parkway to E 38th
$161,036-32nd/29th/28th from Pittsburgh Ave to East Ave
$77,013 -East Ave from E Bay Dr to E 38th
$34,070 -Downing Ave from E Lake Rd to E 28th
$6,038,302 -38th from Greengarden to Bayfront
Process and Next Steps:
- Implement policies in the Active Transportation Plan
- Secure funding for needed improvements
- Conduct additional community outreach through final design and construction
3.4: Improve power grid to create renewable, dependable energy for city core (More organizing required)
Investment Overview:
As Erie build new residential, commercial, and recreational developments across the City, it will place increasing demands on the city’s power grid. Recent developments have already run into substantial, unforeseen problems with the electrical grid that have required considerable costs to upgrade. A delay in making further upgrades could postpone or disincentivize additional developments in the City. Considerable work on this project must still be done, however. The specific needs and costs of upgrades must be determined; private and public stakeholders must align on an appropriate approach to cost-sharing; and a coalition of public and private actors must identify sources of capital including traditional sources of public funding, new funding from IIJA, private funding, and creative capital sources.
Goals and Benefits:
-
Incentivize and reduce barriers to future developments
-
Reduce construction time and complexity for individual developments
-
Reduce carbon footprint for city and new developments
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: $6.2M
Sources:
$500k –RACP
TBD-other
Users:
$6.2M –TBD
Process and Next Steps:
Create master list of investments required to upgrade grid
Align on appropriate cost-sharing between public and private sectors
Create blended capital stack using public, private, and creative sources of capital
3.5: Expand City Planning Office to oversee influx of new projects
Investment Overview:
The number and complexity of projects proposed are creating considerable capacity bottlenecks for the City Planning Office, given the importance of the City as the manager, implementer, and / or partner on most projects. As a result, the City could ensure that these projects are implemented on time, within budget, and with fidelity by expanding the capacity of the Planning Office. This “surge” would be temporary to start to manage the temporary influx of funds and projects but could be extended based on the City’s ongoing needs. Potential hires would include directors to oversee implementation, specialists in infrastructure, housing, sustainability, and transportation, and analysts with skills in GIS, policy, and fiscal support.
Goals and Benefits:
These hires would increase the capacity of the City to implement all projects that could be funded by public, private, and philanthropic dollars. In doing so, Erie could accelerate its current timelines for nearly all of its major development and urban planning projects.
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: $3,600,000 (over 3 years)
Uses:
Operating Budget: $2.55M
Planning budget: $900K
Equipment / training / travel:$150K
Process and Next Steps:
- Refine needs based on Nerve Center structure
- Secure local funding
- Create and launch job descriptions
3.5: Expand City Planning Office to oversee influx of new projects
Investment Overview:
The number and complexity of projects proposed are creating considerable capacity bottlenecks for the City Planning Office, given the importance of the City as the manager, implementer, and / or partner on most projects. As a result, the City could ensure that these projects are implemented on time, within budget, and with fidelity by expanding the capacity of the Planning Office. This “surge” would be temporary to start to manage the temporary influx of funds and projects but could be extended based on the City’s ongoing needs. Potential hires would include directors to oversee implementation, specialists in infrastructure, housing, sustainability, and transportation, and analysts with skills in GIS, policy, and fiscal support.
Goals and Benefits:
These hires would increase the capacity of the City to implement all projects that could be funded by public, private, and philanthropic dollars. In doing so, Erie could accelerate its current timelines for nearly all of its major development and urban planning projects.
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: $3,600,000 (over 3 years)
Uses:
Operating Budget: $2.55M
Planning budget: $900K
Equipment / training / travel:$150K
Process and Next Steps:
- Refine needs based on Nerve Center structure
- Secure local funding
- Create and launch job descriptions