Frequently Asked Questions

How can I join the mailing list to receive project updates?

Anyone can sign up for the mailing list by emailing the project team at [email protected].

Project History

How did this project come to be?

The five bridges within the project limits are more than 70 years old and were initially slated for rehabilitation. However, after a reassessment of the bridges, it was determined that additional work would be necessary to address the long term safety of the structures. 

Additional opportunities to enhance safety and mobility were identified within the project limits include improving the vehicular connections between the southbound Bronx River Parkway and the westbound CBE, enhancing safety along the CBE and providing improved access to public transportation, as well as providing new pedestrian and bicycle connections between the communities on both sides of the Bronx River. 

Construction options include utilizing staged construction methods or constructing a traffic diversion structure. Staged construction would involve a longer construction duration. The use of the traffic diversion would lessen construction time by roughly two years and includes sub-options for post-construction community and transportation use of the structure. These options can be viewed on the Reports and Documents page of this site.

Environmental Review Process

How will public comments on the project be considered?

Comments may be submitted to the project team via e-mail and  U.S. mail. While the Department will accept and take into consideration all comments it receives related to the project, a formal comment period will follow the release of the Draft Design Report/Environmental Assessment to the public. During the formal comment period, NYSDOT will hold two public hearings to provide the public with an opportunity to submit written and/or oral comments. Information on the two public hearings will be made available at a later date with extensive outreach planned to ensure the public has ample notice.

All comments are important, and NYSDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will take into consideration all comments received throughout the environmental review process, which will inform the final decision on the project. Substantive comments received during the formal comment period will be responded to in the Final Design Report/Environmental Assessment.

What decisions will come out of the environmental review process?

FHWA and NYSDOT will conclude whether or not the project will result in significant environmental impacts or if an Environmental Impact Statement is required. If it is determined that the project will not result in significant impacts and FHWA and NYSDOT approve the project design, then the project may proceed to the final design and construction phase.

What is NEPA?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a national policy that provides the framework for a decision-making process that considers the effects of federally funded or permitted projects on the built and natural environment. Under NEPA, the lead agencies consider public input about the potential effects of a project on social, economic and environmental conditions. For this project, the FHWA and NYSDOT are the joint lead agencies.

What is an Environmental Assessment (EA)?

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a public document prepared by a federal agency to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed alternatives for a project, which are outlined on this website. The EA is used to determine if a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is needed, or if the proposed alternatives will have no significant environmental impact. The EA is the process outlined under NEPA that evaluates the potential effects of proposed alternatives for a project. It includes the necessary information and analysis to determine whether there are significant environmental impacts for the proposed alternatives.

What type of analysis is being performed as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA)?

NYSDOT is evaluating the project’s potential effects on social, economic and environmental topics, such as traffic, land use, environmental justice, wetlands, surface waters and rivers, floodplains, coastal zones, stormwater management, ecology and wildlife resources, parks and recreational uses, historic and cultural resources, air quality, and noise. NYSDOT is assessing both operational and construction effects.

What is the difference between an Environmental Assessment and an Environmental Impact Statement?

Per federal regulation, an EA is prepared when a project is not likely to have significant effects or when the significance of the effects is unknown. It concludes with either a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or the determination that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. An EIS is prepared when a project is determined to likely have significant impacts and concludes with a Record of Decision (ROD).

Schedule, Cost and Funding

When would the Project begin and how long would construction take?

Once the community engagement process is complete and a project option is selected, construction is expected to start in 2026 and last for approximately 48 months or 72 months (completion in 2030 or 2032) depending on the option selected. The anticipated start of construction may change based on the environmental determination.

Where would the funding come from?

A combination of state and federal transportation funding sources have been identified.

Right-of-Way Acquisition

Would homes or businesses be acquired for construction?

No residences will be acquired for this project. NYSDOT is currently assessing the need to potentially acquire one commercial property between the Amtrak/CSX corridor and Bronx River Avenue for this project.

Air Quality

How is the air quality being analyzed?

Ensuring safe air quality standards within the project’s limits is of paramount importance to the Department. NYSDOT is conducting an air quality analysis to evaluate the potential effects of traffic pattern changes on air quality. This analysis is being conducted using state-of-the-art models developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and in accordance with federal and state procedures. The air quality analysis methodology and results will be documented in the Draft Design Report/Environmental Assessment.

Environmental Justice

What are you doing about environmental justice?

The communities adjacent to the Cross Bronx Expressway largely consist of low income and/or minority (environmental justice) populations.  The effects of the project on these populations will be assessed in the Environmental Assessment (EA).  This assessment will consider existing conditions and burdens; evaluate the potential for the project to result in disproportionate and adverse effects to environmental justice populations; and identify opportunities for the project to provide benefits to these populations. NYSDOT is committed to providing meaningful engagement opportunities with environmental justice populations in the transportation decision-making process for the project, as documented in the project’s drafted Environmental Justice Public Engagement Plan (PEP).

The draft PEP is available on the website on the Reports and Documents page.  Ongoing public engagement activities conducted by NYSDOT for this project have included stakeholder meetings to receive input from community groups and organizations, holding community walk-throughs of the project site, attending community board meetings, and the distribution on of a one-page fact sheet (in both English and Spanish) to interested stakeholders. These engagements will continue throughout the environmental process and over the duration of the project.
 

Reimagining the Cross Bronx Expressway

Is this project related in any way to the efforts to Reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway?

The safety of the traveling public is the highest priority for NYSDOT and these bridges require replacement and rehabilitation to ensure the public's safety. While this project is separate from the ongoing study to Reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway, the bridge work that will be performed does not prevent any future projects that may arise as a result of the study and is foundational to any visioning projects that could progress in this area. NYSDOT looks forward to working directly with residents and stakeholders to ensure the Cross Bronx Expressway serves the needs of the local community.