A portion of the Hudson River Greenway. Image Credit: NYC DOT.
For the first time in nearly 30 years, the city is developing a plan to expand and fill gaps in greenways across all five boroughs. On August 22, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced that New York City has received a $7.5 million grant from the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program that will be dedicated to plan for a major expansion of the greenway network citywide.
Back in June, the City Council’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure considered a bill that would mandate establishment of a “vision plan” to shape future greenways projects and track usage trends. Greenways, as defined in the proposed legislation as “linear open space developed as right of way for recreational pedestrian use or non-motorized vehicle use,” encourage sustainable transportation like bicycling, connect parks, and provide communities with access to greenery and open space. Moreover, the expansion of greenways will aim to benefit historically underserved, lower-income communities by delivering access to recreational public space and avenues of affordable transportation.
The vision plan will be a collaboration between NYCDOT, the Department of Parks and Recreation (NYCDPR), and other relevant city departments and agencies. It builds on prior investments by Mayor Adams and the administration to improve existing greenways in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Part of the vision plan will include generating and reporting on a comprehensive map of such routes. Expanded access to affordable transportation is also hoped to provide expanded access to jobs. The vision plan will include a process of community engagement to determine an estimated five “Early Action” areas for greenways across the city, in addition to soliciting input on where additions to the greenway network can be most beneficial and where critical gaps can be filled.
“All New Yorkers deserve access to our beautiful greenways, and we’re making that happen thanks to millions in federal funding,” said Mayor Adams.
DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated, “This funding will help New York City build out our world-class greenway network to support the booming cycling ridership we’ve seen during the pandemic.”
“This grant opportunity from USDOT RAISE will help combat major issues communities of color have been facing with real, thoughtful comprehensive solutions,” said New York City Councilmember Amanda Farías.
Although the RAISE grant has provided funds to expand greenways across the city, the vision plan bill (Int. 0291-2022) is still laid over in committee. CityLand reached out to the office of Council Member Carlina Rivera, the primary sponsor of the bill, to ask about the bill’s status given the federal grant, but have not received a response at this time.
CityLand will continue to provide future updates regarding greenways.
By: Kyle Hunt (Kyle is a CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2024.)
The contrast and hypocracy by NY Legislators is really nauseating.
While a group of legislators in NYC pursue and celebrate greening efforts of public spaces on one side of the street (all in the name of climate change), on the opposite side of the street also on public land NYS DOT bureaucrats and engineers that are cutting, logging and eviscerating dozens of acres of beneficial urban forests, half century old shade trees and ecosystems, when they could be preserved. Such an event just happened August-Sept 2022 in Jamaica Queens, Nassau Expressway in the tree diminishing Boro of Trees as if the forest is replaceable.