New York is advancing a $50 million redesign of U.S. Route 9 in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown that would replace four traffic signals with roundabouts, add a separated walking and cycling path and improve sidewalks and bus stops.
The state Department of Transportation is moving into final design, with construction expected to begin in 2028, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office said.
Four intersections would become roundabouts
The project covers about 1.3 miles of Broadway and calls for roundabouts at Pierson and Gordon avenues, Pocantico Street, Bedford Road and New Broadway, and Beekman Road in Sleepy Hollow.
Two intersections that now lack traffic signals would receive them. State officials said the changes are intended to reduce congestion while improving safety for drivers and people crossing the corridor.
The preliminary design also includes a 0.75-mile, 10-foot-wide shared-use path physically separated from vehicle traffic.
New sidewalk segments would close gaps on both sides of Route 9. Curb extensions, upgraded crosswalks and leading pedestrian intervals would give people more time and visibility when crossing.
Bus stops would be brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and receive shelters and benches.
Community workshops shaped the design
NYSDOT began preliminary engineering in 2023 and worked with a Transportation Partnering Committee made up of leaders from five Rivertown communities. Public workshops helped identify needs and shape the concepts used in the state's federal funding application.
Officials said pedestrian safety emerged as a central concern because several schools and residential areas line the corridor.
Sleepy Hollow Mayor Marjorie Hsu said the project would reshape the village's main corridor, improve travel during the busy Halloween season and provide safer connections for pedestrians and cyclists.
Federal grant covers half the project
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $25 million through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development program. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said another $5 million was placed in the 2023 state budget to help start the project.
Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said the work is intended to prevent crashes and improve mobility. Local officials in Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Greenburgh and Westchester County said the project would also support businesses and long-term growth.
Final design and approvals will focus first on the northern section in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow before construction begins in 2028.
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