The Korean War Veterans Parkway (KWVP) on Staten Island’s South Shore could turn into a major thoroughfare for interstate commercial travel, and a local politician is demanding answers from the city’s and state’s transportation departments.
NYC Council Member Frank Morano is seeking clarification from the NYS and NYC Departments of Transportation regarding potential future truck-route proposals for the approximately 4-mile roadway between the West Shore Expressway and Richmond Avenue in Great Kills, as well as concerns about communication between government entities.
Morano said the concerns arose during a recent public meeting on the reconstruction of the thoroughfare, a project originally scheduled for the summer but was postponed by the state on June 3 until after Labor Day. It was rescheduled following community concerns about the busy summer season, as the parkway leads to points on the New Jersey shore via the Outerbridge Crossing.
The possible truck route change is the latest controversy surrounding the parkway, which has never allowed truck traffic because of its low overpasses and other infrastructure limitations. Modifying the roadway to accommodate this type of vehicle traffic would likely require a major, costly construction project.
According to Morano, state transportation officials indicated during the public meeting that they were unaware of any plans for truck traffic on the parkway, but a subsequent review of NYC DOT documents raised questions about whether discussions about the change may already be underway.
“Whether the Korean War Veterans Parkway ultimately becomes a truck route is almost beside the point,” Morano said. “The bigger issue is whether government agencies are communicating with one another and whether the public is being kept informed about transportation decisions that could significantly impact Staten Island residents.”
amNewYork contacted both the NYS and NYC DOT to inquire more about the potential change. State reps told the newspaper they would look into the matter; NYC DOT did not respond to the press inquiry.
Morano seeks answers on Korean War Veterans Parkway
Meanwhile, Morano said he launched a series of oversight and transparency initiatives, including sending formal letters to both DOT agencies seeking clarification regarding any discussions, studies, or proposals involving the KWVP.
As of June 9, a spokesperson told amNewYork the agencies had not yet responded to his correspondence.
The council member said he also requested that the area’s Community Board 3 consider a resolution requiring traffic studies, infrastructure analyses, public hearings, and community engagement before any future truck-route modifications involving the Parkway are advanced.
“Many elected officials learned about major changes to the construction schedule through public announcements and social media rather than direct communication,” Morano said. “Staten Islanders deserve better than finding out about major transportation decisions after the fact.”
The KWVP, which opened as the Richmond Parkway in 1972, was originally supposed to continue north and connect with the heavily used Staten Island Expressway. However, strong environmental opposition stopped that section from being built, as it would have cut into the borough’s protected Greenbelt forests.
Remnants of the halted project still exist, including the abandoned, nicknamed “overpass to nowhere” above Richmond Avenue and Arthur Kill Road.
Meanwhile, Morano said he began drafting legislation to enhance transparency from government agencies.
amNewYork contacted Borough President Vito Fossella’s office for comment on this story and is awaiting a response.