Note: Somebody on r/Erie asked how to get from the Amtrak station to Hamot, so I made this for them. I'll be adjusting it for general interest.
Taking the city bus from the Amtrak Station (at Union Station)
It is a very short walk from the station to the nearest bus stop.
1. Amtrak station entrance is at 125 West 14th. The closest bus stop is at 14th and State, a short block and a half away. So as you come out, turn right on West 14th. Also any local should be able to just point it out to you.
2. Once you are on 14th and State, you will see two stops on State.
You can also look them up at Erie EMTA or call 814-452-3515 or stop by their customer service at 127 E. 14th Street during business hours (a couple blocks east)
IMPORTANT: Erie EMTA city buses run six days a week, but not on Sundays. While eastbound trains arriving around 7:30am will be able to catch city buses, the buses will not be running when the westbound train arrives after 2am.
TRACK YOUR TRAIN here
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EMTA is inviting people to fill out their survey and offer feedback on service.
You can fill out the survey online, on paper, or other formats.For Fixed Route* Service/Riders: https://forms.office.com/r/dNpusYUXRg👉To fill out using PAPER or ALTERNATIVE formats call or email EMTA at emtamedia@ride-the-e.com or 814-459-8922 ext. 211.
For LIFT Service/Riders: https://forms.office.com/r/XSG0V1k2NL
The survey deadline is February 14. 2026.
*Fixed Route buses (the "regular buses") use a specific, routes and operate on a set schedule.
I don't normally use a cane but I have started using one to help me in snowy conditions These photos were taken in downtown Erie during the Thanksgiving storm of 2024. I am just telling you how it worked for me, everyone is different, and you need to judge for yourself if this makes sense.
I found I could use the cane to reach across large mounds of snow to push the crossing signal. This mound in front of the Post Office was way to big to reach across, and would have required that I crawl across a little, but with the cane I was able to easily reach it.
from LehighValleyNews.com | By Tom Shortell
"It remains to be seen whether smaller authorities such as LANTA, Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority and Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority will receive packages similar to what SEPTA and PRT have secured. https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/transportation-news/with-no-transit-deal-looming-lanta-eyes-capital-funds-to-avoid-cuts
Pittsburgh Regional Transit turns to Pa. fund to avoid service cuts during budget impasse
From Pennsylvania Capital Star/WESA
"The move makes it possible for the transit system to avoid a 35 percent service cut and a fare hike of 9%." https://penncapital-star.com/government-politics/pittsburgh-regional-transit-turns-to-pa-fund-to-avoid-service-cuts-during-budget-impasse/
Cuts, fare hikes, canceled expansions: How failed Pa. transit funding talks could affect small systems by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09/transit-systems-small-financial-struggle-pennsylvania-budget-capitol/
from WRFA Radio
'The Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development, in collaboration with the Chautauqua County Health Department and CHQ Transit are encouraging local residents to use the county’s public transportation system – CHQ Transit – or an alternative mode of transportation other than their personal motor vehicle that week.
'A “Bingo Card” has been created to inspire creative ways to get moving throughout the week. Each day will also highlight a different “theme” with Friday, May 16, focusing on riding a bike to work or school. Bingo Cards, themes and event details will be added on the Chautauqua County Events page.,
Read more:
https://www.wrfalp.com/active-transportation-week-set-for-may-12-18/
Public comments: Thoughts and suggestions on handling mega storms in future from Erie City Council meeting 12-18-2024: Freda 11:05, Devin 1:20:24, Matt 1:23:37, Marty 1;36:01, Paige 1:40:22, Katie (1:47:24). Also, former Erie city councilman Michael Keys made recommendations immediately after Buffalo's 2022 storm.
EMTA SEEKS FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY WITH SURVEY
Erie, PA- The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority is seeking feedback from the community to continue improving its services with a digital survey.
The results of the current survey will allow EMTA to measure the impact their efforts for improvement have had on the community. This feedback will help guide the EMTA team in the direction they need to take moving forward.
The EMTA administered surveys in 2023 and 2024 to establish a baseline in several areas, such as the public’s satisfaction with the quality of the buses, safety, usability, marketing, and general rider information.
