After 18 months of planning, the city of New Rochelle has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the historic train station into a modern, pedestrian-friendly, internet-free community hub.
With a price tag of $100 million, the proposal includes restoring the exterior of the train station, creating a multi-use plaza, renovating the bus station and adding solar panels on the roof of the parking garage.
New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert said it is a centerpiece of the downtown revitalization plan and will serve more than a transit hub, but a community hub.
New Rochelle becomes the first city in the county with direct access to Grand Central, Penn Station
New Rochelle has grown rapidly over the past decade with the addition of 6,370 homes, 1 million square feet of retail, 2.4 million square feet of office space and 1,200 hotel rooms.
With the new Penn Station on the horizon, New Rochelle will be the first city in Westchester with direct Metro-North commuter rail service to both Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station in 2027. Ridership in the bustling transit center is expected to double to 15,000 passengers on weekdays.
“It means a new perspective on connecting communities and revitalizing our businesses. I think it is a holistic approach to phase two of our Renaissance,” said Yadira Ramos-Herbert. “It’s not just about reviving the station; it is about creating a vibrant, accessible space that connects our diverse communities, promotes activity and paves the way for future development.”
Of importance: New skyline is emerging in New Rochelle due to the boom in apartment buildings; The fear of gentrification persists
The New Rochelle Train Station, an iconic landmark in the city
New Rochelle Train Station opened to the public in 1887 and has long been an iconic landmark in the city. It connects the Metro-North commuter rail and Amtrak trains to Boston and Washington, DC. It also served nine Westchester Bee-Line bus routes, with service to Yonkers, Mount Vernon, White Plains and the Bronx. In 2023, it had 114,937 passengers and generated more than $11 million in ticket revenue.
The one-and-a-half-story brick structure is topped with a gable roof, and the current color scheme highlights the base with a dark brown color, while the upper walls are coated in light brown.
The proposal calls for restoring the exterior to its original configuration and creating a double-height interior mixed-use space. It also plans to add crosswalks and landscaping, improve lighting, cover small portions of the train tracks and I-95, reorganize vehicle flow, renovate the bus station and parking structure with new cladding and glass stair towers, and installing solar panels on the roof of the car park to make the station fully electric and achieve net zero targets.
“Our vision for the New Rochelle Transit Center is to preserve its historic character while transforming it into a modern, pedestrian-friendly hub that reflects the vibrant spirit of the city,” said John Schuyler, partner at FXCollaborative, who is leading the design process. .
John Reverol, a New Rochelle resident who owns a cafe at the train station and two other coffee shops in the city, said he is excited about the redevelopment. He applauded the city’s efforts to revitalize downtown and support local businesses.
“What has been done so far is going in the right direction. Ultimately, everything will come together,” Reverol said.
More: New Rochelle wants to revitalize its downtown, starting with the Vanguard District. Here’s how
The development of transit centers could be an economic catalyst for New Rochelle
To revitalize downtown, the city has launched a series of initiatives in recent years, including repurposing the Vanguard District, offering financial incentives to businesses and transforming Memorial Highway into a walkable linear park with a plaza and an amphitheater. The new transit center is considered a hub that connects adjacent infrastructure.
New Rochelle Development Commissioner Adam Salgado, who proposed the facelift idea to the City Council, said the new transit center will be a great catalyst for economic development that will attract people and businesses.
“I think everyone has understood that if downtown really wants to be successful, we really need a world-class transit center,” Salgado said.
The $100 million project would be financed primarily through grants and federal and state funds with support from private investments. The city has secured $2.7 million in grants and hopes to get money from the Metro-North Railroad, Bee-line bus and developers.
Planning could take three to five years, as the proposal will likely go through a lengthy process, including federal and state environmental reviews and zoning changes. If all goes according to plan, the first step of the multi-phase project will be the renovation of the transit center entrance in the Station Plaza South area.
Although the project is still in the preliminary stages, Ramos-Herbert said she is optimistic it will come through.
“We are confident, but we need to make sure we add all these resources,” she said. “There may be some disruption during construction, but it is up to us to ensure we stay in touch with the community, have a robust, intentional communications plan and are responsive to their feedback.”
‘Perfect opportunity to reinvest in New Rochelle’s infrastructure’
Train stations in other Westchester cities have undergone renovations in recent years, some with hefty price tags: White Plains station underwent a $95 million renovation in 2021.
Sitting on the train station platform, New Rochelle resident Ziraili Nicholas, who commutes to work every day, said he is satisfied with the existing station.
Shirley Dieujuste, who waited for the bus at the terminal, said she would like to see warming booths and food vendors added so passengers can stay warm in the winter. She believes that the elevators in the parking garage do not function properly and that the garage is unsanitary.
District 4 Councilor Shane Osinloye said he fully supported the long overdue transit center project.
“The train station is our heart. We want our train station to be a first-class train station.” said Osinloye, whose jurisdiction includes the train station. “This is the perfect opportunity to reinvest in infrastructure.”
Helu Wang covers real estate, economic growth and development for The Journal News/lohud and USA TODAY Network. Reach her at hwang@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared in Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New Rochelle NY plans $100 million train station renovation