NY Democratic gubernatorial candidate H. Carl McCall called on Governor George Pataki last week to require that the state transportation department study the option of taking down the Sheridan Expressway as a part of its Bruckner-Sheridan interchange environmental review process.  McCall also urged that removal of the Sheridan be studied in his June “Plan to Rebuild New York.” 

McCall included his statement on the Sheridan in a broader plan to promote clean air in the South Bronx.  Other elements are reducing emissions from a sludge plant and removing emergency electric generators in the Mott Haven and Port Morris neighborhoods.

Both candidates for New York’s September 10 Democratic primary have said removal of the Sheridan Expressway in favor of open space along the Bronx River or other community uses should be included in all DOT studies for the Bruckner-Sheridan interchange.

In March, Andrew Cuomo urged the state DOT to study the Sheridan’s removal (MTR #356). “The State DOT should include in its upcoming environmental impact study a serious and thorough review of the community-based proposal to decommission the Sheridan Expressway, provide more green space, and provide a viable alternative to address the flow of traffic over the expressway,” Cuomo said.

Community groups and transportation reformers broached the issue of removing the 1-mile, little used Sheridan Expressway in 1998.At that time, state plans to rebuild the Bruckner/Sheridan interchange at a cost of $245 million (MTR #178) were becoming more widely known.  The groups subsequently proposed a new Bruckner interchange at Leggett Avenue to improve truck access to Hunts Point Market and reduce truck trips on residential streets.

The NY State DOT says the Bruckner-Sheridan EIS process will begin this fall.

Campaign websites:

Andrew Cuomo
H. Carl McCall
George Pataki

Cuomo Would Study Sheridan Removal (March 11, 2002)

Bronx River Greenway Extended
(April 29, 2002)

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