LINC, which stands for Linking Innovation, Nature and Community, will transform part of Memorial Highway into a corridor that is friendly to pedestrians with green space, improved crossings, and bike lanes. It was built in the 1960s and, at the time, separated a historically Black neighborhood from downtown New Rochelle, but the transformation is part of an effort to reshape the area, bring people together, and learn from mistakes of the past.
Governor Kathy Hochul said this funding will ensure that the project can move forward. She added that New Rochelle has built about 4,500 new homes in the past six years and issued over 1,000 permits for housing in recent years. Such an increase in housing supply can improve affordability.
Yadira Ramos-Herbert, mayor of New Rochelle, said:
“…the funding restores momentum for a project that has remained a priority through years of planning and community engagement.”
He added that the city is now back on track to transform what are now six lanes of highways into a public park that connects neighborhoods, creates green space, restores walkability, and provides economic opportunities for residents.
Announcements of such funding and the project that will benefit from it can be made known throughout a city with flyer printing.