Phase 3 of the reconstruction of Grand Concourse in the Bronx is completed, as announced on Aug. 11 by the City’s departments of transportation (DOT), design and construction (DDC) and environmental protection (DEP), along with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Council Member Vanessa Gibson and advocates.

The boulevard is a “Vision Zero” priority corridor as well as one of the four “Great Streets” identified and prioritized by the de Blasio Administration for significant infrastructure and safety improvements.

Approximately 3,000 New Yorkers are seriously injured and more than 200 are killed each year in traffic crashes. Being struck by a vehicle is the leading cause of injury-related death for children under 14, and the second leading cause for seniors. Vision Zero is a citywide initiative that operates first and foremost around the belief that this is unacceptable.

The $26 million project reconstructing the Grand Concourse completely rehabilitated eight blocks of the thoroughfare from 171st Street to 175th Street. Safety enhancements included rebuilding roadways, curbs, sidewalks, replacing street lighting and traffic signals and adding new pedestrian safety features such as curb extensions and new wider medians.

“We are excited to announce another milestone in our Great Streets program – this time for Phase 3 along the historic Grand Concourse,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Over the years, DOT has lowered the speed limit on this corridor, created a campaign to reduce drunk driving, and now we are thrilled to unveil these amazing new safety enhancements. Thanks to our federal and state partners, as well as elected officials, Bronxnites will now get to enjoy these quality of life changes such as easier commutes, safer crossings, brighter streets, and enhanced scenery.”

Since implementation of the Vision Zero program in 2014, Grand Concourse from 161st Street to Fordham Road has seen a significant decrease in traffic related injuries and fatalities. Between 2014 and 2017, the total number of injuries were reduced from 286 to 210, of which serious injuries decreased from 28 to four. There were two fatalities in 2015, a drop compared to the 8 fatalities reported in the previous years.

Between 2013 and 2017, the portion of Grand Concourse which has been renovated under Phase 3 of the program saw 176 injuries and 2 deaths. Construction for this phase began in December 2017 and was managed by DDC for DOT. Phase 4 of the reconstruction of Grand Concourse, extending from 175^th Street to Fordham Road began in April and is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2023.

“Investing in new water mains and drainage infrastructure along the Grand Concourse will help to ensure reliable service and safer streets for the residents and businesses of the Bronx for many decades to come,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “We thank our partners at DDC for completing this important work and communicating with the community throughout the duration of the project.”

Work also included over 34,000 square yards of repaved roadway on both the main and service roads. More than 95,000 square feet of sidewalk was replaced and 12,750 feet – or almost 2.5 miles – of curbs were restored.

As part of the program, new, wider landscaped and planted medians were added to decrease pedestrian crossing time. New curb extensions, bollards, and high-visibility crosswalks were installed to further enhance pedestrian safety. In addition, the existing bike lane was relocated to the lane adjacent to the median to reduce conflicts between bikes and pedestrians, cyclists weaving, and to improve traffic flow.

Sixteen trees were removed in the project area, many in poor condition, and were replaced with 35 new trees, for a net gain of 19. Fifty-one streetlights were restored with new LED light poles. Thirty-three pedestrian ramps were replaced and 23 new ones were installed. A total of 329 feet of sewers and water mains were also restored, along with 11 catch basins to improve drainage.

Notable funding for this phase of the project comes from the de Blasio Administration, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration.

“The Grand Concourse reconstruction project looks to the future of The Bronx by improving the functionality and overall appearance of a major transportation artery and encouraging the community to use the space in new ways,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “It’s important that Bronxites traveling the Concourse by foot or bicycle feel safe because these methods of transportation are low- to no-cost and environmentally friendly, along with the added health benefits which come from regular exercise and fresh air. I thank the New York City Department of Transportation, the NYC Department of Design and Construction and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for partnering with me to build a better Bronx for this generation and the next.”

“I commend the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) on the completion of Phase 3 of the reconstruction of Grand Concourse in the Bronx,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat. “This is a significant update that will have a tremendous impact and safety benefits to area residents and pedestrians.”

“As a Bronxite, I have never been more proud to see the progress that we as a borough have made throughout the course of the ‘Great Streets’ program.” said Assembly Member Victor Pichardo. “Their redesigns included better and efficient lighting, greener paths, safer bike lanes, and expanded sidewalks. As we continue to see the ongoing transformation of the Grand Concourse, I want to thank Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., the De Blasio Administration, NYS Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration for showing their commitment to keeping New York City residents safe, all the while improving the quality of life of all my neighbors.”

The Great Streets program redesigns major corridors across the city in efforts to reduce crashes, enhance mobility, increase accessibility, and bolster neighborhood vitality. To learn more details about the Great Streets program, please visit the following link: https://www.nycdotplan.nyc/transform-high-crash-arterial-roads-vision-zero-great-streets

As reported previously by Norwood News, a separate bus renovation project is also underway in the Bronx. More information about the Bronx’s 149th Street bus project can be accessed by clicking on the following link for the latest presentation.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.