Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, was chosen by the City of Rochester, New York, to lead the preliminary design of the Inner Loop North Transformation Project, a $100 million initiative to reconnect communities.
Rochester, New York – In a significant move towards reconnecting divided communities, the City of Rochester, New York, has selected Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, to lead the preliminary design for the Inner Loop North Transformation Project. This estimated $100 million project is part of a nationwide effort to restore communities that were separated by highway construction during the mid-twentieth century.
The Inner Loop, initially conceived in the early 1950s when Rochester’s population was booming, ultimately resulted in the construction of a 6-lane, 2.7-mile sunken highway. Intended to position the city against its growing car-oriented suburbs, the project ended up displacing hundreds of homes and businesses while disrupting community connections.
In 2014, the Inner Loop East Transformation Project began, with support from a $17 million federal grant. Stantec played a key role in planning, scoping, preliminary design, final design, and construction support. Completed in 2018, this project transformed a significant portion of the sunken highway into an at-grade local street. This restoration reconnected neighborhoods, with pedestrian mobility improving by 13 percent and bicycle mobility by 90 percent between 2014 and 2022. The revitalized corridor garnered multiple industry awards and has led to more than $400 million in new investments in housing, businesses, and amenities.
The Inner Loop North Transformation Project aims to continue this success in the northern part of the corridor. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has committed $100 million to the project, with a planning study completed by the city in the previous year. The study identified a preferred design concept that will transform 1.5 miles of the highway into a complete street network. This includes consolidating travel lanes, parallel service roads, on- and off-ramps into at-grade, traffic-calmed city streets. The city plans to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety while adding green space and opportunities for equitable redevelopment. Extensive public input will be sought on both transportation design and future land use.
Cities across the United States are grappling with the challenge of dealing with aging urban highways constructed during the 1950s and ’60s, often in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Some cities are choosing to rebuild these highways in place, while others are seeking opportunities for transformation. The Congress for the New Urbanism, a nonprofit advocating for walkable urbanism, is monitoring 33 proposed projects in 28 cities. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced grants for 45 projects through the new Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, aimed at reconnecting communities cut off from opportunity due to past transportation infrastructure decisions. Stantec has been actively involved in building a portfolio of these projects across the U.S.
Beyond Rochester, the City of Syracuse was one of the grant recipients for its I-81 Viaduct Project, which seeks to address structural deficiencies and outdated highway standards along a 12-mile corridor. The proposed solution involves demolishing the existing 1.4-mile elevated section and diverting traffic throughout the city grid. This second contract is valued at $384.5 million.
The deck and superstructure of a grade-separated intersection of NYS Route 96 and NYS Route 14 in the Town of Phelps, situated between Rochester and Syracuse, are deteriorating. Stantec is leading an intersection redesign analysis to determine the feasibility and potential benefits of replacing the structure with an at-grade intersection.
In the New York state capital, an underused highway ramp was transformed into the Albany Skyway, a vibrant linear park offering direct access between the city and the Hudson River. The Congress for the New Urbanism awarded Stantec a 2023 Charter Award for the firm’s role in the project.
Stantec’s involvement in urban highway transformation extends beyond New York State. Earlier this year, the firm was selected to lead the planning for a proposed deck plaza in El Paso, Texas, which would cap the I-10 for a length of 2,300 feet in the downtown core, creating room for redevelopment and public spaces. Stantec was also part of the team that worked to cap 2.25 miles of railroad tracks in Downtown Reno, as well as leading conceptual design for the subsequent beautification project.
Stantec’s work in these transformative projects aims to restore neighborhood connections and reimagine transportation barriers that have long divided communities. The company’s commitment to sustainable design and engineering is fundamental to their approach.
For Stantec, communities are the foundation, providing a sense of place and belonging. Stantec strives to design with the community in mind, understanding local needs, and connecting expertise to achieve shared success.
As the project in Rochester moves forward, it represents another step towards a more connected and sustainable future for communities divided by past transportation decisions.
About Stantec
Stantec is a global leader in sustainable design and engineering. With a commitment to enhancing communities, Stantec collaborates on projects worldwide to advance the quality of life in communities and appreciate the nuances that make each unique.
Trading on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN, Stantec is a trusted partner in projects that prioritize community, creativity, and strong client relationships. Their multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers works collaboratively to ensure community, creativity, and client relationships intersect effectively.
