Reconnecting Communities Planning Project

  • Project typePlanning
  • Project value$500,000
  • Project scheduleJanuary 2025 to January 2026
  • Contractor nameStantec Consulting Services, Inc.
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The City of Syracuse has been awarded a Reconnecting Communities planning grant to redress inequities on the southside of Syracuse and develop designs for promoting connectivity between the Southside and Eastside neighborhoods that were compromised by the construction of Interstate 81. This effort will coincide with the I-81 Viaduct Project, which is intended to rectify the issues resulting from the construction of the elevated sections of the highway by creating a community grid through the center of the city. The project will study the most effective methods to enhance east-west connectivity through the study area along the five Focus Corridors, with specific considerations for pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation/BRT pathways along multiple east-west routes. 

 

Project Objectives

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This project will result in conceptual designs and an implementation strategy intended to improve multimodal connections along the five Focus Corridors that were impacted by the construction of I-81 and the elevated railroad tracks. Early action items will be identified that can be implemented in the short-term to begin improving connectivity even before the I-81 community grid project.

What is Being Done?

Throughout the Spring and Summer of 2025, there will be pop-up events, an open house, and traffic calming demonstration projects, during which the Project Team will collect community input and present potential connectivity ideas.

The Project Team will participate in the Light a Candle for Literacy Parade and Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, June 7th, from 12 to 4 p.m. at Brighton Academy Middle School to share project information and engage in interactive activities with community members.

The first traffic calming demonstration project occurred on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 on Martin Luther King between Oakwood Avenue and Leon Street (adjacent to Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School). The demonstration project will allow community members to participate in implementing traffic calming near the school that will also include community-led asphalt art.

A second traffic safety demonstration project will be conducted at the intersection of Taylor Street and State Street. More details will be provided as this event gets closer.

An interactive web map is available for community members who cannot attend an in-person event. Follow this link to add your comments to the map. 

 

 

 

Contact details

Project Contact: SYR Cityline
(315) 448-2489
cityline@syr.gov

Project Director

Joe Driscoll 

City of Syracuse

Interstate 81 Project Director

 

 

Media Contact

Infrastructure Public Information Officer

press@syr.gov

Project Info

Participating Departments: Public Works 

Project Type: Planning Project 

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