City of New Rochelle selects FXCollaborative to transform train station and transit center downtown

May 17, 2023
The New Rochelle train station is the busiest stop on the MTA's Metro-North New Haven line and currently sees more than 6,000 outbound riders per weekday and is the only Amtrak station stop in southern Westchester.

The city of New Rochelle has selected FXCollaborative to transform the train station and transit center in downtown New Rochelle. The busiest stop on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) 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 Requests for Proposals process, FXCollaborative is a highly regarded architecture, planning and design firm, with extensive experience in designing transportation hubs and urban landscapes.

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 of New Rochelle Noam Bramson.

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.

"As a city, we are committed to promoting equity and inclusion in all aspects of our community,” said New Rochelle Deputy City Manager and 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 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.