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Denver and St. Louis are two other cities whose neighborhoods were destroyed by highways, and those areas in those cities have yet to recover. Boston did the Big Dig to deal with this same problem

I can't speak for the Sheridan, but I can't help but think that the Bronx would be a much more desirable place if the Cross Bronx expressway were gone.

That being said, those highways are important, and I've used them all. However, now that we know the impacts that highways have, we can figure out how to make them fit into the fabric of the city or close/move them.

She has either misunderstood or misrepresents the traffic modeling. The State DOT used the BPM, which does not increase traffic volumes according to population growth, as she states. The consistent misinformation about this campaign is frustrating.

The BPM increases population and employment based on forecasts, and then goes through a microsimulation assignment process that matches individual trips with modes, and even reflects changes in destinations, based on how well the different options meet the needs of each individual trip.

If the model showed that driving trips in this area would increase roughly in line with population, that would be evidence of a lack of viable alternatives to driving for the individuals here.

And that's one of the major deficiency with this whole concept. Not only would removing the Sheridan eliminate a bypass already used by a significant handful of express buses today, it would also preclude the possibility of developing it into a more robust transitway that could get more people out of their cars and provide them with better travel options.

It's a little unfortunate that the host threw the FDR Drive in there -- Joan Byron, the guest, is an expert on the Sheridan Expressway in the Bronx.

The proposal to remove the Sheridan is a serious one that advocates have talked about for years and the state is actually studying right now.

The FDR Drive removal is an architect's fantasy in an art exhibit downtown. I guess WNYC threw it in because Manhattan is what everyone cares about, but you can't compare the two proposals. Commenters should know that Ms. Byron has nothing to do with the FDR proposal.

Removing the Sheriden is a fantastic idea. It will increase the quality of life for those who live in the area and reclaim the waterfront for the community.

We should continue to look for ways to reduce the impacts of highways in our urban areas, whether that is by removing them, turning them into at-grade boulevards, or other alternatives. Starting with underused or redundant highways is a great way to approach this.

I'm conflicted. I remember fondly the old West Side Hwy (I still refer to the Henry Hudson Pkwy as such). My dad would take us "around the world" starting from Washington Heights heading south along the Hudson, under Battery Park and up the East Side. I hated that we didn't get Westway as a replacement. Even today, I ride my bike on the green way and can't help but think that all the great activities on the river would be MORE accessible if it weren't for the mass of traffic on West St. (or whatever it's called now...)
But I recognize that urban planning should probably be based on something more than fond memories...

I live on the FDR downtown and I drive. If they were to dismantle the southern portion of the FDR, what would they suggest to do with all the traffic that goes to the brooklyn bridge? would it be detoured to all the local streets? So our streets would look like the Holland Tunnel traffic? Where ALL of Soho, Canal Street, Broome st., broadway is congested, grid lock and full of pedestrians weaving through the streets? Is that a change for the better? When cars sit idling for an hour trying to get to the tunnel or bridge? how is that suppose to benefit and improve the quality of life for the people who live in the neighborhood? I like the FDR, and the water and new park is very accessible to the public.

i notice 'people' drive cars but 'folks'
live in neighborhoods.

I've supported most of the changes in Manhattan - it's faster to get downtown with the changes @ Times, Herald, and Madison Squares. But crosstown from the Lincoln to the Midtown doesn't work, and what happens if the Interstate Highway fund decides 34th, and by extension all of IS 495, no longer qualifies for federal funds?

I've lived on Long Island all my life and I just had to google the Sheridan. I had no idea where it is and have never driven it. Enough said!

I can't speak for the Sheridan. But I live in manhattan and cannot imagine losing ANY part of FDR Dr.

Is this woman INSANE?

The last thing in the world we need in our neighborhood is more street congestion on surface streets under our windows.
Case in point: the 36th St entrance to Mid town tunnel.

I wonder where your guest lives and if her high ideals would be quite so palatable in her neighborhood?

This is a proposal by Manhattan elites who don't give a cr$# about anyone else in any other part of the city or anyone who needs to get in and out, etc. So far I haven't heard one thing about what they will do to compensate for the proposed loss of highway. Usually I am all for environmental issues but this is crossing into enviro-nazi territory.

You wanna create room for "affordable" housing...then fight against the insane amount of "luxury" housing/condos that are constantly being constructed around this city. If we replaced half of those with TRULY affordable housing we wouldn't need to cut down highways for housing like she is suggesting.

We need A LOT of new highway infrastructure.
How about a tunnel from NJ to the LIE and Rt 95
So All the people driving to Long Island and New england Dont have to come thru NYC

Why are we talking about using money to reverse robert Moses by building more roads? Shouldn't we be building subways? Otherwise there is no reversal.

listen to all the selfish drivers

In your liberal fantasy-land, we'll all walk or 'bike' to work. Out here in the real world, most of us need a car to take care of our basic needs. Has your guest ever been on the Van Wyck during rush hour? By her statement that you'll add "a few minutes to your trip", she shows that she has never driven in the New York area.

As for the FDR, isn't that the only bus accessible expressway in Manhattan? Without it, how would express buses run?

What would Jane Jacobs say to this?

ONCE AGAIN...

City people, meaning residents of Manhattan, have absolutely no idea as to the need of a vehicle if you live outside of the island.

Closing the existing highways and closing off certain street areas for bikes in the city has only promoted more traffic and more congestion and more headaches for all!

Yes, some changes need to be done but come on