Bronx Electeds Urge Gov Hochul & State DOT to Stop Ignoring Community's Concerns For Cross Bronx Repairs

BRONX, NY (07/21/2025) (readMedia)-- A dozen Bronx community electeds sent a joint letter urging Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez to listen to impacted Bronx residents and prioritize their needs, as plans move forward for the Cross Bronx "Five Bridges Project." New York State DOT is proposing a $900 million plan to expand the Cross Bronx Expressway - a corridor long linked to public health harms and environmental injustice - with a new, unnecessary highway structure over Starlight Park and the Bronx River.

"As elected representatives of communities along the Cross Bronx expressway corridor, we understand the need to repair the five bridges along the Cross Bronx expressway," the letter states. "... At the same time, Bronx residents and local organizations have made significant efforts, in partnership with government entities, to address and undo the environmental and public health consequences of the Cross Bronx Expressway."

Read the full Daily News story here.

For decades, local residents have suffered disproportionate rates of pollution-driven childhood asthma and heart disease, due to Robert Moses' racist urban planning, which razed communities of color to make room for the expressway in the 1950's. DOT's proposed highway expansion would only compound the Cross Bronx's worst environmental inequities. In the letter, Bronx electeds emphasize that while bridge repairs are urgently needed, the project must also prioritize the voices and health of impacted residents. They request:

• A clear, public timeline for the Environmental Assessment process, including advance notice of hearings.
• At least 60 days for public comment once the draft assessment is released.
• Outreach in both English and Spanish, and full consideration of community-proposed alternatives, including the current traffic diversion plans.

Bronx residents are in favor of alternatives that prioritize essential bridge repairs and pedestrian-friendly improvements without adding more highway infrastructure. Local organizations including the Bronx River Alliance, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, The Point CDC, and nearby residents of NYCHA's Bronx River Houses have all raised concerns about limited public engagement so far, despite the project's significant neighborhood impacts. As members of the Stop the Cross Bronx Expansion coalition, community groups are urging State DOT to consider options that reconnect communities while protecting the air and improving green space, already outlined in the Reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway report.

Read the full letter and list of signatories here.

For questions or more information from the office of Assemblymember Emérita Torres, contact Ramdat Singh, 718-893-0202, singhr@nyassembly.gov.

Letter

July 1, 2025

The Honorable Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor of New York State

NY State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez

New York State Department of Transportation

50 Wolf Road, 6th Floor

Albany, NY 12232

Re: NYSDOT X727.07 / Cross Bronx "Five Bridges Project"

Dear Governor Hochul and Commissioner Dominguez,

As elected representatives of communities along the Cross Bronx expressway corridor, we understand the need to repair the five bridges along the Cross Bronx expressway. At the same time, we also have concerns about the community outreach that has taken place thus far for the project and the impact of some of the project proposals on the community.

This project represents a $900 million public investment, and we want to ensure it achieves the strongest possible outcomes for residents. That includes transparency in the process, adequate time for meaningful community input, and a dialogue about the proposals and their environmental impact. Community residents and local organizations, including residents of NYCHA's Bronx River Houses, the Bronx River Alliance, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ), The Point CDC, and students and faculty from Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom school have shared concerns about the about community outreach and engagement during the current process.

We request the following:

• A clear and public timeline for the Environmental Assessment (EA) process, including the release date of the draft, dates of public hearings, and the final decision.
• A minimum of 30 days' notice prior to any public hearings, communicated in both English and Spanish languages via the project website, email lists, and printed materials.
• At least 60 days for public comment once the draft Environmental Assessment is released, to ensure adequate review and feedback.
• Full consideration of community feedback gathered throughout the process, both before and after the Environmental Assessment (EA) is released. As well as during the public hearing process.
• Full consideration of community-proposed alternatives to the traffic diversion structure.

We understand that infrastructure projects of this scale are complex, and that decisions must balance technical, budgetary, and logistical considerations. At the same time, Bronx residents and local organizations have made significant efforts, in partnership with government entities, to address and undo the environmental and public health consequences of the Cross Bronx Expressway. The Reimagining the Cross Bronx study and the historic restoration of the Bronx River are important examples of this progress.

In closing, we urge you to approach the Five Bridges Project in a way that protects the progress we've made and reflects a genuine commitment to equity, transparency, and community centered planning. I look forward to working with your team to ensure the voices and needs of Bronx residents are central to the development and implementation of this project.

Sincerely,

Assemblymember Emérita Torres

Senator Nathalia Fernandez

Congressman Ritchie Torres

Senator Jose M. Serrano

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander

Senator Gustavo Rivera

Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda

Assemblymember Amanda Séptimo

Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia

Majority Leader Councilmember Amanda Farias

Assemblymember Landon Dais

Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr.

About Bronx River Alliance: The Bronx River Alliance serves as a coordinated voice for the river and works in harmonious partnership to protect, improve and restore the Bronx River corridor so that it can be a healthy ecological, recreational, educational and economic resource for the communities through which the river flows.

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Posted Monday July 21, 2025 at 11:37 am by Bronx River Alliance
Last Updated Monday July 21, 2025 at 03:34 pm