How will pedestrians benefit?

The LINC will provide safer, more attractive links between the Lincoln Avenue neighborhoods, Montefiore Hospital, the New Rochelle Library, the train station and bus station, and downtown. Today, the six-lane highway has limited sidewalks and does not serve pedestrians. Although people walk along it, there is no place for safe pedestrian travel along the roadway. The LINC will reduce the roadway to a local street and create walkways and safe crossings.

How will traffic be affected?

The LINC will transform the overbuilt highway into local roadway connections for vehicles. The City has consulted with traffic engineers, city planners, designers, and local residents to design a better roadway that meets many needs. The LINC will keep important vehicular connections between Lincoln Ave. and the Downtown, and between North Ave. and I-95. The City is conducting an environmental review to assess the proposed changes, how they may impact traffic, and determine whether alternative designs should be considered. We will know more by the end of 2023.

How can you see the proposed changes?

You are invited to use the Department of Development’s Community Engagement Platform (NRVR) to see a conceptual vision for The LINC through the power of Virtual Reality. NRVR will show you what Memorial Highway might look like once it is converted to open spaces, recreation, and local streets. There’s a survey to complete once you have viewed The LINC to provide your feedback. The LINC is not fully designed – we are using the input from you and your neighbors to start a more detailed design. The City has been collecting input for over a year now, but the design process has just begun. We will also have design workshops on Saturday, March 4, and Monday, March 6 where you can provide your input. RSVP here.

How will the project be funded?

City, State, and Federal dollars will support the project: In 2018 New Rochelle was awarded $10M under New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, of which $6 million will support the LINC and $2 million will convert Lincoln Avenue into a complete street – so the roadway serves vehicles, pedestrian, and bicyclists and more. 2021 New Rochelle received a grant of $12M from the federal government to support the LINC.

What is DO-8?

To complement the LINC, New Rochelle is changing the zoning around The LINC to encourage appropriate new development that complements the existing low-rise and mid-rise buildings, encourages a wider range of community-serving, and re-establishes the neighborhood’s “community corners” at Lincoln Avenue and Brook Street. The zoning was also crafted to meet local calls to promote economic development, preserve the history and character of the predominantly African-American neighborhood, create and preserve housing, facilitate open space, and address parking and transportation needs. Engagement around the zoning and the LINC started in 2021. Environmental review must be conducted for the rezoning and acquisition of the roadway to create The LINC. Environmental review follows NY State guidelines to study the potential impacts of these actions on the environment including schools, traffic, and transportation, neighborhood character, for example. The environmental review will be completed by the end of 2023.

Where can you learn more?

EngageNR | New Rochelle DRI
For more opportunities to engage in The LINC design, see the Department of Development at future events.