The city's Department of Design and Construction is working with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection to make the Grand Concourse safer for pedestrians and cyclists. DOT and DEP collect the data that DDC takes to design and construct a plan of action. DDC is currently going through Phase 5 of the project, which is focused on the area between East Fordham Road and East 198th Street. "Along these corridors, especially the really wide concourses, we find that there is an increase in both pedestrian and vehicle accidents. And so these safety features help to lower that," said Thomas Wynne, deputy commissioner of NYC DDC. The team is installing new sidewalks, resurfacing roadways and widening medians. There will also be new pedestrian islands to allow people to take refuge while walking across a wide street. Along the medians will be raised bike lanes to allow for a degree of separation between bikes and cars. The team also plans to plant more trees and vegetation to assist with cooling down the air, storm drainage and aesthetics in the area. The DDC team is also updating sewers, water mains and utilities to improve reliability of the infrastructure. "The goal is to have this be a safe, vibrant community where pedestrians and bicyclists feel comfortable traveling along the route and sharing the space with the cars. I think ultimately at DDC, our goal is to bring the grand back in Grand Concourse," said Wynne. Phase 5 of the reconstruction plan is set to be completed by November 2027.

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