Bruckner-Hutch Mobility Improvement Project I-95 and NY 908A PIN X731.27 Bronx County, New York

DRAFT APPENDIX X5: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN

Prepared for:

New York State Department of Transportation

Prepared by:

November 2020 Bruckner-Hutch Mobility Improvement Project June 2020 Public Involvement Plan PIN X731.27

Introduction

The I-95 and NY 908A Mobility Improvement Project is classified as a NEPA Class III Environmental Assessment (EA) and SEQRA Non-Type II EA. The Public Involvement Plan for this project has been developed using Appendix 2 (Public Involvement Manual) of the New York State Department of Transportation’s (NYSDOT) Project Development Manual (PDM). PDM Chapter 4.3.2 – Moderate Project Steps has been followed for the public involvement regulatory requirements.

Project Overview

The Bruckner Expressway, I-95, and the Hutchinson River Parkway connection is a crucial intersection located in the East Bronx. Thousands of vehicles use this crossroad every day to access commercial and residential facilities in the New York City – Connecticut area. This section of highway regularly experiences major vehicular congestion due to the complex layout of the highway interchanges and exits (along I-95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway), compounded by the high volume of commercial trucks on I-95.

NYSDOT plans to alleviate congestion by eliminating existing ramps and adding one longer ramp that will connect motorists to I-95 Northbound. Additional work will occur on Bartow Avenue at the Hutchinson River Parkway. The proposed design will improve the traffic conditions in interchanges and interstate highways, which will result in a quality of life improvement in the local communities.

The Community

The proposed construction zone is located in several high density, ethnically diverse, multi-lingual neighborhoods: Middletown-Pelham Bay to the west; Baychester to the north; and Country Club to the southeast. The surrounding area contains both residential and commercial zones, including The Bay Plaza and Bartow Mall shopping centers; the Co-op City housing complex; and the MTA bus & subway station at Pelham Bay Park. In addition, there is an elementary school (P.S. 160), Iglesia Evangelica De Co-op City, as well as many restaurants and small businesses near the proposed construction zone.

Directly within the proposed construction zone is Pelham Bay Park. At over 2,500 acres, it is the largest public park in New York City. The parkland contains both active and passive recreational spaces. Pedestrian walkways and cyclist paths cross through sections of the project limits. In direct sight of the construction zone is the Bronx Victory Memorial. To the south, there is a children’s playground, as well as other NYC Parks Department facilities. These facilities and destinations all contribute to the high volumes of vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the area.

These are primarily working-class communities. The median income levels in these districts hover around the nation-wide average of approximately $50,000 per household per year. The ethnic composition of these neighborhoods consists of African-American, West-Indian, Euro-Caucasian, and Spanish speaking Hispanic/Latin-American people. Four of the nine census tracts are identified by NYMTC as Environmental Justice Communities, defined as Traffic Analysis Zone with 50% or more of minority population. It is worth noting that according to NYMTC, in Bronx Environmental Justice communities, 8% of the population walks to work compared to 5% in non-Environmental Justice communities—underscoring the need to address pedestrian needs.

Bruckner-Hutch Mobility Improvement Project June 2020 Public Involvement Plan PIN X731.27

Public Involvement Plan

The goals of the Public Involvement Plan are: • Provide the public clear information on the need for the project • Identify the goals and objectives of the project, including benefits and potential impacts. • Provide a process for public input so stakeholders can have a meaningful say

The outreach plan consists of framing the project in a way that engages the community. To do that, it focuses on both the required outreach for an Environmental Assessment and on additional recommendations that go beyond the requirements that help ensure the public in this environmental justice area has access to project information. The NYSDOT and the project team have identified key stakeholders that would benefit from knowing and understanding the attributes of the proposed plan and whose feedback is useful when disseminating the message to a wider audience. The plan provides a strategy that allows us to relay project information to all constituents during the stakeholder briefings suggested below.

Objectives of the Public Involvement Plan

An informed public is in the best position to provide constructive input. Current traffic conditions impact constituents negatively. Commercial and public transportation increases traffic on local roads, degrading quality of life and safety. By consolidating entrances and ramps, NYSDOT is addressing these critical issues, providing solutions and expediting progress for motorists, pedestrians, and the surrounding community.

To achieve our objective to help stakeholders understand the need and benefits of the project, all project presentations underline the following:

1. Consolidating highway entrance and exit ramps will ultimately alleviate existing congestion at the I-95/Pelham Parkway intersection. Traffic mitigation will discourage through traffic on local roads and result in quality of life improvement and safety in the surrounding communities.

2. A new exit ramp on the Hutchinson River Parkway will provide greater convenience for motorists trying to access Co-Op City.

