Bronxites, Advocates Urge NYSDOT To Enhance Public Input Process for Cross Bronx Enviro Review

BRONX, NY (11/13/2025) (readMedia)-- Yesterday, 21 community and advocacy groups sent a letter urging Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Transportation to lead an equitable public input process for the Cross Bronx 5 Bridges Project's incoming environmental review phase. Governor Hochul and NYSDOT are gearing up to invite Bronxites to review the impacts of two versions of the last remaining build option for the state's $900-million project. But for the 64,000+ residents living along the sited project area who have long faced barriers to participation and have diverse language needs, reviewing a lengthy and highly technical document is no easy task, especially with the upcoming holiday season.

Read the full letter and list of signatories here or below.

In the letter, community leaders foreground the communities burdened by decades of toxic emissions as a result of Robert Moses' racist urban planning. They urge state officials to rightsize their approach to the review process and maximize public participation among all residents living with the Cross Bronx's daily impacts: "Ensuring that all residents have the time and tools to participate meaningfully in the review process would help NYSDOT uphold the CLCPA's charge to avoid disproportionate impacts on Disadvantaged Communities and support stronger, community-driven outcomes for Bronx residents."

The signatories request that NYSDOT make the following enhancements:

• Extend the public comment period to 90 days to ensure adequate time for review and meaningful community feedback
• Provide live Spanish interpretation at all meetings, translate all planning materials, and cover translation needs for speakers of additional languages including French, Arabic, and Bangla
• Provide a virtual hearing option to engage residents
• Invest in targeted paid advertising and digital media campaigns to promote engagement in the comment process for Spanish-speaking communities and Bronx residents at-large

In October, Governor Hochul and NYSDOT heeded community concerns and scrapped plans to build a new, mile-long polluting roadway that would have increased pollution and sickness for the borough. After agreeing to "work with the community at every step in the process," state and city agency representatives recently joined the Bronx River Alliance, Assemblymember Emérita Torres, and Borough President Gibson for a roundtable to identify forward-thinking improvements for the Cross Bronx corridor.

November 12, 2025

Hon. Kathy Hochul

Governor, New York State

NY State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

Hon. Marie Therese Dominguez

Commissioner, New York State Department of Transportation

50 Wolf Road, 6th Floor

Albany, NY 12232

Re: Request for Enhanced Public Input Process - NYS DOT Cross Bronx 5 Bridges Project Environmental Assessment

Dear Governor Hochul and Commissioner Dominguez,

On behalf of the Bronx community, we write today to respectfully request several enhancements to the upcoming public input process for the Cross Bronx 5 Bridges Project environmental assessment. With up to 64,000 local residents living along the sited project area, this project will profoundly impact our infrastructure and our neighborhoods - after decades of enduring the outsized health and environmental consequences of Robert Moses' racist urban planning. As a result of that planning, the project corridor is now home to numerous state-identified Disadvantaged Communities, which under Section 7(3) of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) are guaranteed protections from agency actions that would disproportionately burden them. While we greatly appreciate your commitment to planning alongside our community, it is imperative that the review process is truly accessible to all concerned Bronxites.

At a time when environmental justice is under attack nationwide, city and state officials have a duty to ensure that all infrastructure projects currently undergoing environmental review receive the proper attention and support they deserve. The State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requires NYSDOT to consider whether the project may cause or increase a disproportionate pollution burden in Disadvantaged Communities, regardless of whether or not federal law or regulations require the same of federal partners.

For working families and caretakers in the Bronx balancing busy lives and a variety of barriers, planning for a project of this scale can be remarkably time consuming. Ensuring that all residents have the time and tools to participate meaningfully in the review process would help NYSDOT uphold the CLCPA's charge to avoid disproportionate impacts on Disadvantaged Communities and support stronger, community-driven outcomes for Bronx residents. Participation in planning for essential infrastructure upgrades should not come at the expense of community members' livelihoods or familial, religious or cultural commitments.

Bronxites deserve a genuine opportunity to participate in the decisions that will shape our neighborhoods and affect our health and wellness for generations to come - starting with the future of the Cross Bronx. Right now, New York has the chance to demonstrate a commitment to the Bronx in ways no other administration has, and to strengthen this once-in-a-generation infrastructure project by considering and incorporating the wealth of knowledge the Bronx community has to offer.