“Public transit has an impact on everyone in the community, weather you see it or not,” says Sarah Morrison, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the EMTA. “We want to determine the influence EMTA has on the community at large, so it is important for as much participation in the survey as possible. We encourage everyone take the survey, even if you are not an EMTA rider.”
EMTA asks all community members to complete the short, anonymous survey by February 14th. A link to the survey can be found on the website or Facebook page. Visit ride-the-e.com for more information.
News story from YourErie (JET/FOX66) "
Julie Slomski, the Port Authority’s executive director, said the authority hopes to generate enough proposals to “move forward with the taxi this summer.”
"The authority will accept proposals through Feb. 6. "
~~~~~
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
***Begin message taken from PennDOT Customer Care Center page***
PennDOT Customer Care Center
Concerns about state-owned roadways can be made through the Customer Care Center by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD or online at https://customercare.penndot.pa.gov/
Submissions are not monitored outside of normal business hours, which are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1. For urgent issues, call the associated PennDOT County Office.
Since Greyhound was sold in 2021, the Greyhound passenger experience has deteriorated considerably. Although they still service Erie, they permanently moved out of the Intermodal Center in 2022 without even telling landlord EMTA what they were doing.
A Nashville TV station recently did an investigation on the situation, and in their November 18th report they share comments from a Greyhound driver, as well as the awful response from regulating agencies.
Intercity bus service is important to a lot of people, and to the country as well. Understood that the pandemic would have caused some problems but the new Greyhound owners need to be held accountable for some really irresponsible and negligent behavior.
~~~
Greyhound responds to FOX 17 News for the first time since passenger complaints by Kaitlin Miller WZTV November 18th 2024 Updated Tue, November 19th 2024 https://fox17.com/news/local/greyhound-responds-to-fox-17-news-for-the-first-time-since-passenger-complaintsI took EMTA's Presque Isle Express last Saturday. I visited Beach 8, which I can't ever remember ever spending any time at. I have never been into hanging out at the beach, and this is a really "beachy" area. But it was a gorgeous day and the lake was beautiful. I wanted to check out a few things, especially related to accessibility, here you go.
Click on photos to enlarge
Concrete ramp and deck at east end of Beach 8, near lifeguard chair.
Sign heading east toward Beach 7: cars etc. stay left, pedestrians & bikes stay right.
Other areas on Park:
Accessibility at Waterworks area at Presque Isle July 31, 2022 A couple years ago wrote about accessibility at the Waterworks/Cookhouse/Beach 7 area a couple years ago, if you want that sort of into:
Beach 11: Quick look at Accessibility posted on Facebook June 2023. I checked this out because EMTA Presque Isle Express was running a bus shuttle to the Wednesday concerts at this beach.
More Presque Isle info:
Accessible Erie: Presque Isle State Parke from Accessible Erie A project of Voices for Independence
The pandemic started four years ago. Here are some little vignettes and observances I scribbled from time to time, mostly during the first three months. These are all true, and pretty much as I wrote them except for editing for clarity. The ones here pretty much take place around transit situations, mainly because that's where I ended up having to time to jot them down. I think most happened between March and May of 2020, other than that I didn’t keep track of dates.
At the bottom there is a link for photos.
TP TRIUMPH
Waiting for the bus out of North East this morning. A guy waiting with me has a brand new 12-pack of toilet paper. He scored it at Sanders Market on his way to the stop, and is really feeling triumphant, except that he has to visit his doctor in Erie and now he'll be dragging that pack of TP around to his errands till the next bus into North East. I joke that he might make some friends when they see the prize he's carrying. "Oh hell with them!" he said angrily. I said you know I was just joking right? We exchanged a couple more empty shelf stories and then the bus came.
SHE GOT A CARD
"I got a card! I got a card!"
I'm standing at 10th and French and a 60-ish woman sitting in a rollator walker is sucking on some weed.
"That lady saw me pull this out and she took off around the corner" she chuckles pointing in the lady's direction. "I don't care! I got the card I got the card"
I guess that means it's legal medicinal weed. My main concern is it really reeks. Also, when people exhale weed or vape they shoot their breath out. Ugh. I move away, card or not.
