New York City and State Unveil Concepts to Improve Connections and Safety Along The Cross Bronx Expressway Ahead of Public Engagement Workshops Next Week

Press Releases

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2024
Contact: (212) 839-4850, [email protected]

New York City and State Unveil Concepts to Improve Connections and Safety Along The Cross Bronx Expressway Ahead of Public Engagement Workshops Next Week

New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today revealed the draft concepts for community improvements of the Cross Bronx Expressway. Officials will discuss the short-, mid-, and long-term improvement concepts at the next round of public engagement workshops alongside the Department of City Planning (DCP), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). This Draft Vision includes concepts that directly address community-identified issues, including highway capping, street safety, accessibility enhancements, bike network connections, Open Streets, and other transit improvements. Corridor-wide policies and program concepts address freight management, health and safety, asthma prevention, and traffic management. In December 2022, New York City and New York state kicked off a landmark study to Reimagine the Cross Bronx. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is funding this study with a $2 million grant as part of the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.

"Today Bronxites can have their voice heard and neighborhood transformed. Today they speak for the past generations who were ignored when construction of the highway destroyed homes and lives," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. "This is a historic opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and reconnect communities once again."

"With community engagement at its core, the concepts being laid out today represent years of state and city partners listening to the communities along the Cross Bronx Expressway who clearly want change," said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. "This visioning exercise is a first step, but it's an important one, as we work to undo the mistakes of the past that divided the community. We are fully committed to the next steps in this study process, which include engaging with the public to develop commonsense transportation solutions that reflect the needs of the Bronx."

"We must seize the opportunity now to reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway, reconnect neighborhoods that have been historically wronged, and advance concepts that will improve the quality of life for Bronx residents," NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "We will continue engaging with the neighborhood and encourage Bronxites to participate and share your thoughts for this once-in-a-generation transformation of this vital corridor."

"These promising concepts are an exciting step forward towards the realization of more cohesive communities and expanded green spaces and the myriad health and safety benefits they bring," said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. "The project is a great example of how New Yorkers can come together to share their stories, brainstorm strategies and identify solutions that ultimately improve health. It provides a vision for a future in which children and families can thrive, especially in areas like the Bronx that historically have not been sufficiently allocated these vital resources."

"For too long, the Cross Bronx Expressway has negatively impacted the communities it runs through. These draft concepts - ranging from highway caps and expanded green spaces to safer streets and noise reduction - can help mitigate these impacts, reconnect communities, and create a healthier and safer borough," said DCP Director Dan Garodnick. "I encourage Bronxites to attend the upcoming workshops to help advance this planning process and make your voices heard."

New Yorkers interested in joining upcoming workshops or finding more information about the collective effort to reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway can find more information online: https://www.crossbronx.info/

Connecting East to West

Pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders find it challenging to connect from the east to west due to the disconnected and irregular street grid. Since all subway lines are oriented north-south, buses are the only option for east-west travel via transit.

To address these challenges, NYC DOT is planning improvements on Tremont Avenue, an important east-west connector that runs parallel to the Cross Bronx Expressway. The team is also considering the addition of bus lanes, busways, camera enforcement, and other bus priority improvements where appropriate. The map below illustrates a conceptual interpretation of these connections with further study required before implementation.

[Link]
Map of potential east-west transit connections along the Cross Bronx corridor

The team is also exploring several upgrades and expansions to the existing bike network. Some of this work could include upgraded bike lanes along Tremont Avenue, Depot Place, connections to Bronx Park, Noble Playground, and Virginia Playground. The Cross Bronx corridor also bisects three greenway systems in the Bronx: the Harlem River Greenway, the Bronx River Greenway and the Hutchinson River Greenway, all of which will be explored for future connections. The map below illustrates a conceptual interpretation of these connections with further study required before implementation.

[Link]
Map of potential east-west cycling connections along the Cross Bronx corridor

Long-term improvement concepts will also be discussed at the upcoming workshops, including the feasibility of highway capping. The team will present 13 locations along the expressway where a highway cap is feasible. Highway capping covers a highway that runs below ground, creating new opportunities to increase public space, connect communities, expand access to green space, increase safety on local streets, lower community exposure to noise and reduce negative effects of a highway. Caps that cover areas longer than a typical block may require a ventilation structure.

Potential Highway Capping Concept: Crotona and Walter Gladwin Parks

A long-term capping concept for Crotona Park to Walter Gladwin Park could add new open space to connect two important neighborhood parks, expanding open space and providing new, safer cycling and pedestrian connections. The highway cap could provide an opportunity to expand Walter Gladwin Park and Crotona Park and improve infrastructure for residents in the densely populated neighboring communities that have been historically underserved and experience health disparities.

[Link]

Potential Highway Capping and Mid-Term Concepts: Hugh J. Grant Circle and Virginia Park

Short and mid-term concepts for the Hugh J. Grant Circle could include a bus and truck priority street, traffic management improvements on local streets, shorter, safer crossings and new bike lanes. These projects provide the opportunity to expand two open spaces, Virginia Playground - through the NYC DOT Open Street and Plaza programs - and Virginia Park - through the highway cap. Other benefits include new open space, restoring north-south connections, providing access to a major transit hub, and improving pedestrian, cyclist and transit rider experiences with safer, shorter connections, new greenery and mitigated noise pollution. The long-term concept includes highway capping, an extended park on the highway cap, and expanded park space, which could build upon the short-and mid-term improvements.

