Designing Climate Corridors: Re-envisioning Urban Arterials in New York City

Urban arterials in New York City are long and wide roads that carry large amounts of vehicular traffic through neighborhoods. Some predate colonial settlement; many also exemplify historically racist city planning efforts that divided communities and displaced families. Despite recent efforts to install bus and bike lanes, lower speed limits, and add green infrastructure, dozens of these major roadway corridors across the five boroughs remain unsafe, unhealthy, inefficient, and unsustainable. Vehicles speed, pollute, and jostle in a street space where on average 80% of the public right-of-way is reserved for private vehicles, even in areas where a majority of nearby residents do not own cars. Today, the amount of paved roadbed belonging to New York City’s arterials is equivalent to more than 10 Central Parks. More than 60% of all traffic fatalities happen along them.

Designing Climate Corridors will discuss opportunities to rethink this immense publicly-owned land between neighborhoods for climate action, community cohesion, and public health.

Informed by the Municipal Art Society’s ongoing project, Greener Corridors for a More Resilient City, as well as design provocations reimagining the right-of-way provided by Columbia University GSAPP’s Urban Design Program, this event aims to inspire planners, designers, policymakers, and communities to re-evaluate arterial corridors. We’ll also discuss, where appropriate, how to re-envision them as more hospitable and dynamic spaces that meet local needs.

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