Last October, the NY State DOT proposed to build a new elevated highway connection between the Bronx River Parkway and the Sheridan Expressway in the West Farms section of the Bronx (MTR 181.) In August, the department released design options that will be used in the upcoming environmental impact study.

According to the NY State DOT, the project's purpose is to boost the use of the Sheridan and decrease accidents and congestion caused by cars backing up behind a light on 177^th Street. The NY State DOT believes that building an elevated ramp is the only way to relieve the bottleneck caused by the traffic light and proposed ten different designs of the ramp. However, community groups, environmental and transportation advocates say that decommissioning the Sheridan Expressway and turning it into a park would have the same transportation benefits while adding to the quality of life of residents in West Farms.

Despite numerous requests by elected officials, community and advocacy groups that the NY State DOT study the Sheridan decommissioning proposal along with its build proposals, the department did not include it as one of the twelve design options in the report. A fact sheet developed by the Campaign and the study request submitted by Assemblyman Diaz, Jr. were part of the document.

The two "preferred options" locate the spur over the MTA's Coliseum bus depot instead of over 177^th Street as first proposed. Although this configuration would decrease some of the long-term impacts of the new highway on people living in apartments along 177^th Street it would not be as beneficial as creating a park.

A public meeting will be held to review comments on the document on September 28th. See calendar.