PennDOT implements nation’s first statewide real-time public service tracker system

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the Fixed Route Intelligent Transportation System (FRITS) has been fully implemented at 33 transit agencies across the state. FRITS provides real-time service information for passengers, and enhanced transit planning for agencies. Passengers are now able to see their bus and how far away it is from their location at nearly three dozen transit agencies spanning 41 counties across the Commonwealth. 

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Riders can access real time service information including the location of the bus and predicted stop arrival times via the “myStop” smartphone app. Customers can also easily navigate between transit agencies using myStop, which is especially useful for riders in rural areas. For example, a passenger in Lemont Furnace who needs to travel to Greensburg can use myStop and view information for both Fayette Area Coordinated Transit and Westmoreland County Transit to identify which routes to use, where the bus is currently located, and easily plan their route. Additionally, because all agencies have had their routes certified by Google Maps as part of the project, customers can use Google Maps to plan transit routes as well and rest assured that route information is accurate.

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Shapiro saves Philly region's public transit with influx of cash.

Important Milestone: Governor Shapiro flexes $153 Million, Saving SEPTA from a Financial Doom Spiral

the Transit for All PA! Coalition issued the following statement (November 22, 2024)


Today the Transit for All PA! statewide coalition celebrates an important step for transit, with Governor Shapiro’s announcement of an immediate allocation of $153 million from federal highway funds towards transit. The additional $153 million dollars in operations funding is long overdue and will stave off the most imminent funding cliff for SEPTA, Pennsylvania’s largest transit system, which was projected to receive 20% service cuts and 30% fare increases in early 2025 if no action was taken. We are appreciative of Governor Shapiro’s leadership and decisive action to ensure that millions of transit riders, businesses in the Philadelphia region, manufacturers of transit parts across the Commonwealth, and PA residents continue to experience the critical economic and social benefit of a stable, robust transportation network in our state’s largest urban area.

It is important to remember that this is a stopgap measure, to manage the state legislature’s irresponsible delay in developing a sustainable, dedicated transit funding solution. Pennsylvania’s residents will still need the legislature and the governor to pass a long term funding solution in the Spring of 2025.

The Governor’s decision to “flex” highway funding to transit isn’t something that should only happen in an emergency. Other states take advantage of this mechanism in order to keep transit on track- and even expand it- and not merely keep buses, trains, and shared-ride service from the brink of collapse every two decades. It’s also smart policy to allocate a more equitable share of transportation funding to transit. By contrast, the disproportionate amount of funding that our federal government and PennDOT allocates to highway expansion compared to funding transit worsens our infrastructure maintenance debts, deepens our climate crisis, and makes our roads more congested, not less.
Fortunately, the Transit for All PA! coalition is strong and growing, and we will continue to organize for transit funding across the Commonwealth that will keep seniors connected to healthcare, families connected to grocery stores, and neighbors connected to each other.

Our coalition of transit riders and transit workers of Transit for All PA! was key to the Governor’s decision to flex highway funds. Since June’s State Budget negotiations, the coalition has sent more than 6500 emails to legislators and the Governor, 3000 of those were since Monday, November 12th. Our volunteers made 2500 calls to riders all across the SEPTA region not only activating them but educating riders who depend on SEPTA the most. On November 21st, Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a resolution asking the Governor to flex highway funds to prevent a doom spiral and we turned out 25 people for public comment. We showed up to Harrisburg multiple times with hundreds of supporters calling for action. And we delivered our message to every single lawmaker to ensure our voice was heard. The tireless efforts of rider unions and transit advocates, transit workers, environmental organizations, business interests, disability groups, and more ensured that the importance of transit to our state could not be ignored.

We recognize the importance of this milestone, while also being acutely aware that the fight continues to truly fulfill public transit service in Pennsylvania that meets the needs of 21st century communities, one that reduces congestion and protects our environment, one that advances equity in transportation, and one that is frequent, reliable, affordable, clean, and accessible.
Send a Thank-you to Governor Shapiro. Lend your support in reaching a full transit funding solution.

Transit for All PA! is a statewide coalition of transit riders, transit workers, and transit-supportive organizations and businesses. Together, we are working to expand Pennsylvania’s public transit systems to grow our economy and connect more Pennsylvanians to jobs, healthcare, and essential needs. transitforallpa.org

Transit options in and around Erie's tri-state region

Info for transit users in Erie's tri-state region: Ashtabula, Chautauqua, Crawford, Erie, and Warren counties.