We are calling on you to exemplify inclusive 21st century leadership by conducting a fair and accessible public review process. To reach as many stakeholders as possible and maximize participation during the environmental review - and to make this process a model of equitable, community-centered planning that aligns with Section 7(3)'s directives - our community requests that NYSDOT commit to the following measures:

• NYSDOT should extend the public comment period to 90 days to ensure adequate time for review and meaningful community feedback. The 45-day period is insufficient for working families to thoroughly review complex technical documents, consult with neighbors, and formulate substantive responses. This is even more essential given the comment period is expected to overlap with multiple holidays and time of the year when schools are closed and many have familial and other commitments.
• At a minimum, NYSDOT should provide live Spanish interpretation at all meetings and translate all planning materials. Additionally, NYSDOT should assess and cover translation needs for speakers of additional languages other than English, such as French, Arabic, and Bangla to serve our community's diverse linguistic profile.
• Virtual Hearing: Given the scale of the project, NYSDOT should provide a recorded remote video conference option for residents to be informed and engage in this $900M project. Given the scale, impact, and precedent of this project, there must be an accessible option for engagement in the comment period, and all meetings should include accessibility features.
• NYSDOT should invest in paid advertising and digital media campaigns to promote engagement in the comment process targeted specifically to Bronx residents and Spanish-speaking communities. Passive notice to only the minimum degree required by law is insufficient - active, effective, and culturally competent outreach is essential to inform community members about opportunities to participate.

By proactively engaging Bronx residents through targeted, accessible outreach, NYSDOT can set a statewide example of how to fulfill the vision of equitable participation in Disadvantaged Communities.

These requests represent basic standards for equitable community engagement in the 21st century. As the Bronx plans for the future of the very Expressway that has harmed generations, we must ensure that the people living with its daily impacts have a meaningful voice in the process.

Taking these steps will not only build trust and transparency, but also demonstrate NYSDOT's commitment to CLCPA and SEQRA compliance - ensuring that major infrastructure decisions improve, rather than add to, the burdens historically faced by Bronx communities. A thorough, accessible environmental review will strengthen this project's foundation, and build community support, ensuring it moves forward with the legitimacy and backing it needs to bring lasting change.

We look forward to NYSDOT's commitment to these essential measures, and to working collaboratively throughout the environmental review process.

Respectfully,

Siddhartha Sánchez

Executive Director, Bronx River Alliance

Ben Furnas

Executive Director, Transportation Alternatives

Laura James

Garden Manager, Bronx River Community Garden

Akia Squitieri

Executive Director, Bronx River Art Center

Tiffany-Ann Taylor

Vice President for Transportation, Regional Plan Association

Leticia de Mello Bueno

Activism Lead, Patagonia UWS/Patagonia NYC

Charmaine Ruddock

Director, Bronx Health REACH

Melissa Bosley

Senior Organizer & Ops Manager, South Bronx Unite

Jaqi Cohen

Director of Climate and Equity Policy, Tri-State Transportation Campaign

Danny Pearlstein

Policy & Communications Director, Riders Alliance

Caroline Chen

Environmental Justice Director, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

Nilka Martell

Founder/Director, Loving the Bronx

Dart Westphal

Board Member, Bronx Council for Environmental Quality (for identification purposes)

Adrian Cacho

Senior Organizer, Open Plans

Jessica Clemente

Executive Director, We Stay/Nos Quedamos, Inc

Dara Illowsky

New York Staff Attorney, Save the Sound

Edmundo Martinez

Co-Founder, Concrete Friends

Wanda Salamán

Executive Director, Mothers on the Move

Reece Brosco

Brownfields Program Manager, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ)

Hunter Armstrong

Executive Director, Brooklyn Greenway Initiative

Kathy Park Price

Director, Advocacy and Policy, New Yorkers for Parks

cc:

