Passengers catching a Greyhound bus in Erie, will no longer have to wait outside.
 
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis and the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) to temporarily reopen the Greyhound bus terminal.
 
"With the winter weather fastly approaching this weekend, we had to do something sooner than later," said EMTA CEO Jeremy Peterson.  " Out of humanity and dignity and just respect for human beings, being outside in the cold, it's not a way to be."
 
The bus station had been closed to customers and bus drivers since May, after Greyhound removed its staff members from the Intermodal Center location.
 
Ever since, passengers have been unable to access the lobby and restroom.
 
"There's a lot of things that could go wrong for somebody not able to get out of the cold," said Davis.  "It's just the right thing to do."
 
The building is owned by the EMTA and leased to Greyhound.
 
"They are still paying rent, they are still renting the space," said Peterson.  "We're hoping that at some point in time, the more pressure we add, put on them, that maybe they will man the window again, get someone here in person."
 
In the meantime, the county will lend its security service from the Blasco Library to help monitor the building.
 
"This is going to send a message to Greyhound that you have a responsibility to take care of your ridership," said Davis.  "We're willing to make sure that people are safe, they are secure, and they are warm through this cold season."
 
The building will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week, as the county and EMTA work on a permanent solution.
 
"It's just basic humanity," said Davis.  "We're going to work with Greyhound and come to a permanent

 

solution to make sure that the people who are coming here to this station are able to use these facilities as they are paying for the ticket to be able to do so."