Another elevated highway is coming to the Bronx River.
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is planning to expand the Cross Bronx Expressway, adding four new elevated lanes over the Bronx River while it replaces five existing highway bridges. The 5-year construction period of this project will not only cost taxpayers ~$900m and affect a one-mile stretch from Boston Road to Rosedale Avenue. The added lanes would be permanent and would have severe negative impacts on the community and the Bronx River.
We held an info session and have a one-pager available for quick reference.
Based on our experiences with past construction projects taking place along the Bronx River corridor, we highly anticipate the following:
- Poorer air quality and additional noise pollution during construction and the foreseeable future.
- Water pollution from runoff into the river and debris into the river.
- Community access to the parks and the Greenway restricted due to 5 years of construction.
- Lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
Learn more about the project using the resource links at the bottom of the page.
Questions to consider:
- How do we protect our community from more air and water pollution?
- How will this project contribute to OR extract from the neighborhood?
- Do we want a Green transportation future in line with #CapTheCrossBronx?
- Do we want a Bronx with more green spaces, or more cars?
- Does this project make the Cross Bronx bigger and wider?
- NYSDOT calls the added lanes a “community connector,” but why is it designed to highway standards?
- Would this new connector actually benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users?
- Do the connections to parks and neighborhoods make sense?
What can you do?
- Sign the petition to support our coalition.
- Reach out to your elected officials and submit feedback with your concerns.
- If your organization would like to join our coalition letter, let us know! Contact victoria.toro@bronxriver.org to sign on.
Resources
- One Page Project Snapshot
- BxRA Virtual Info Session
- Submitted Letter to NYSDOT
- Press Release: New Report Shows Major State Agencies Violate NY Climate Act
- NYLPI & NY Renews: Flouting the Law CLCPA Report (pages 17-18)
Press
- The City (7/31/24): Local Opposition Grows Against Project to ‘Transform’ Cross Bronx Expressway
- Streetsblog (8/15/24): Boondoggle: State And Feds Are Dumping Yet Another Giant Highway on The Bronx
- Streetsblog (11/5/24): State Now Considering Car-Free Connector Next To Cross-Bronx Expwy Instead of Covert Highway
- Streetsblog (11/18/2024): Reps. Torres, AOC Join to Oppose Hochul Effort to Widen Cross Bronx Expressway
- NY Public Radio (9/20/24): Brian Lehrer Show Segment: “Undoing Robert Moses’ Legacy”
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