Fordham Plaza’s new design officially unveiled

The redesign of a major transit and commercial hub in the Bronx is officially complete.

On Wednesday, January 20, NYC Department of Transportation commissioner Polly Trottenberg, Federal Transit Administration administrator Therese McMillan and NYC Department of Design and Construction commissioner Dr. Feniosky Pena-Mora, among others, hosted the unveiling of a newly designed Fordham Plaza, a reconstruction of one of the borough’s busiest transit and commercial areas.

The reconstructed hub, a $34 million project, includes changes such as shortened pedestrian crosswalks and new direct crossings to deter and reduce jaywalking and will play an important role in reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries for passengers and pedestrians – the primary goal of the Vision Zero project.

Fordham Plaza, located at the intersection of the Bx12 and Bx41 bus lines, among other local and regional bus routes, Fordham University’s Rose Hill Campus and Roosevelt Educational Campus as well as Fordham’s Metro North station, is traveled by 80,000 pedestrians on a daily basis, including 6,800 elementary and high school students.

The most impactful change in the project, aside from its safety enhancements, might be the 25 percent expansion in pedestrian space for farmer’s markets, food concession stands, cultural activities and movie nights – which will only add to the hub’s excitement.

“The reconstruction of Fordham Plaza is a transformative reconfiguration of a major public space in the heart of the Bronx and the Fordham Road Shopping District,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. “The new design brings together an improved venue for pedestrians and public transit services, including shoppers, students and commuters.

“This new plaza will result in better articulation of bus routes and vehicular activity as well as a more efficient, safer, and a more beautiful public venue for the community,” he said.

“The completion of this project is vital to the future of the Bronx,” said Congressman Jose E. Serrano, who advocated for a $10 million federal grant by TIGER, a discretionary grant program administered by the US Department of Transportation to fund project with innovation around the county. “It makes one of our borough’s economic hubs safer, improves transit services, and ensures a vibrant public space for all. This is a great example of how federal funding can prioritize and facilitate economic development in the Bronx.”

“This is a exciting and happening area (Fordham Plaza) – an area that will become even more vibrant as a result of this project,” said Daniel Bernstein, deputy director of the Fordham Road Business Improvement District. “It was a good proposal for bettering a great neighborhood – one that sees so much activity on a daily basis.”

Reach Reporter Steven Goodstein at (718) 260-4599. E-mail him at sgoodstein@cnglocal.com.