The City of New Rochelle today announced the selection of FXCollaborative to transform the Train Station and Transit Center at the heart of its thriving downtown. The busiest stop on the Metro-North New Haven line, New Rochelle’s historic train station has been an anchor through the decades, and now even more so with the City’s unprecedented downtown redevelopment effort. Through the re-envisioning of its transit hub, New Rochelle makes a definitive step forward in increasing access and options for mobility – all while making the city more attractive, convenient, pedestrian and bicycle-oriented, and even better connected.
Chosen after a competitive RFP process, FXCollaborative is a highly regarded architecture, planning, and design firm with extensive experience in designing transportation hubs and urban landscapes. Their expertise in creating sustainable and accessible public spaces will be invaluable in helping New Rochelle achieve its goals of promoting equitable transportation and restoring vital connections to surrounding neighborhoods, connecting the new developments and residential buildings in the downtown.
The New Rochelle train station currently sees more than 6,000 outbound riders per weekday, and is the only Amtrak station stop in southern Westchester. That number will increase significantly with the completion of the MTA’s Penn Access project in 2027, which will make New Rochelle the only city to offer direct access to both the East and West sides of Manhattan.
“We are thrilled to announce the selection of a design consultant to reimagine the New Rochelle Transit Center Station and Campus. This project represents a major opportunity to create a community hub connected to surrounding neighborhoods and provides venues for public events and activities. We believe this initiative will significantly impact our city and our region, particularly as Penn Access is poised to increase traffic to and through the New Rochelle Transit Center,” said Mayor Noam Bramson.
“The partnership with FXCollaborative represents a major step forward in our efforts to create a more accessible and connected downtown area. By improving walkability and enhancing transportation options, we are creating a more livable and sustainable city that benefits everyone who lives, works, and visits here,” said City Manager and Chair of the IDA, Kathleen Gill, Esq.
“As a city, we are committed to promoting equity and inclusion in all aspects of our community,” said Deputy City Manager/Development Commissioner Adam Salgado. “This project will help us achieve those goals by improving access to transportation, events, and local businesses. We are excited about this mutual effort and its potential to connect neighborhoods, especially those with limited access to the station, to create a more linked and accessible community.”
“The FXCollaborative team is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the City and residents of New Rochelle on the planning and design that will transform the New Rochelle Transit Center to a center for the community and make it a more efficient, beautiful, and equitable experience for all— the place where everyone will want to be,” said John Schuyler, Partner in Charge for Collaborative.
The project will take a holistic look at the entire transit center campus- from Station Plaza North to South, and from North Avenue to Memorial Highway and Division Street- as well as the West End neighborhood connection. The improved transportation and walkability will create a valuable connection to New Rochelle’s cultural highlights, including community events and regionally renowned dining. The transit center will itself become a destination for various community events, joining the successful annual holiday market.
The New Rochelle train station is a historic commuter rail station located in downtown New Rochelle, New York. The New Rochelle Train Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Originally built in 1887, it has since undergone several renovations and expansions. Today, the station serves as a major transportation hub for the city, with connections to the Metro-North Railroad, Amtrak, and local bus service. Despite its many changes over the years, the New Rochelle train station remains an important part of the city’s history and identity, serving as a gateway to New York City and a symbol of the city’s commitment to sustainable transportation and livable communities.
The redesign of the transit center will complement other ongoing major initiatives such as “The LINC,” which will transform an overbuilt highway into a walkable, bicycle-friendly street and linear park. The LINC development process is a significant investment to provide safe convenient connections between the Lincoln Avenue Corridor, and the transit center and downtown.
