In 2021, the New York City Department of Transportation began a major construction project involving the W. 79th Street Bridge over Amtrak and the Rotunda Complex on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. This 4.5-year undertaking involves rehabilitation of the traffic circle, the pedestrian plaza, and the garage level of the Rotunda complex.

Melissa Johnson Associates’ full-time community liaison is part of NYCDOT’s project team, responsible for all public outreach aspects of this high-profile project. MJA has developed an outreach program and strategy that incorporates  coordination with all Upper West Side stakeholders, including residents, businesses, visitors to Riverside Park and the Rotunda complex, the Landmarks Preservation Committee, Public Design Commission, State Historic Preservation Office, and motorists from across the region who use the Henry Hudson Parkway.

For this high-profile initiative, MJA developed a project brochure and NYCDOT communication materials branded specifically for this high-profile project. The outreach team advises NYCDOT on best practices for managing stakeholder inquiries and issues.