6-17-05
Penn State Behrend Welcomes Completed Bayfront Connector
College is now just six miles from Dobbins Landing on Erie's bayfront
With today's opening of the long-awaited Bayfront Connector, Penn State Behrend effectively changes its location, at least in the minds of the Erie community if not in actual distance.
"In the past, there was no direct route from downtown Erie to Behrend," said Jack Burke, CEO and Dean of the college. "With the Bayfront Connector opening, we now have the direct route that the community both wanted and needed. Now, our campus is just six miles away from Dobbins Landing and downtown Erie."
The Eastside Access Highway project (as it is officially known) dates its origins back to transportation studies from the early-1960s, with construction beginning in 2001. The project crossed Behrend's campus, impacting operations at the college. For instance, the college's child care center was relocated to a new facility built in Knowledge Park, with the old center being razed to make way for the highway. To connect the portions of campus that are separated by the road, a pedestrian bridge was built, allowing safe passage across the highway to foot- and bike-traffic.
With direct access, Burke said he trusts that more people from throughout the Erie community will come to spend time on the 725-acre campus. Along with numerous programs going on throughout the year, such as the current College for Kids and Sports Camps, Penn State Behrend's inspiring and beautiful campus has been named an arboretum and is a member of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta. Self-guided walking tours are available.
"Also, with the quicker commute time, our academic programs will be more attractive to people working downtown," Burke said.
Penn State Behrend is home to 3,700 students who benefit from the opportunities and prestige of a national university set in the atmosphere of a student-centered college. Behrend offers thirty-one baccalaureate majors, five associate degree programs, and two graduate programs. Penn State Behrend is ranked in the top tier of colleges by U.S. News & World Report and has been named a "best value for your tuition dollar" by a nation-wide survey of high school counselors.