In continuation with the renaissance of the Bronx, the Department of Transportation announced its new expansion at the Bronx HUB, one of the busiest business areas in the borough.
On Wednesday, October 22, at 3 p.m., a major intersection redesign was unveiled on the corner of E. 149th Street and Willis and Third avenues, allowing an additional 15,000 square feet of walk space where a road once was.
“The redesign of the Hub, a gateway to the Bronx, has created a safer and significantly improved intersection and increased public space in one of the busiest areas of the borough,” noted Borough President, Adolfo Carrion.
The streets were rerouted to reduce congestion that once consumed the area, and a bus only lane was created for MTA and NY transit bus lines. Busses will continue along E. 148th Street to the bus-only route between Willis and Third avenues, while pedestrian traffic travels from E. 148th Street onto Bergen or St. Ann’s avenues.
“This is an outstanding example of how good, responsible planning must prioritize useable public space and practical solutions to traffic congestion and public transportation,” Carrion noted.
The project will continue over the next few years to create a new Robert Clemente Plaza. The east side of Willis Avenue will connect to the existing Robert Clemente Plaza, south of E. 139th Street, introducing a 6,800 square foot plaza for Bronxites and tourists to enjoy.
The Robert Clemente Plaza project was initiated by the Department of City Planning and currently managed by the Department of Design and Construction through the DOT. The project is in compliance with Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC initiatives, a comprehensive sustainability program aimed at reducing gas emissions and carbon footprint throughout NYC.
The entire project encompasses five streets located in the Hub, including E. 152nd and 149th streets, and Willis, Courtland, and Third avenues. The project will additionally be adding 4.8 miles of bike lane.
“They call this place the Hub because it’s a critical commercial and transit nexus for the neighborhood – and for the borough,” said NYCDOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “This redesign brings new public space and increased mobility by making the Bronx’s streets work for transit and pedestrians, which also helps define its neighborhoods and drive its small businesses.”
