Loving The Bronx Co-Founder Nilka Martell Speaks In Front Of The West Farms Bus Depot In Opposition To A State Plan To Build Additional Roadways During The Repair Of Five Bridges On The Cross Bronx Expressway.

Borough coalitions unite against Cross-Bronx Expansion Project

A coalition of community and advocacy groups is opposing a $900 million project to repair five bridges along the Cross Bronx Expressway, arguing that the additional lanes would increase air pollution and stormwater runoff. U.S. Reps. Ritchie Torres and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are also against the project, which they believe should have more local input. The state Department of Transportation says they are committed to engaging with the community and no decisions will be made without public input. The project, which aims to address the environmental and health impacts of the highway, faces criticism for not exploring alternative solutions such as capping parts of the highway. Rep. Torres, who initially supported the plan, changed his stance after realizing the state’s true intentions. Students from a nearby high school also expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the project.

The Five Bridges Project on the Cross Bronx Expressway has sparked controversy with a coalition of Bronx community and advocacy groups opposing the $900 million plan. Led by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the project aims to repair five bridges on the expressway and introduce a multi-modal connector to enhance traffic flow and create permanent lanes for buses, bikes, and pedestrians. Despite a $150 million federal grant backing the project, concerns have been raised about potential air pollution and stormwater runoff resulting from the additional lanes.

The coalition, comprising organizations like the Bronx River Alliance, Transportation Alternatives, Riders Alliance, and Bronx Community Board 6, is urging the governor to reconsider the plan and explore bridge repair alternatives that do not involve constructing new lanes. Their opposition intensified following a letter from U.S. Reps. Ritchie Torres and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressing strong disapproval of the project’s direction and emphasizing the need for local community involvement in major infrastructure initiatives.

Constructed in 1963 by Robert Moses, the Cross Bronx Expressway has long been criticized for dividing Bronx neighborhoods and contributing to air pollution and asthma rates, notably in the South Bronx. Advocates, including Nilka Martell of Loving The Bronx, have been advocating for alternatives like capping portions of the expressway to mitigate noise and pollution while fostering community cohesion. The coalition is also awaiting the completion of a $2 million feasibility study, facilitated by Torres and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, to explore reimagining the highway.

Despite initial support for the project, Torres has shifted his stance due to concerns about the state’s transparency and the potential negative impacts of the new lanes on Bronx residents. He emphasized the importance of honesty in the decision-making process and called for a more inclusive approach to finding alternatives to the current plan. Additionally, students from Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School voiced their concerns about the environmental and health implications of the project, highlighting the need for community empowerment and engagement in shaping infrastructure developments.

In response to the opposition, the state Department of Transportation reiterated its commitment to engaging with local stakeholders and emphasized that public input would be considered throughout the project’s phases. With a tentative construction timeline of four years, the project is slated to commence next year, pending further discussions and feedback from the community. As discussions continue, the fate of the Five Bridges Project remains uncertain, with calls for a more collaborative and transparent decision-making process to address the concerns raised by Bronx residents and advocates.

Source: TheCity.NYC

 

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