Lyft and Uber may not be an option in some locales. Taxi service will vary.

ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO

Ashtabula County Transportation System (ACTS)

425 West 24th St., Ashtabula, OH 44004

440-992-4411 or 800-445-4140

You can pick up paper copy of fixed route schedule and map info in Ashtabula at ACTS 425 West 24th St.; Ashtabula Co. Job & Family Services 2924 Donahoe; or Ashtabula's senior center (ACCOA) 4148 Main Ave.

PDF of schedule with maps  

Administered by Ashtabula County Job & Family Services

Also:

City Taxi Cab & Transfer Co. (440) 992-2156 or (440) 992-2157

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY

CHQ Transit (formerly CARTS) 

234 Hopkins Ave, Jamestown, NY  (716) 665-6466

chqgov.com/carts/CARTS

Facebook "Like" or follow to get updates.

Coach USA Bus, Buffalo/Fredonia/Jamestown  

(info current as of April 2024) For the most up-to-date information, please call Coach USA Erie directly at 814-459-6666. Coach USA offices close  4 p.m. M-F 

Seneca Transit

90 Ohi’yo Way Salamanca, NY 14779
(585) 968-0834 TDD : 712
senecatransit.com.

Facebook "Like" or follow to get updates

2024 Schedule   Interactive Map

"public bus service provided to all area residents. The STS provides transportation between both the Cattaraugus and Allegany territories, with many stops in between."

CRAWFORD, VENANGO & CLARION COUNTIES, PA

Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA)

214 Pine Street, Meadville, PA  (814) 336-5600

catabus.org 

Facebook  "Like" or follow to get updates.

MyStop mobile app  Google Transit 

New Clarion County service 

Serves Crawford and Venango counties. (Also now serving Clarion County as of July 1, 2024) Fixed Route, Shared Ride and Bikeshare

Greyhound serves Meadville in some of its service between Erie and Pittsburgh. 

Hand in Hand   118 Grant St, Franklin, PA (814) 432-4280 "Hand In Hand is one of several contracted agencies to provide transportation services to help fill gaps left in Venango County transportation, such as transportation outside the time frames or geographical areas of the public bus."

Tina's Taxi  724-992-3360 "can pick up anywhere within Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Venango, or Butler Counties."

GG&C Bus Company  Charter service.

ERIE PA 

Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA, The "e")

127 E. 14th Street Erie, PA  (814) 452-2801

ride-the-e.com

Facebook "Like" or follow for updates

Mobile Apps. Trackers, and Rider Alerts   Google Transit

Fixed Route, Paratransit.

Greyhound Erie service 

208 E Bayfront Pkwy, Erie, PA (800) 231-2222

between Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and points beyond. Ticket window permanently closed, pick-up & drop-off at Intermodal Center, tickets sold online.  Lobby and restrooms presently open M-F 8:30am-4:30pm. This Greyhound bus stop connects with EMTA's local service.

Amtrak Lake Shore Limited

125 W 14th St, Erie, PA  (Union Station) 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) 

Service between Chicago and New York/Boston once a day either way. Erie station has a waiting room and service window.  

Lyft and Uber available

Erie International Airport   4411 W. 12th Erie PA  (814) 833-4258

WARREN COUNTY, PA

Warren County Transit Authority (TAWC)

42 Clark St, Warren, PA (814) 723-1874 

tawcbus.com

Facebook "Like" or follow to get updates.
Google Transit 

Warren Taxi Co. (814) 723-2020

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ELSEWHERE

PA public transit options for all PA counties 

All NY counties 

 All Ohio counties

All USA

Erie's Transitway Mall 1973-1993

Erie's Transitway Mall was built in 1973, and demolished in 1993. If you'd like to know more, check out these sources:

Lou Tullio's Transitway Mall  by Debbi Lyon, Old Time Erie Feb. 14, 2014

The Complicated Saga of Downtown Erie's Transitway Mall  Ed Whitbred, B..S. Presentation at Jefferson Educational Society July 19, 2023

Transitway Mall  Erie's History and Memorabilia 

Flashback Friday – April 1993, Demolition of Transitway Mall (YourErie June 2013) 

Transitways   National Association of City Transportation Officials