Highway boondoggle in Erie will cut off communities from the Lake Erie waterfront

On September 8, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center Deputy Director Ashleigh Deemer joined local leaders in Erie, PA to release Highway Boondoggles 7: Wasting infrastructure funding on damaging and unnecessary road projects. The report calls attention to wasteful proposed highway projects across the country, including the expanded Erie Bayfront Parkway proposal, which is expected to increase air and climate pollution. At the same time, the proposed plan will make it harder for Erie residents to walk and bike to the Lake Erie waterfront.

The U.S. spends upwards of $26 billion each year to add to our already sprawling highway network. Spending could grow with the 2021 passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is expected to invest $350 billion in highway programs.

In her press statement, PennEnvironment’s Ashleigh Deemer noted, “Every time we spend money on infrastructure, we have an opportunity to re-envision the future. We should not invest in highway boondoggles that both exacerbate our pollution and global warming problems, and make it harder for local residents to walk and bike. The projects that we choose to invest in should be ones that are going to make our lives better and help us transition away from polluting cars and trucks.” 

Erie residents have been fighting for better pedestrian and bike infrastructure for years. 

Opponents to Bayfront Parkway Project voice their concerns https://t.co/kEAUMqMwX9

— JET/FOX/YourErie.com (@JET24FOX66) September 8, 2022

Our report release was warmly met by the Erie media, with news stories on Erie News Now / WICU TV, YourErie.com / Fox 66, and Talk Erie Radio. 

Planned Additions for Bayfront Parkway Causes Controversy https://t.co/hLnQztJcJd

— Erie News Now (@ErieNewsNow) September 8, 2022

Earthjustice, representing the NAACP – Erie and Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture), have taken legal action to ensure that the project complies with cornerstone federal environmental laws. 

Get the full Highway Boondoggles 7 story on Erie’s Bayfront Parkway redesign and other wasteful highway projects across the country.