See the elevated pedestrian pathway that will connect the High Line to Moynihan Train Hall

Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled designs for a 1,200-foot-long elevated pedestrian pathway that will connect the High Line to the recently opened Moynihan Train Hall. The $50 million project will also connect Chelsea with other West Side destinations like Hudson Yards, Manhattan West, Penn Station, and the Javits Center. The plan was first floated by former Governor Andrew Cuomo in January as part of his extremely ambitious agenda to redevelop Midtown West. Under the direction of Governor Hochul, the pathway is expected to be completed by Spring 2023.

© SOM, JCFO | Miysis

“The High Line’s connection to Moynihan Train Hall and other nearby attractions complements our investments in Midtown West, encourages better pedestrian access, and provides New Yorkers with a truly one-of-a-kind experience. New York State remains steadfast in its commitment to building functional infrastructure that improves quality of life, promotes economic growth, and helps secure a greener Empire State,” said Governor Hochul in a statement.

The pathway, known officially as the High Line Moynihan Connector, is being constructed through a public-private partnership comprising Empire State Development, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Brookfield Properties Group, and Friends of the High Line. As explained in a press release, it will “offer a safe, scenic experience” for those “navigating this heavily trafficked area near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel.”

From top to bottom, the Woodland Bridge connecting to the Timber Bridge. © SOM, JCFO | Miysis

The project consists of a new Woodlands Bridge that will extend eastward from the existing northern terminus of the High Line near Hudson Yards and run parallel to 30th Street along Dyer Avenue from 10th Avenue to the mid-block between 9th and 10th Avenues. It will then connect to a second Timber Bridge that will travel north and connect to Brookfield Properties’ publicly accessible Magnolia Court that runs through its Manhattan West mega-development. It will terminate on 9th Avenue, directly across from Moynihan Train Hall, which opened in early January, expanding the existing Penn Station into the historic James A. Farley Post Office Building on Eighth Avenue.

The Magnolia Court connection. © SOM, JCFO | Miysis

According to separate Instagram posts, the design was done by architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and the landscape architects at Field Operations. The latter explained in their post: “The Woodlands Bridge is a lush green ribbon that will encapsulate the visitor from the urban streetscape below, while the Timber Bridge is a Warren truss made of sustainably sourced wood that will run above Dyer Avenue into Magnolia Court.⁠⁠”

As reported by The Real Deal, Empire State Development will grant up to $20 million to Friends of the High Line, and the remaining $30 million will come from “‘partnership entities,’ which include Brookfield Properties.” Doug Carr, executive director of the Moynihan Station Development Corporation, told The Real Deal that, after holding 15 meetings with community stakeholders, his board “approved authorization of a proposed general project plan for the extension and greenlighted a public hearing on the initiative.”

It’s unclear what other pieces of Cuomo’s Midtown West redevelopment plan Hochul will move forward. His proposal to create a new Penn Station and build up to 10 new towers in the surrounding area has already faced a ton of scrutiny from preservationists and affordable housing proponents, spurring the creation of the Empire Station Coalition, a group of 12 advocacy organizations fighting the plan.

RELATED:

• See Cuomo’s proposal to extend the High Line to the new Moynihan Train Hall
• See what a renovated Penn Station could look like
• Cuomo reveals $51B plan to redevelop Midtown West, replace Port Authority

All renderings © SOM, JCFO | Miysis