The Serrano Report, Vol. VII, #23

In the Bronx

Bronx Receives $11.5 million in Transportation Grants

Congressman Serrano announced last month that the Bronx is slated to receive two transportation-related federal grants totaling more than $11.5 million. The larger of the two, a $10 million transit grant, will fund the reconstruction of a large transit plaza at Fordham Road and Webster Avenue, while the smaller, a $1.5 million grant, will fund the creation of a vision plan for the Sheridan Expressway and Hunts Point area.

Serrano was involved in obtaining these grants from the beginning and wrote letters in support of the applications.“These two grants are fulfilling deep transportation and planning needs in our community,” said Serrano. “The Fordham transit plaza is one of the key transportation hubs in the Bronx and one of the busiest in the city. With rail, buses, and subways coming together, it serves a huge number of residents daily. Reconstruction will facilitate their use of this key hub in our community.

“Meanwhile, the creation of a vision plan that addresses the current and future needs of our community in the Hunts Point area and the Sheridan Expressway is of vital importance. We are eager to remake this area into a livable, walkable and green section of our community, and this is the first step towards achieving that goal. I am encouraged that this grant specifically states that this ‘City-led, multi-agency, holistic planning process will be designed to respond to the needs and goals of the business and residential communities in the area.’ This is precisely the process that all planning in our borough must undergo as we work to right the development and planning wrongs of many decades.”

Serrano, Crowley, Benepe Break Ground on Orchard Beach Restoration Project with Corps of Engineers

Last month, Congressman Serrano joined Congressman Joseph Crowley, the NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Army Corps of Engineers NY District Commander Colonel John R. Boulé in breaking ground on a large restoration project at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. The $13 million project, which was jointly funded by $7 million in federal money obtained by Serrano and Crowley and $6 million from NYC Parks, will focus on the restoration of beach sand and installation of anti-erosion infrastructure. The project will be carried out over the coming months by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“The people of the Bronx will soon have a restored, functional and expansive Orchard Beach, as it was envisioned by its creators decades ago, when it was called the Riviera of the Bronx,” said Congressman Serrano, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “With the funds that my friend Joe Crowley and I were able to secure over the years, our partnership with NYC Parks, and the Corps of Engineers' hard work, we can now be sure that Orchard Beach will be restored to its former glory. The Bronx has always been underserved when it comes to recreation opportunities, but we are turning that around one project at a time. I look forward to using the new, refurbished Orchard Beach in coming summers alongside other Bronxites. ”

The shoreline protection project will result in the replacement of the sand that has been lost over time and also help to prevent future erosion. In addition, the project will address the “drop-off zones” that represent a real danger to swimmers at Orchard Beach. The project is scheduled to replace more than 250,000 cubic yards of new sand and be completed before next summer in time for use by the more than one million annual patrons.

On Capitol Hill

Congressman Serrano Reflects on the Elections

Yesterday, Congressman Serrano sat down with Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd to analyze the recent elections on his radio show: Reaching Out With Gregory Floyd. You can watch two preview videos below and the full interview will be broadcast on WWRL 1600 AM on Saturday, November 20th at 3 PM.

Grant Opportunities