Hon. AM Emérita Torres

Hon. AM Karines Reyes

Hon. AM Landon Dais

Hon. AM Amanda Séptimo

Hon. AM Yudelka Tapia

Hon. AM George Alvarez

Hon. Sen. Luis Sepúlveda

Hon. Sen. Nathalia Fernandez

Hon. Sen. Jamaal Bailey

Hon. Sen. José Serrano

Hon. Sen. Gustavo Rivera

Hon. Rep. Ritchie Torres

Hon. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortéz

Hon. Vanessa Gibson, Bronx Borough President

Hon. CM Amanda Farías, Majority Leader, NYC Council

Hon. CM Rafael Salamanca

CM-elect Justin Sánchez

Hon. CM Oswald Feliz

Hon. CM Kristy Marmorato

CM-elect Shirley Aldebol

Hon. CM Diana Ayala, Deputy Speaker

Hon. CM Pierina Sánchez

Hon. Brad Lander, NYC Comptroller

Hon. Jumaane Williams, NYC Public Advocate

Kathryn Garcia, NYS Director of State Operations

David Ullman, NYS Deputy Secretary for Transportation

Rehab5CBEBridges@dot.ny.gov

FHWA Division 11 Administrator, Richard Marquis

Senior Area Regional Engineer, Division 11, FHWA, Mark Granier

Ydanis Rodriguez, NYC Commissioner, Department of Transportation

Ralph Acevedo, District Manager, Bronx Community Board 2

Etta Ritter, District Manager, Bronx Community Board 3

Rafael Moure-Punnett, District Manager, Bronx Community Board 6

William Rivera, District Manager, Bronx Community Board 9

Signatories

BACKGROUND

The New York State Department of Transportation is currently pushing the Cross Bronx "5 Bridges Project," a $900-million plan (including $150 million of federal funding for reconnecting communities harmed by highways) that threatens to exacerbate environmental inequities facing the South Bronx. Despite heeding community concerns and scrapping three of its most noxious plans - including a new mile-long polluting roadway - Governor Hochul and NYSDOT are still considering expanding the Cross Bronx. The Stop the Cross Bronx Expansion Coalition is urging NYSDOT and Governor Hochul to reject their last remaining option, conduct the needed standard bridge repair without expanding the highway, and work with community members toward more equitable, environmentally just solutions for the corridor.

Why Expanding the Cross Bronx Isn't Viable

The Cross Bronx's enormous environmental footprint has only worsened over the years. In the U.S., fossil fuel-powered vehicles are a major source of air pollution and heat-trapping emissions, releasing more than 50% of the nitrogen oxide found in our air. Nearly 150,000 vehicles, including 18,000 trucks, use the Cross Bronx daily, a figure that will increase if State DOT proceeds with its planned expansion. Research shows that expanding a highway leads to more drivers using it and more congestion, meaning that reductions in traffic are erased within a short period.

In 2022, NYSDOT illegally dumped pieces of the roadway directly into the Bronx River after demolishing a Cross Bronx entrance ramp during a similar rehabilitation project. Even if the state files permits, local residents are still concerned that DOT's project may similarly impact the river, under the current "5 Bridges" project. Thanks to sustained remediation efforts, wildlife has slowly returned to the river following the incident, including threatened birds such as herons and dolphins. But during ongoing river clean-ups with local volunteers, residents continue to find construction waste tossed from the expressway into the recovering waterway. State DOT's remaining plan threatens to reverse this hard-won progress and drive worsened air quality, increased pollution, and more chronic illness in an already overburdened community.

Community Alternatives for the Cross Bronx

Since the 1970s, community members have long advocated for investment in safe, dignified, and simple improvements for South Bronx neighborhoods. Residents successfully advocated for the expansion of Starlight Park, which has doubled in size after years of organizing to transform the space into a vital community resource. But existing east-west corridors along the Cross Bronx, including some of its most dangerous intersections on 174th Street, 177th Street, and East Tremont Avenue have been ignored and neglected for decades.

In 2014, City Council awarded NYCDOT the funds to create signalized crossings at five intersections around E 177th St. and E Tremont Ave. Over a decade later, the project still hasn't broken ground, depriving local residents of accessible pathways. The State's planned expansion ignores proposed connections along the highway, in a departure from residents' top priorities. As outlined in the community's visioning process for the Cross Bronx, Bronxites are seeking alternatives that reduce traffic, restore community access to green space, and reconnect riverside neighborhoods along the expressway.

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.

###