3. Areas currently isolated due to highway entrances and exits will be revitalized and reintegrated into the Pelham Bay Park upon completion of the project. It is important to communicate which areas of parkland are affected by construction and what green areas we are giving back to the community. Constituents will look beyond acreage and consider location, access, contiguity, and types of activities available in determining whether the land swap is acceptable. Stakeholders will be informed that proper respect and protection will be given to the Bronx Victory Memorial.

4. Reduction in ramps from seven to four at the I-95/Pelham Parkway Interchange will provide more direct routing for through traffic and will decrease pedestrian/vehicle conflicts. All improved ramp path crossings for pedestrians and cyclists will be widened and fully ADA accessible with new pedestrian-activated traffic signals providing increased safety for path users.

To reach local stakeholders, the project team will work with local stakeholder leaders to disseminate information through briefings at key times throughout the study. By working with these stakeholder leaders, NYSDOT and the Project Team can take advantage of established communication networks, ensure that project information is effectively provided, and that input from the community is heard.

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Public Involvement Actions

Outreach has been underway since the project inception. Three project briefings have been held to date. The minutes, including attendees, of each briefing are included in Appendix A.

A Stakeholder Briefing was held on September 29, 2015 at Villa Barone to present the issues being considered to key stakeholders. The stakeholders that attended included: NYS Assembly member Michael Benedetto, Community Board 10, Congressman Elliot Engel’s office, NYC City Councilmember Jimmy Vacca’s office, Bay Plaza Shopping Center, NYS Thruway Authority and NYCDOT.

A second project briefing with the East Bronx Traffic Coalition took place on December 2, 2016 to present the improvements to local safety and traffic conditions. Discussions focused on traffic delays and local highway signage. In addition to the East Bronx Traffic Coalition, attendees included: NYS Assembly member Michael Benedetto’s Office, Community Board 10 and NYS Senator Jeffery Klein’s office.

A third project briefing with Community Board 10, 11 and 12 took place on April 10, 2019 to summarize the latest updates on the project.

A fourth project briefing with the Community Board(s) and the public is planned for September 2020. The following key stakeholders have been identified for either their interest in the project or their interest in this area of The Bronx.

Key Stakeholders

NY State Assembly: City Agencies: Commercial Entities: District 080 – Nathalia Office of the Mayor of New York Bay-Plaza Shopping Center* Fernandez City Bartow Mall Shopping Center District 082 – Michael Benedetto Bronx Borough President: *^ Community Affairs Residential: District 083 – Carl E. Heastie New York City Parks and Co-Op City Recreation Department NY State Senate: Pelham Bay Park Administrator Education: District 36 – Jamaal T. Bailey NYCDEP Public School 160 District 34 – Alessandra Biaggi NYCDOT Bronx Borough Mercy College Campus (Hutch Commissioner*! Metro Center) U.S. House of Representatives: Yeshiva University District 16 – Eliot Engel* Fire Department District 14 – Alexandria Ocasio- FDNY – Engine 66, Ladder 61 Medical Facilities: Cortez FDNY EMS – Division 2, Station Gun Hill Medical Pavilion 20 Jacobi Medical Center U.S. Senate: Orthopedic NY State – Kirsten Gillibrand Police Department Montefiore Hutchinson Campus NY State – Charles Schumer NYPD – 45th Precinct NYPD – 47th Precinct Community Organizations: NYC City Council: NYPD – 49th Precinct Friends of Pelham Bay Park NYC Council District 13 – Mark Hutchinson River Restoration Gjonaj Transportation: Project NYC Council District 12 – Andy NYS Thruway Authority* Bronx Council of Environmental King Metropolitan Transportation Quality Authority American Legion – Coop City Bronx Community Boards: Connecticut Department of Post 1871 District Manager CB 10 – Transportation East Bronx Traffic Coalition^ Matthew Cruz*^! District Manager CB 11 – Trucking Associations: * Attended September 29, 2015 Jeremy O. Warneke New York State Motor Truck NYSDOT Project meeting District Manager CB 12 – Association ^ Attended December 2, 2016 East George Torres! New York Trucking & Delivery Bronx Traffic Coalition Meeting ! Attended April 10, 2019 NYSDOT Association Project Meeting with CB 10, 11, &12

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NYSDOT Region 11 will continue to provide outreach updates and briefings to elected officials through its Government Agency Liaison. Briefings to Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Senator Klein, Assemblyman Heastie, Assemblyman Benedetto and Councilman Gjonaj and NYCDOT Bronx Borough Commissioner Lopez will be provided to outline the changes to the design since last presented in 2016.

