"Examining the Environmental Impact of the Cross Bronx Expressway Expansion"
Published: 2024-09-26In today’s world, more people care about the environment. Many projects say they are “green” or eco-friendly. But not all of them truly are. Let’s look at one such project: the planned expansion of the Cross Bronx Expressway by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).
The NYSDOT plans to start this project in 2027. They want to add a “community connector” between Webster and Third avenues. This connector will have a bus lane and a path for walking and biking. It sounds like a good step for the environment. But if you look closer, there are problems.
Dave Colon from Streetsblog NYC is a big critic of this project. He calls it “greenwashing.” This means the project pretends to be good for the environment but is not.
The main issue is the new construction. The bus lane and path might seem helpful. But the project will also create a five-mile service road. This road will stop efforts to build parks and green spaces over parts of the expressway.
The NYSDOT’s plan came to light through a Freedom of Information request. Critics say the department is being dishonest. They claim the project is green to hide its real impact. This misleads the public and continues a pattern of fraud in city planning.
People need to stay alert and question so-called green projects. Fighting greenwashing is important to make sure we really help the environment.
When companies lie about being green, they lose the public’s trust. For example, Volkswagen said their diesel engines were low-emission. But they had software to cheat emissions tests. This caused more pollution than they claimed. This scandal hurt Volkswagen’s reputation and showed why honesty in green claims is vital.
The fashion industry also has issues. Brands often say their products are “sustainable” without proof. H&M faced criticism for its “Conscious” collection, which didn’t meet the sustainability standards it advertised. This shows that consumers should check environmental claims carefully.
We must keep exposing and challenging greenwashing. We need to hold companies and authorities accountable. Only through honesty can we achieve true environmental justice and create a sustainable future.
Stay informed, stay critical, and join us in the fight against greenwashing. Together, we can make sure our efforts to protect the environment are real and effective.
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2024/09/131913-nydot-planning-further-cross-bronx-highway-expansion