INTERMODAL
I had to stop at the Intermodal Center, which houses EMTA customer service and the Greyhound station. Today things are deserted. I was hungry so I went to the snack machine and pulled out my little jar of alcohol and wiped down the buttons on the machine and then wiped down the packaging on my snack
I waited over by the Little Library box painted like an EMTA bus, completely empty now, probably for health reasons, all those hands browsing through books.
UNHOUSED
stuff on different days:
Coming into downtown in the early morning, unhoused people suddenly more visible, especially since nobody else on the streets.
~~~
Some released from prison due to COVID. Not all, they have to meet criteria like nonviolent crimes.
~~~
A guy who had just been released from Erie County Prison was taking the Route 27 to the Interstate, where he said someone was waiting to pick him up. He had been panhandling for bus fare.
~~~
A lady says she is struggling so i give her a couple dollars. I don't know her housing status.
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Some services closed for those without housing.
~~~
People avoiding handling money so not a lot of spare change for panhandling.
~~~
Many come to bus shelters. Sometimes not so polite about it, being territorial about the benches.
9th & PEACH
Various days:
May 26 (?) 1137am 9th & Peach the two benches are full of "the regulars," ie, people who aren't exactly waiting for the bus. Some unhoused, some not.
I am standing at the north end of the benches, looking toward W. 10th so I'll be ready for my bus. An annoying man sitting at the south end sees me looking in that direction and says "what are you looking at?!" I said I was watching for the bus to turn. "There ain't no buses come here!" he says angrily..
An elderly man with a beard looks up from his book and calmly advises me, "Best thing is to have a loss of hearing so you don't have to listen to that garbage."
~~~
I want to check on a fellow I knew since he was a kid. I'll call him Skip. He often lives on the streets. I go to the 9th & Peach, as I’ve seen him hanging out there before. They tell me he has gone to relieve himself and will be back in a bit. They then start trading reviews of the places to go when nature calls, since many places with indoor bathrooms are closed up. I feel safe in saying most people living on the street prefer using an actual restroom or privy instead of hunting for a spot. I want to make sure to point that out so you understand the next entry is not making sweeping generalizations.
~~~
The situation at the 9th & Peach stop had really become an issue. I decided I would call Health Department next day and explain there was a public health situation at that stop. I will spare you the details, but someone(s) was using the area at and around the bench to as a bathroom. I didn't understand because I thought that the Upper Room had set up of a couple of Porta johns, and that was only a very short block away from the bench, but who knows the situation. Turned out I didn't need to contact the Health Department because the 9th & Peach benches had been completely removed overnight (?) and the area cleaned up. I didn't see this type of situation anywhere else during that time.
SOUP NUTSY
Waiting at the 10th & French stop and the seats are all taken. An odd young man who is eating some take-out tells me to stay away from his soup. I said what the hell do I want with your soup. At first I thought he was accusing me of being a soup thief but I really think he was telling me not to breathe on it. The nerve! He was not a rider, just using the bench to eat his takeout and crowding out actual riders. It was nice out and there were other places downtown to sit down and eat, but he had to come here and be rude. If riders need to sit they can only do it at a bus bench, non-riders could sit anywhere else. [as the pandemic wore on, I became more outspoken toward non-riders being rude like this at bus stop benches.
SO FAR SO GOOD
Six feet apart on the bus, wearing a mask. So far everyone seems to be cooperating.
COMING BACK
Ridership has gone down, laid off drivers worried about their jobs. Company offers free rides for month of August to get people back on buses.
Riders coming back slowly.
AC rage: A free rider who was just there for the air conditioning became angry because the driver had opened the windows so that the air would circulate (to lower viral concentration). Rider went up and down the aisles angrily slamming windows closed and demanding AC.
Some photos from first year of pandemic (2020)
Mostly transit-related. Click to enlarge
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| Empty bike racks at Wal-Marts, due to supply issues from China |
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| Schedules were trimmed due to loss of ridership |
