New York City is constantly looking for ways to make itself safer and a more convenient place for people to live. By investing money into transportation, roads and others infrastructure, New York offers its residents a beautiful place to live that is overflowing with modern amenities, culture and employment opportunities. Here is a look at just a few of the projects that the city is already moving forward with or is considering in an effort to make New York City an even greater place to call home.
Port Authority Approves Development Funds for Moynihan Station
After previously rescinding a 40,000-square-foot least at the transit hall, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently approved using up to $150 million for development of the Moynihan Station. Located at the site of the Farley post office near Penn Station, the funding would come from the Port Authority’s capital budget for transportation projects. Redevelopment of the Farley building has been a work-in-progress since the 1990s, with Governor Cuomo proposing a $3 billion redevelopment plan of both Penn Station and Moynihan Station. Most of the funding for the project would come through primary investment with the government contributing $325 million in funds.
Street Redesign Proposed to Help Combat Crime in Brooklyn and the Bronx
The city is looking at ways to make neighborhoods such as Brownsville and Morrisania safer by redesigning public plazas, streets and buildings located in those neighborhoods. In a move that would be similar to how Times Square was transformed in the 1990s, the plan would call for expanding the sidewalk, redesigning public buildings such as the public library in Brownsville, transforming the Osborn Street Plaza in Brownsvill with artwork on the ground and creating more public spaces along Webster Avenue.
While the plans are still just conceptual at this point, the city’s Department Design and Construction has reportedly put forth a proposal on the behest of the mayor’s office. The DDC’s proposal was reportedly inspired by urban planner Jane Jacobs, who put her ideas forth several decades ago as she advocated creating houses and streets that would make the streets more visible to residents.
Downtown Jamaica’s LIRR Station to Undergo Modernization Efforts
Downtown Jamaica’s Long Island Railroad Station is set to receive $65 million to go toward modernization efforts. With the help of the makeover, the data infrastructure of the station will be transformed into a modern hub with Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, heated waiting areas enclosed in colorful glass panels, new platforms and new tracks. These new tracks will allow for increased service between the Jamaica Station and Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal while also allowing access to new platforms that have been designed in part by New York City-based artist James Little.
The Hicksville LIRR station in Long Island will also be getting a revamp, with that station receiving $121 million toward its modernization efforts. By modernizing both stations, Governor Cuomo says he hopes they will be able to provide “better, faster and more reliable train service” for riders. Both renovations are being financed through the MTA’s $27 Billion Capital Program.