Concurrent with outreach to the local elected officials, the project team reached out to Bronx Community Boards 10, 11 and 12. The team will share the same information with Community Board District Managers that the Government Agency Liaison shared with elected officials. District Managers will be encouraged to share this information at their Board meetings.

Community Board meetings will be attended by NYSDOT and the project team upon request. In the event some of the educational, medical or religious institutions are unable to attend the Community Board meetings, they will receive an email explaining the project and providing a link to the presentation. Additionally, stakeholder organizations will be encouraged to share the information with their members.

Information presented to the community boards will also be posted on the website.

Environmental Justice

Executive Order 12898 requires evaluation of impacts on the minority and/or low-income populations. While the median income of the neighborhoods hovers around the nationwide average, there is a large minority constituency. Based on NYMTC’s “Communities of Concern in Bronx County” map (Attachment A), four out of the nine census tracts making up the study area are environmental justice communities due to their high minority populations.

As briefings and meetings are conducted, focused discussions will take place with stakeholder leadership representing the areas to elicit information on potential impacts on these populations, and devising solutions that avoid disproportionate impacts Compliance with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Executive Order 13166 & New York State Executive Order 26

According to NYSDOT’s Limited English Proficiency Program: “Generally, if a NYSDOT activity will have an impact on an area where an eligible LEP language Group constitutes 5% or 1,000 people, whichever is less, reasonable efforts should be put forth to provide meaningful access.” Four of the six census tracts covered by the project exceed this minimum threshold.

The total population in the study area is approximately 58,000 people. Nine census tracts have been identified within the study area and were used for the LEP analysis. Exclusively English speakers in the study area represent approximately 61% of the total population. Based on data available from the United States Census Bureau’s 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates in the nine census tracts covering the project area, Spanish is the only language that exceeds NYSDOT LEP thresholds. Spanish speakers make up a quarter of the local population – with 7.8% of the population speaking English less than well. Data reflecting these statistics are included as Attachment B.

To reach the local Limited English Proficient (LEP) community, information materials such as project brochures/newsletters and notifications will be bilingual. They will also be posted on NYSDOT’s website.

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Draft Design Report/Environmental Assessment/Draft Section 4(f) Availability & Public Outreach

The Draft Design Report/Environmental Assessment/Draft Section 4(f) will be available for public review on the NYSDOT website [https://www.dot.ny.gov/projects] and at the following repositories: • Bronx Borough Hall • Bronx Community Board 10 • Baychester Library • Pelham Bay Library • P.S. 160 – The Walt Disney School

A Notice of Availability of the Draft Design Approval Document will be published when the DDR/EA/Draft Section 4(f) is available for Public Review.

The Notice of Availability will state where a hardcopy of the DDR/EA/ Draft Section 4(f) is available (noted above), as well as the online address where the report can be found. It will also state there will be a minimum 45-day comment period, give the closing date of the comment period, as well as how and where comments may be submitted. The Notice of Availability of the DDR/EA/Draft Section 4(f) will be advertised in both English and Spanish in local newspapers. The Notice of Availability will also be distributed to local Elected Officials and Community Boards.

Project Timeline [1]

• September 9, 2015 – Stakeholder’s Meeting • December 2, 2016 – East Bronx Traffic Coalition Briefing • April 10, 2019 – Meeting with Community Boards 10, 11, and 12 • September 2020 -- EA/DDR placed at repositories and online • September 2020 -- Public Meeting [1] • November 2020 -- Design Approval • January 2021 -- PS&E • April 2021 – Project Letting • Early Fall 2021 – Contract Award • Fall, 2024 – Construction Completion

[1] Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Cuomo declared a disaster emergency in New York State, including a series of Executive Orders (“EOs”) dealing with necessary restrictions on public gatherings to maintain “social distancing” to curb the spread of the virus. Several of these EOs have also suspended or modified the requirements of certain statutes and regulations that would require such gatherings.1 Certain requirements are currently suspended with the understanding that enabling public comments on the projects or actions under review will be handled either electronically or via mail to meet these same public participation requirements. NYSDOT will engage the public through electronic means and will accept public comments either electronically or by mail, looking to reach a broad sector of the public.

The public will have the opportunity to learn about project updates at a virtual public meeting being planned for September 2020. NYSDOT will present project updates that have been proposed since the last meeting in April 2019, and will answer any questions participants may have.

1 See EO 202.25 https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-20215-continuing-temporary-suspension-and- modification-laws-relating-disaster-emergency

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Public Outreach Summary

At the end of preliminary design, all Public Involvement activities will be summarized and documented for inclusion in the Final Design Report/Environmental Assessment/Final Section 4(f).

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