[Link]
[Link]

Corridor-wide Programs and Policies

The study team is working to expand, strengthen, and promote existing programs and policies that help to address issues identified by the community and identify funding to advance new initiatives. Some of those programs include:

• Blue Highways Initiative: Program to activate the robust network of local waterways for the sustainable movement of goods.
• Clean Truck Program: Rebate incentive funding program to reduce diesel exhaust emissions by replacing older, heavy polluting diesel trucks.
• Commercial Cargo Bike Program: Program to support safer, more sustainable, and more efficient last-mile delivery options through cargo bike deliveries.
• Air Quality Education: Building heating and restaurants cause over a third of the air pollution along the Cross Bronx Expressway. There are rules in the NYC Air Code that, if followed, would greatly reduce pollution from those sources.
• Clean Streets and Maintenance of Public Space: Encourage collaboration between the city and local communities to improve waste management, reduce littering and illegal dumping, and improve the maintenance of parks, pathways and other public spaces along the CBE.

"As we move forward with a plan to address the Cross Bronx Expressway, we must acknowledge the historical injustices of environmental racism that have burdened our communities. The poor air quality and health issues faced by Bronx residents are unacceptable," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "We are grateful for the invaluable feedback from our community during the public engagement workshops and look forward to collaborating with the NYC Department of Transportation, Department of City Planning (DCP), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the New York State Department of Transportation to rectify this situation and ensure a healthier, more equitable future for all."

"For too long the people of the Bronx have borne the brunt of the consequences of the Cross Bronx Expressway, which literally split neighborhoods in half and left a legacy of pollution and high asthma rates," said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. "That's why I'm proud I delivered the $2 million federal RAISE grant that funded this community-based study to determine the best solutions and redesign, and ideally cap, the Cross Bronx sustainably and equitably. I personally advocated with Rep. Ritchie Torres, community groups, and local leaders to Secretary Buttigieg to deliver the federal grant needed for this study, and I'm glad to see New York City moving forward with proposals for community improvements."

"The transformation of the Cross Bronx Expressway is a monumental leap toward rectifying the long-standing disparities that have affected our communities. This initiative is not just about modifying a roadway; it's a commitment to the health, safety, and the well-being of every Bronx resident," said State Senator Robert Jackson. "I am energized by the collaboration between the NYC DOT and all involved agencies forging a path to a more equitable, healthier, and interconnected Bronx. Let's continue this vital work to ensure our communities not only recover but flourish."

"Since its completion in the 1950s, the Cross Bronx Expressway has had negative impacts on the health and environment in the South Bronx. The Reimagine the Cross Bronx initiative is a testament to the power of grassroots community activism and partnerships with elected officials and agencies - towards creating a new vision for the communities of the Bronx," said Daniel Ranells, director of programs and operations, Bronx River Alliance. "We look forward to community-created visions and implementations as part of our mission to restore and improve the Bronx River corridor."

"We are encouraged by the release of community-informed draft concepts for improvements around the Cross Bronx Expressway. After decades of negative social and public health impacts, the Bronx deserves full deployment of the most innovative technical solutions for capping everywhere feasible, along with safety enhancements, improved connectivity, accessibility, and traffic management," said Nilka Martell, founder, Loving the Bronx, and Dr. Camelia Tepelus, Executive Director, Morris Park BID. "The concepts presented open new insights into expanded green public spaces and better health outcomes for the communities around the expressway. We thank all city and state partners for their continued responsiveness to community input."

"As a proud partner in this vital project, Fordham University is committed to supporting community-led environmental justice initiatives. Our role in this collaboration underscores the importance of higher education institutions in fostering sustainable practices that directly address the goals of our communities," said Julie L. Gafney, Ph.D., associate vice-president, Fordham University. "By working together with local stakeholders, we can drive meaningful change, enhance public spaces, and promote health equity along the Cross Bronx Expressway. This project represents a significant step towards building a healthier, more connected environment for all and a powerful pathway for higher education to live up to its social responsibility."

"I Challenge Myself is grateful to the NYC DOT for being part of a team that has garnered community feedback leading to draft concepts for community improvements of the Cross Bronx Expressway," said Quentin Ball, executive director, I Challenge Myself. "In particular, ICM is grateful that bike and pedestrian safety remains a top priority with these improvements."

"The Cross-Bronx Expressway is an essential freight corridor for the region and plays a crucial role in managing freight crossing the George Washington Bridge. We appreciate DOT recognizing the need to balance the goals of reconnecting communities while maintaining the safe and efficient movement of goods and services along this vital artery," said Zach Miller, director of metro region operations, Trucking Association of New York. "Not only does this roadmap ensure that truck access remains a key component of the next iteration of the expressway, but DOT is using this as an opportunity to incorporate busways, microhubs, and blue highways where they make sense, which will add greater efficiency to the network."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.