Intermode-All In

If you build it, $18,000 will come -- such was the premise of the Green Bus Shelter Design Contest sponsored by the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) and the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network. The organizations came together to select one talented individual to build a bus stand that blends both environmentally-friendly technology and artistry. Finalists were judged on the following criteria: elements (is the bus stop a practical place to sit at?), climate (does the shelter keep people out of the weather? A vital part of the equation in Erie), two green features (e.g., solar lighting, recycled materials to build it, rainwater catch basin, etc.), artistic expression, and the ability to be up and running by December 1st.

The wheels on the bus have gone 'round the debate circuit and ultimately stopped at Adam J. Trott's "Intermode-All."  Intermode-All will replace the current shelter on the northwest corner of 18th and State (within the Little Italy neighborhood). The winning design pays homage to Erie's industrial roots, specifically the rail transport of manufacturing materials through the bustling city. Its roof will be constructed from salvaged railroad ties and tracks, with planters nestled in between to add both aesthetic and environmental appeal. Solar-powered lights will illuminate the shelter's entrances after dark, and bike racks fashioned from curved steel rebar will allow passengers to transition seamlessly between transportation modes.

You can check out both Trott's and the runner-up's proposals online at http://www.ssjnn.org/contest.